'Sweet Charity' star Christina Applegate injured during pre-Broadway performance of show

Christina Applegate, the star of the upcoming Broadway production of Sweet Charity, broke her foot during a performance of the musical Friday, 11 March in Chicago. The show was playing its second of three pre-Broadway engagements there at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

Christina Applegate's doctors are optimistic that she will be able to return to the show in time for the first preview performance at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 4, where the musical opens on the 21 Apr 2005

Christina Applegate sustained her injury at the beginning of the show and continued to play for approximately 20 minutes before being unable to continue. The show was stopped while Miss Applegate's understudy, Dylis Croman, prepared to go on and finish the performance. Miss Croman also played the final three performances in Chicago on Saturday, 12 Mar and Sun 13.

Christina Applegate standby in the role, Tony nominee Charlotte d'Amboise, will play the role in the production's third and final pre-Broadway engagement at Boston�s Colonial Theatre from the 18 - 27 Mar.

Producer Barry Weissler said today, "The entire CHARITY family wishes Christina a speedy recovery and looks forward to welcoming her back to the company when the show begins performances on Broadway."

Charlotte d'Amboise is currently starring in the Broadway company of Chicago as Roxie Hart, a role that earned her rave New York reviews and the L.A. Drama Critics� Circle Award, L.A. Ovation Award and Bay Area Theatre Circle Award for the national tour. She has also just finished the Encores! production of 'Can-Can'. Prior Broadway credits: 'the Wife in 'Contact', Lola in 'Damn Yankees' (Fred Astaire Award), Jerome Robbins� Broadway (Tony nomination), Company, 'Carrie', 'Song & Dance', 'Cats'. Off Broadway: 'Tonight at 8:30' (Williamstown Theatre).

Co-starring Denis O�Hare, Sweet Charity is directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by 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 is Gordon Lowry Harrell with orchestrations by Don Sebesky, additional vocal arrangements by Michael Rafter and additional dance arrangements by James Abbott.