Le monde des musicals

Charity Valentine is the eternal optimist. While working at the seedy Fan-Dango ballroom, she is often taken advantage of and continually experiences bad relationships. Finally, she seems to have met a decent fellow in Oscar. Trying to hide her true profession, she lies to him and tells her that she works in a bank. Soon, Oscar asks Charity to marry him. Unfortunately, Oscar discovers Charity's real profession and backs out of the marriage. Nevertheless, Charity continues to remain hopeful that good things will happen in her life.

Original productions
After a tryout at Detroit's Fisher Theatre, the musical premiered on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on January 29, 1966 and closed on July 15, 1967 after 608 performances and 10 previews. It was conceived, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse and starred Gwen Verdon, John McMartin, Helen Gallagher, Thelma Oliver, James Luisi, Arnold Soboloff, and Sharon Ritchie. Scenic and lighting design were by Robert Randolph and costume design was by Irene Sharaff. The production was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning for Fosse's choreography.
The musical opened in the West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre in October 1967, running for 476 performances. Juliet Prowse starred, and was succeeded by Gretchen Wyler.

1986 Broadway revival
A revival opened on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre on April 27, 1986 and closed on March 15, 1987, running for 369 performances and 15 previews. Again directed and choreographed by Fosse, Debbie Allen starred as Charity with Bebe Neuwirth as Nickie and Michael Rupert as Oscar. Fosse's wife Gwen Verdon (the original Charity from 1966), remounted the choreography with Fosse, and taught much of the ensemble numbers to the female chorus. The production won four Tony Awards including the Tony Award, Best Reproduction (Play or Musical). When Allen left the show Ann Reinking took over as Charity.

1998 Benefit concert
On June 15, 1998, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presented an all-star fully staged one-night-only concert at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. It starred Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth, Donna McKechnie, Debbie Allen and in her last public stage appearance, Gwen Verdon, all in the shared role of Charity.

1998 London revival
A West End revival opened on 19 May 1998 and closed on 15 August 1998 at the Victoria Palace Theatre, choreographed by Stephen Mear and starring Bonnie Langford.

2005 Broadway revival
Christina Applegate starred in another revival of the show, opening on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on May 4, 2005, after a troubled three-city preview tour. The show went into production beginning January 25, 2005 at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. Audience-attended previews began February 8, with the Opening Night performance held February 17, 2005. The Minneapolis engagement closed on February 20. Applegate broke her foot in Chicago, the second stop on the tour, and was replaced by her understudy, Charlotte d'Amboise. Then, after the final leg of the tour in Boston, the producers announced that the production would not be continuing to Broadway due to lack of interest. However, two days later, the Broadway engagement was on after Applegate convinced the producers to continue. A week into previews, Applegate rejoined the cast, which also included Denis O'Hare and Ernie Sabella. The show was nominated for three Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Applegate. Reportedly, pop icon Britney Spears was asked to replace Applegate when her contract expired, but declined the offer. The musical ended its Broadway run on December 31, 2005, after 279 performances.
A national tour of the 2005 Broadway revival began in September 2006 and ended in August 2007. It starred Molly Ringwald and later Paige Davis as Charity.

2009 London revival
A revival of the show opened for a limited engagement at London's Menier Chocolate Factory on 21 November 2009 and closed on 7 March 2010. It starred Tamzin Outhwaite as Charity. Outhwaite is reprising the title role in the West End transfer of the successful Chocolate Factory production of the show. Playing at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket the show opened officially on 4 May 2010 after previews began on 23 April. This was the first major production to have the same actor (Mark Umbers) play all three of Charity's love interests: Charlie, Vittorio and Oscar. Similarly, Josefina Gabrielle plays both Nickie and Ursula while Tiffany Graves plays Helene. The production closed at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 6 November 2010 but will transfer to run until 8 January 2011. The 2011 Olivier Award nominations were announced on Monday 7 January 2011, and this production received three nominations: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Theatre Choreography for Stephen Mear and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Josefina Gabrielle.

Act I
"Overture"
"Charity's Theme"
"You Should See Yourself" - Charity
"Big Spender" - Nickie, Helene and Fandango Girls
"Charity's Soliloquy" - Charity
"Rich Man's Frug" - The Company
"If My Friends Could See Me Now" - Charity
"Too Many Tomorrows" - Vittorio Vidal
"There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" - Charity, Nickie and Helene
"I'm The Bravest Individual" - Charity and Oscar

Act II
"The Rhythm Of Life" - Daddy Johann Sebastian Brubeck, Daddy's Assistants, Daddy's All-Girl Rhythm Choir and The Company
"Good Impression" - Oscar
"Baby, Dream Your Dream" - Nickie and Helene
"Sweet Charity" - Oscar and The Company
"Where Am I Going?" - Charity
"I'm A Brass Band" - Charity and The Company
"I Love To Cry At Weddings" - Herman and The Company
"I'm The Bravest Individual" (Reprise) - Charity

Charity Hope Valentine, the girl who wanted to be loved
Oscar Lindquist, a man whom Charity befriends and eventually falls in love with
Charlie, Charity's boyfriend in the opening of the show, and the name on her tattoo
Nickie and Helene, Charity's closest friends who are taxi dancers at the Fandango Ballroom
Herman, the authoritarian owner of the Fandango Ballroom; Charity's boss
Vittorio Vidal, a famous Italian movie star
Ursula March, Vittorio's girlfriend
Daddy Johann Sebastian Brubeck, the enigmatic leader of the Rhythm of Life Church
Carmen, a dancer at the Fandango Ballroom who is friends with Nickie, Helene, and Charity
Rosie, the new dancer at the Fandango Ballroom
Suzanne, Frenchie, Betsy, and Elaine, dancers at the Fandango Ballroom

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