Debbie Allen as Sweet Charity

This was back in 1985. Bob Fosse mounted this revival of his show in Los Angeles. It was a carbon-copy recreation of his original 1966 Broadway staging, with some tweaking in the original costume design for the Fan Dango Ballroom ladies. Gwen Verdon took charge of the production, which he supervised. Bebe Neuwirth played Nikkie, and played Charity when Debbie was out. Allison Williams played Helene. Nothing racial was altered in the book whatsoever, and yes...Oscar was white -- played by Michael Rupert.

Due to Debbie's sensational athletic dancing style, Bob Fosse/Gwen Verdon enhanced some of the original choreography for her -- such as in the "I'm a Brass Band" number. As for her performance in the role, she gave Charity a slight goofy essence, which endeared you to her quickly. The pathos the character goes thru towards the end of the show was quite effective.

A few months later, in 1986, the production opened on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre. Bebe Neuwirth and Michael Rupert both won Tony Awards for their performances. After Debbie left, she was sourly replaced by Fosse muse Ann Reinking.

The only major changes that took place were with the music. They used the movie melody for the title song. Cy Coleman rewrote the lyrics and melody of I'M THE BRAVEST INDIVIDUAL, and gave it a funky rap sound.

And for the cast recording they funkified many of the other songs. But that was under Cy Coleman's discretion. It's been said he loved changing things for cast recordings of his scores.

Updated On: 3/29/07 at 08:01 PM

The recording isn't rare anymore as it was recently re-released on CD:

SWEET CHARITY (1986 Broadway Revival Recording):

http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Charity-Cy-Coleman/dp/B000BJNTTY/ref=sr_1_4/104-3116034-1000722?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1175214128&sr=1-4

Wow listening to that Michael ruper track--I like the new tune more than I did from the movie but wow even there it sounds OH SO 80s! as does the cover for the CD--so was it transposed? even with oh so 60s moments like the Frug? (one of the Amazon comments says that Where Am i going is now a soaring synth song)

And some of these new orchestrations wer eonly for the CD not on stage??

I'll have to buy this though the original Gwen CD is one of my all time fave cast albums.

Now that we can post Youtube--here's a great clip of Gwen and Debbie dancing on Fame http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFr4tBnXJ38

Updated On: 3/29/07 at 08:27 PM

The production was still set in the '60s, and Debbie Allen was very good - she was kind of goofy and endearing. It opened in New York in April, 1986, and she stayed with it until the late fall. Reinking took over, and she wasn't as bad as people say she was - and she did do the Fosse choreography better than Allen did. But Reinking wasn't the draw they thought she would be, and the show closed in March of 1987. Donna McKechnie did the tour. By all accounts she was splendid in the role.

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This recording isn't rare and while he did make Bravest Individual quite funky, there is nothing even close to a "rap" sound anywhere in it.

I'll have to buy this--it's got me quite curious. Was any number from it performed on the TOnys?

and once again anyone know of any pics that show the basic set designs or stage picture for this or the original?

I grew up with rap in the 80s and am not sure it was all that different though it was more "party rap" overall--but I think I get what you mean by some rap inflections

Well, technically "Charity's Soliloquy" was cut during the original run of SWEET CHARITY--I think it was mostly due to Verdon being rather weak, but I still love that number and don't see why it was cut from the national tour, the film, and the revival.
The major tragedy that goes along with this revival is Bob Fosse's premature death. I believe it was the national tour that was supposed to open in D.C. the day he died (if I remember Donna McKechnie's autobiography correctly). I've heard that McKechnie should've replaced Allen, not Ann Reinking.
As much as I admire Ms.Reinking, I don't see her being a likable Charity for one second. McKechnie seems like a natural for the role though.

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Debbie Allen did about a minute of "I'm a Brass Band" on the Tonys.

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I've seen that clip on youtube, why was it so short, Smaxie?

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husk, there are clips of Bebe doing some of Charity's songs on youtube from the BCEFA concert. I think there might be clips of Debbie too.

I was about to mention the BCEFA youtube clips, they're fantastic. (Am I allowed to mention them?)

And I looove that Tony performance, but I can't seem to find it anymore.

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