Photo Flash: SWEET CHARITY Makes West End Transfer

As reported here previously, the Menier's production of Sweet Charity, starring Tamzin Outhwaite, is to transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket. It opens on 23 April 2010  and is currently booking until 8 January 2011. Further casting will be announced shortly.

With book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, choreography is by Stephen Mear, set design by Tim Shortall, costume design by Matthew Wright, musical supervision and direction by Nigel Lilley, orchestrations by Chris Walker, lighting by David Howe and sound design by Gareth Owen. The Menier Chocolate Factory's Sweet Charity is produced in the West End by Chocolate Factory Productions, David Ian Productions, the Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions and David Mirvish.

Originally directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, Sweet Charity premiered on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in 1966, where it ran for over 600 performances. The production won the Tony Award for Best Choreography in the same year. In 1967 the production opened in London at Prince of Wales Theatre, starring Juliet Prowse. The 1969 film version also directed and choreographed by Fosse, starred Shirley MacLaine and John McMartin. In 1986 the production was revived on Broadway winning four Tony Awards, and again in 2005 starring Christina Applegate.

Sweet Charity follows the misadventures of love encountered by the gullible and guileless Charity Hope Valentine, a woman who always gives her heart and her dreams to the wrong man. Cy Coleman's score features favourite hits such as Hey, Big Spender; If My Friends Could See Me Now and The Rhythm of Life.

Tamzin Outhwaite's previous stage credits include Matthew Warchus' critically acclaimed production of Boeing-Boeing at the Comedy Theatre, Breathing Corpses and Flesh Wound for the Royal Court, Oliver at the London Palladium and Baby on Board, Absent Friends and They're Playing Our Song, all for Alan Ayckbourn at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough. She is known on television for her roles in Red Cap, Hustle, Frances Tuesday, Hotel Babylon and EastEnders. She can currently be seen in the ITV1 drama The Fixer and will also shortly be seen in the new BBC One drama Paradox. Her film work includes Cassandra's Dream by Woody Allen co-starring Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell, Back Waters and the award-winning Out of Control.

Cy Coleman (1929 - 2004) is the only composer to win consecutive Tony Awards for Best Score for musicals which also won for Best Musical: City of Angels (1990) and The Will Rogers Follies (1991). He also won the Tony Award for Best Original Score for On the Twentieth Century in 1978. He received two Emmy Awards for his work on Shirley MacLaine's TV specials, If My Friends Could See Me Now (1974) and Gypsy in My Soul (1976). In 1992 he won two Grammy Awards for his score and for producing the original cast album of The Will Rogers Follies. Coleman was the last major contributor to the Great American Songbook.

Dorothy Fields (1905 - 1974) wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films. From 1928 to 1935 she worked with Jimmy McHugh producing songs such as I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby; Exactly Like You and On the Sunny Side of the Street. In the 1930's she collaborated with Jerome Kern on the film Swing Time, winning the Academy Award for Best Song in 1936 for The Way You Look Tonight. In the 1940's she teamed up with her brother Herbert Fields with whom she wrote books for three Cole Porter shows, as well as the book for Annie Get Your Gun. She collaborated with Cy Coleman on Sweet Charity and Seesaw.

Tickets: £17.50 - £55.00
Preview prices £17.50 - £45.00
Day Seats - a limited number day seats at £20 will go on sale on the day of performance at 10am and can purchased from the Theatre Royal Haymarket Box Office in person
All ticket prices are subject to an additional £1 theatre restoration levy
Box Office: 0845 481 1870
Website: www.sweetcharitywestend.com
www.trh.co.uk

Photo by Catherine Ashmore

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