SWEET CHARITY Is Singing And Dancing Its Way Onto The Kweskin Theatre Stage

The story of love never grows old.

Sweet Charity, the iconic Broadway musical written by Cy Coleman (music), Dorothy Fields (lyrics), and Neil Simon (book), will trod the boards at the Kweskin Theatre on Newfield Avenue, in Stamford, Connecticut, for four weekends, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., beginning June 2 and playing through June 24.

Long before iPhones, Facebook, and dating sites, there was sweet and naive Charity Hope Valentine, a taxi dancer at a sleazy dance hall called the Fandango Ballroom in New York City. Wearing her heart on her sleeve - in her case, her arm - this vulnerable and trusting waif wants nothing more than to love and be loved. The show is based on Federico Fellini's 1957 film classic, "Nights of Cabiria."

"I've always been a huge Neil Simon fan and this show, in particular, has been a favorite...it's the third time I've worked on "Sweet Charity," says Curtain Call's executive director, Lou Ursone, adding, "so, if the proverb is correct, and 'third time's a charm,' then we have a hit on our hands."

This classic of the American Broadway Musical Theatre is directed by Debra Lee Failla, with music direction by Tony Bellomy. Re-staging the iconic choreography by the legendary Bob Fosse, will be Emily Frangipane. Megan Latte Ormond is creating the costumes and Peter Barbieri, Jr., will be designing the set, with lighting design by Aaron Meadow.

Cast in the title role is Arielle Boutin. "We have an incredibly talented cast headed by Arielle, who is onstage for most of our production in this musical theatre piece originally written for Gwen Verdon," said director Debra Lee Failla. "It's quite a challenging character on many fronts and Ms. Boutin is more than up to this challenge," Failla added. Charity's dance hall girlfriends, Nikki and Helene, are played by (respectively) Jennifer Silverman and Lisa DeAngelis. They will be joined by a cast of 30 talented singers, dancers and actors from Fairfield County.

"Sweet Charity" is "a bittersweet story with loads of laughs and some of the greatest music ever created for the stage ("Big Spender," "If They Could See Me Now," "Rhythm of Life")," says Ursone. "It's an honest look at 1960s New York, with all its trials and tribulations not seen in many shows." "To me, while the show may not have a fairy tale ending, it's a reminder that if you get knocked down you need to get up, brush yourself off, try again and never give up," said Failla.

Others in the cast include: Joe Caputo, Cassie Carroll, Jim Chiles, Kevin Cooper, Faith Fernandes, Donna Fox, Skye Gillespie, Bonnie Gregson, Bobby Henry, James Hobayan, Eric Hu, Katie Imholt, Duane Lanham, Kaite Marie Laurie, Rachel Lewis, Justin McArthur, Matthew McArthur, Trisha Carr McCoy, Savannah Miller, Laura Naclerio, Paul Naclerio, Chris Nardi, Lesya Protsyk, Everton Ricketts, Rob Rosado, Kellen Schult, Lidia Winsor.

Will Charity find the love she's been hoping and looking for? You'll have to buy tickets to the production to find out.

'Sweet Charity" will play in The Kweskin Theatre, June 2 through 24, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00m and Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm. Regular prices are $32 for adults, $25 for senior citizens and $16 for children. Thursday evenings, all seats $25. Box Office: 203-461-6358 or online atwww.curtaincallinc.com. More information is available at www.curtaincallinc.com or by calling 203-461-6358.

Curtain Call is the non-profit community-based theatre company in residence at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Avenue in Stamford. Year-round productions and workshops are presented by and for area residents in The Kweskin Theatre and The Dressing Room Theatre in cooperation with The City of Stamford. Curtain Call was voted Fairfield County's BEST LOCAL THEATRE GROUP ten years running in the Annual Readers' Poll of The Fairfield County Weekly and has received similar BEST OF awards from Stamford Magazine and StamfordPlus magazine for 2008 through 2016. Curtain Call received The Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2011 and the 2016 ACE Award for Excellence in Arts& Culture from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.

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