Sweet Charity, presented by Bloomington Civic Theatre, begins on Friday October 21 in the Schneider Theatre. Sweet Charity is directed by Jon Cranney and choreographed by Tracy Doheny Erickson. Anita Ruth conducts the Bloomington Civic Theatre’s orchestra. The production features Jeff Turner as ‘Oscar’, Paul R. Coate as ‘Vittorio Vidal’ and ‘Daddy Brubeck’, and Emily Herringshaw as the title character, ‘Charity Hope Valentine’.
Emily Herringshaw as Charity
Set around the desperate search for love by a taxi dancer for hirer in the 1960s, Sweet Charity was conceived and choreographed by Bob Fosse. It had 608 performances on Broadway at the Palace Theatre beginning in 1966, received numerous Tony nominations, won for best choreography and was made into a movie in 1969 starring Shirley MacLaine. Audiences will recognize songs like “Big Spender” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now” made familiar by its success.
Director Jon Cranney has forty years of theater experience, which includes a background in serious and classical theater at Guthrie Theater and Children’s Theater Company, and welcomed the challenge of directing the Bob Fosse musical comedy. “This was an interesting kind of challenge for me because it was such a dance show and such a big movement show,” said Cranney. “I learned a lot about the real essence of story telling when you have very few elements of the story. It goes from number to number and you have to make sure you connect the dots.” Jon Cranney also directed Jacques Brel is Alive and Well & Living in Paris during the 2010-11 Bloomington Civic Theatre season.
Choreographer Tracy Doheny Erickson adds her flair and original creations. “It is such a privilege to do something in this style because Bob Fosse was so unique in this style,” said Erickson. “It is kind of a difficult one to master, not only in learning the dances, but there is a lot of work working on the style as well.” Erickson kept two numbers, “Big Spender” and “Rich Man’s Frug” true to Bob Fosse’s original choreography.
Sweet Charity runs Friday, October 21 through Sunday, November 19, 2011. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2pm. There is also a Wednesday performance on November 9 at 7:30pm, and a 2pm Saturday matinee on November 12 and 19. The Thursday November 3 performance is ASL Interpreted, and the Friday November 4 performance is Audio Described. Post-show ‘talk-backs’ with the cast and crew take place after the Sunday matinees on October 23 and November 6. All performances are held in the Schneider Theater at the Bloomington Theatre and Art Center at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd. in Bloomington, MN. All seating is reserved, and tickets are $28 for adults, $25 for seniors and students, and may be purchased by calling the Bloomington Theatre and Art Center Box Office at 952-563-8575, or online at www.bloomingtoncivictheatre.org.
Bloomington Civic Theatre cast for Sweet Charity warms up for rehearsal on stage at Schneider Theater
Full Sweet Charity cast list:
Charity Emily Herringshaw
Helene Larissa Gritti
Nickie Angela Fox
Carmen Katie Wodele
Fan Dango Girl (4) Laura Gardner
Fan Dango Girl (5) Christina Leines
Fan Dango Girl (6) Kirby Trymucha
Fan Dango Girl (7) Morgan Kirvida
Fan Dango Girl (8) Helen Hassinger
Fan Dango Girl (9) Julia Mann
Ursala Danielle Nelson
Rosie Suzie Juul
Good Fairy Eryn Tvete
Woman w/ Hat Alice McGlave
Herman Joseph St. James
Vittorio Vidal Paul R. Coate
Oscar Jeff Turner
Daddy J S Brubeck Paul R. Coate
Charlie Ryan Shipley
Man of Couple Andrew Newman
Football Player James Kennedy
Baseball Player (1) Arthur Schultz
Baseball Player (2) Brendan Veerman
Young Man/Rescuer Werner Christensen
First Cop Rik Kutcher
Second Cop Rod Barsness
Man in Park 1 Marc Berg
Man in Park 2 Keith Wynekoop
Ice Cream Vendor Ryan Scott
