Davis to Succeed Ringwald in "Sweet Charity"

From Theatermania.com:

"Paige Davis will take over the starring role of Charity Hope Valentine from Molly Ringwald in the national tour of Sweet Charity, beginning with performances at San Antonio's Majestic Theater on June 19. Davis will continue with the tour, which will stop at Houston's Theatre Under the Stars, June 26-July 8, before heading to Kansas City, Milwaukee, Dallas, and Tempe, Arizona..."

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/10283

I think this could be some really great casting. Davis has the proper charm and talent to make this role work.

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It still pisses me off that Trading Spaces fired her when she did the number for Broadway Bares. She is way more talented then that show ever gave her credit. And now where is that show. NO WHERE!

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I think she will be wonderful in the role.

DAMN IT, Molly Ringwald was my motivation to see the tour If the local theatre doesn't offer student tickets, I'm going to need a really good reason to see this production again.

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 03:50 PM

I second what Rentboy said.

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I was hoping you meant Frenchie Davis when I read your post title.

I had heard it was not her Bway Bares appearance. It was another "bare" appearance.

Rumors. . .all rumors.

Below is Paige Davis' explanation.

"Guys, guys, guys!

This is getting way out of control. It reminds me of the fuss over that "scandalous" TV Guide cover!

I open in "Chicago" tonight on Broadway, but I care enough about this charity and about you to answer these rumors myself right away.

The truth is that on Sunday night I appeared as a celebrity guest presenter at "Broadway Bares", a huge annual event which raises money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, which (as many of you know) is my favorite charity. As you may recall, I raised $20,000 for them last year in an embarrassing night of "Celebrity Jeopardy"!

"Broadway Bares" is an extremely reputable event, now in it's fourteenth year. Many, many celebrities have appeared as guest presenters, including, (this year) Shirley Jones (Mama Partridge!) , Swoozie Kurtz, and Patrick Cassidy, along with countless Broadway stars. It is not a real "strip show" (imagine!) but a raucous, exciting, sexy Vegas-style revue which has raised millions of dollars to assist men women and children suffering with HIV and Aids.

At this year's event I was given the honor of presenting the "thank yous" to the sponsors at the end of the evening. I was dressed in a very modest, almost demure, yellow dress, cut to my sternum. Yes, I did flip my skirt for a second to get a reaction from the crowd and yes, they went wild. I did collect some money in a pretend-stripper fashion (with my husband Patrick standing right there) from a crowd that was 99% gay men! No one "mauled my breasts"! I kept all of my clothes on at all times. If any TS fans are shocked or offended by the Post's coverage, I would have them consider the source---the Post is known for rumor and exaggeration---and my intentions, which were to raise money for people who are suffering and dying. The good news is that we ended up raising over half a million dollars in one night!

Thanks for watching the show, and for caring enough to come to the website. You guys are the best!

Love,

Paige"

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 08:11 PM

Good for Paige - if I could raise money to fight AIDS by dropping my pants, I would.

Paige in Sweet Charity is perfect casting; I just wish she'd been with the tour when they came to Sacramento.

Uggh. I *just* finished posting in the Florida section about this show's craptacularness, and now I see this, and it makes it all the worse that I wasted my money on this show yesterday. Maybe Paige Davis can make this show less boring?