'Sweet Charity' : Once again bound for Broadway.

Sweet Charity, which only five days ago cancelled its forthcoming engagement at the Al Hirshfield theatre, is now to arrive on Broadway after all.

The show will open at the Al Hirschfield Theatre on the 4 May 2005, following previews from the 11 Apr.

Christina Applegate will assume the title role of 'Charity Hope Valentine' on the 18 Apr 2005. Charlotte d'Amboise will play all preview performances from the 11 - 16 Apr.

Doubt first arose about whether Sweet Charity would ever reach Broadway after the show's star, Christina Applegate, broke her foot during a pre-Broadway engagement in Boston on the 11 Mar.

Despite assurances from the show's producers that Miss Applegate's doctor was confident that she would be able to return to the show in return for the Broadway opening, which was originally scheduled for the 4 Apr 2005, this did not bode well for box-office takings.

Therefore it was not totally surprising when producer Barry Weissler announced five days ago that the show's Broadway engagement was cancelled because of "weak sales on the road and in New York."

However, the new schedule for Sweet Charity, means any doubts about Christina Applegate's fitness to return to the show have been removed

"I spent the weekend on the telephone with Christina Applegate who made a passionate and compelling case for moving forward with our Broadway plans. Her doctor also confirmed this morning that she will be ready and able to resume performances on April 18th. I have approached my partners on the show and we have all agreed to put up the additional funds necessary to accommodate this new schedule. I guess the only thing left for me to do is ask everyone to please refrain from using the old showbiz adage, 'break a leg!' " said producer Barry Weissler.

Co-starring Tony winner Denis O�Hare, 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 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.