'Sweet Charity' celebrates 100th performance on Broadway.

Sweet Charity, the show that almost did not make it to Broadway, celebrated its 100th performance on Friday 29 Jul 2005.

The show opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on the 4 May 2005, following a series of events that sound like the beginnings of a script for a Broadway musical.

Christina Applegate, who plays the musical's heroine 'Sweet Charity,' broke her foot during a pre-Broadway engagement in Boston on the 11 Mar 2005. Despite assurances that Miss Applegate would recover in time for the Broadway engagement, there was an announcement on the 25 Mar 2005 that due to Ms Applegate's injury the Broadway engagement was cancelled. Only for a further announcement, five days later, that the show would go ahead after all, with Ms Applegate playing the title role on opening night.

Sweet Charity tells the story of a hostess girl who works at the Fan-Dango Ballroom and is unlucky in love. However, just as she has about given up on men, she falls in love with Oscar, a man she meets while trapped in a lift. Has Charity finally found the man of her dreams or will she be disappointed again?

Co-starring Denis O�Hare (Oscar Linquist), the cast also includes Natascia Diaz, Solange Sandy, Rob Bartlett (Herman), Paul Schoeffler, Rhett George (Big Daddy), Shannon Lewis, Todd Anderson Alexis Carra, Joyce Chittick, Tim Craskey, Dylis Croman, Anika Ellis, Bob Gaynor, Tyler Hanes, Manuel Herrera, Kisha Howard, Mylinda Hull, Reginald Holden Jennings, Amy Krawcek, Corrine McFadden, Marielys Molina, Timothy Edward Smith and Seth Stewart .

Denis O'Hare received the Drama Desk Award for Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of 'Oscar Linquist.'

Sweet Charity is directed by Tony winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony winner Wayne Cilento. The book is by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and is based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Flaiano.

Sweet Charity, opened to mostly luke warm to poor notices. Ben Brantley of the New York Times wrote "Concludes a Broadway season weak on musicals not with a hoped-for fanfare but with an all-too-appropriate wistful whimper.� and Michael Kuchwara of the Assoicated Press said "It would be nice to report that things have come together triumphantly for "Sweet Charity," the problem-plagued revival. Yet the production, like its heroine's efforts in the love department, delivers mixed, bittersweet results." However, Clive Barnes, of the New York Post said "Christina Applegate is triumphant."

To read more of what the critics said click here

Sweet Charity is produced by Barry and Fran Weissler and Clear Channel Entertainment in association with Edwin W. Schloss, and features scenic design by Scott Pask, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, hair design by Paul Huntley, and sound design by Peter Hylenski. The music director for SWEET CHARITY is Gordon Lowry Harrell with orchestrations by Don Sebesky, additional vocal arrangements by Michael Rafter and additional dance arrangements by James Abbott.