Sweet Charity heads to Canberra

The sold out production of Sweet Charity at Hayes Theatre Co in February 2014 opened to rave reviews and standing ovations.

Sweet Charity went on to be nominated for eight Helpmann Awards and won three including Best Female Actor in a Musical for Verity Hunt Ballard, Best Direction of a Musical for Dean Bryant and Best Choreography in a Musical for Andrew Hallsworth.

And now this remarkable ground-breaking production is coming to Canberra Theatre Centre from 11-22 February 2015.

Other cities and venues for the Sweet Charity tour will be announced soon.

“Presenting Sweet Charity at Hayes Theatre Co in Sydney was one of the most rewarding experiences of our producing careers” said Lisa Campbell of Luckiest Productions.

“The magic that was created by the cast and creative team rightly caused a sensation, and we were immediately determined to bring this magical experience to a wider audience.

“We are thrilled to be able to present the show again.”

If you believe in something hard enough, then eventually it has to come true, right?

Charity Hope Valentine is the eternal optimist - a worldview that puts her distinctly at odds with her co-workers in a seedy, run-down dance hall.

Dancing with man after man to pay her rent, she dreams of finally being whisked out of there and rescued by love.

But can Charity wish her way into making love come true?

“I am so delighted to be working with Luckiest Productions and Neil Gooding and the Canberra Theatre Centre on the transfer of Sweet Charity,” said Tinderbox Producer Liza McLean.

“Canberra audiences are in for a real treat next year when this talented cast grace the stage of the Playhouse Theatre for two weeks only!”

Director of Canberra Theatre Centre Bruce Carmichael says having such an acclaimed musical come to town is a huge deal for Canberra.

“This is going to be one of the biggest show-stopping musicals we’ve seen here in recent years,” he said.

“I am so pleased we’re able to host such an acclaimed production that audiences would normally have to travel to Sydney or Melbourne for, right here in Canberra.

It’s going to be a fantastic way to start off the theatre’s 50th birthday year and I can’t wait!”

Sweet Charity is directed by Helpmann and Green Room Award winner Dean Bryant, and boasts an outstanding list of musical theatre stars led by Verity Hunt- Ballard, who won a Helpmann Award for Charity and her starmaking role as Mary Poppins in the 2011 Disney and Cameron Mackintosh touring production.

Other cast members include Helpmann nominees Martin Crewes (Dr Zhivago),and Debora Krizak (A Chorus Line), with Musical Direction by Andrew Worboys, choreography by Andrew Hallsworth, and costume and wig design by Academy Award and Tony winner Tim Chappel.

Other cast members include; Kuki Tipoki, Rowena Vilar, Xander Ellis, Francesca O’Donnell, Jakob Ambrose and Sean Matthew Moore.

“Hayes Theatre Co exploded onto the theatre scene with this moving, incredible production of Sweet Charity,” says Hayes Theatre Co Chair Neil Gooding.

“The Helpmann Awards were an unexpected surprise - and we are beyond thrilled to see our first theatrical “baby” growing up, and touring Australia in 2015.

“We hope that this is the first of many main-stage transfers for the productions which originate at Hayes Theatre Co – the home for musical theatre and cabaret in Sydney.”

General tickets are now on sale for $80 - $100 (A $3.30 transaction fee applies).

Dates: 11-22 February

Venue: Canberra Theatre Centre

Booking: canberratheatrecentre.com.au or call the box office on (02) 6275 2700.