I CAN'T BELIEVE IT---Charlotte d'Amboise is doing Broadway!!!!- Page 2

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 12:23pm

Chenoweth did an early workshop of "Millie," but Dilly did the La Jolla production, for which Foster was the understudy.

As it stands, "Sweet Charity" opens April 21. Tony cut-off for this year is May 4. They really don't have a lot of time. Anyway, Christina wouldn't be ready before the cut-off.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 12:45pm

According to the NY Times, the Weisslers have every intention of reinstating Applegate once she has healed and is ready to return, they just don't believe she will be returning in time to open on Broadway:



'Sweet Charity' Gets New Star After Applegate Injures Foot
By JOEL TOPCIK

Published: March 15, 2005


The Broadway veteran Charlotte d'Amboise will be starring in the revival of "Sweet Charity," replacing Christina Applegate, who broke her foot this past weekend in a pre-Broadway performance in Chicago, the show's producer said yesterday.

"I'm so sad for Christina," said Barry Weissler, the producer, "but it's about time someone paid attention to Charlotte d'Amboise."

Ms. d'Amboise is now starring as Roxie Hart in the New York production of "Chicago," which is also produced by Mr. Weissler. "If she's not the best Roxie Hart we've had," Mr. Weissler said of Ms. d'Amboise, "she's up there."

"Sweet Charity" is scheduled to start previews on Broadway April 4 and open April 21, after a short run in Boston. Ms. d'Amboise, along with two other new cast members, will go to Boston this week to start rehearsals, said John Barlow, the show's press agent.

On Sunday, Solange Sandy and Natascia Diaz, who played Charity's best friends, were dismissed and quickly replaced by Kyra Da Costa and Janine LaManna.

The revival has received mixed reviews so far, with some critics wondering whether Ms. Applegate's voice has sufficient power for a large Broadway house. The Chicago Tribune called it "sweet but tentative."

According to Mr. Barlow, Ms. Applegate broke her foot during the opening scene in Central Park: "She was swinging around the lamppost, and she heard her foot snap."

Walter Bobbie, the director of the show, said in an interview: "It was one of those freak things. There was no choreography, no big dancing thing."

A statement released Monday initially expressed optimism that Ms. Applegate would return to the show in time for the first New York preview. Mr. Weissler dismissed the idea and said he was unaware of the statement.

"I didn't know that had gone out," Mr. Weissler said. "That's a little crazy, don't you think? She broke her foot." (He subsequently explained that the release was written before the extent of the injury was known.) He confirmed that Ms. d'Amboise will open the show until Ms. Applegate is well enough to return.

The show's capitalization is $7.5 million. According to Mr. Weissler, advanced sales are "in excess of $2 million."

This is not the first time a Weissler production has stumbled during out-of-town previews prior to Broadway. In 1995, Tommy Tune broke his left foot during a performance of critically mixed "Busker Alley" in Tampa. After attempts to find a marquee-name replacement, the show was canceled at a loss of $6 million.

In Mr. Weissler's telling, the mishaps are virtually identical. He described how Mr. Tune broke his "left foot, fifth metatarsal" while executing a twirl on a lamppost. "The moral of the story?" Mr. Weissler said. "Never put a street lamp in a musical."




Sorry to rain on the parade...

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 12:49pm

as I have said before on this board, it is difficult to believe they are going to make SWEET CHARITY successful or fun to see. The original Gwen Verdon production and the Debbie Allen Broadway revival both got mixed reviews at best, and neither set fires at the box office.

SWEET CHARITY has always been second rate Cy Coleman and third rate Neil Simon. I only saw the Broadway revival with Debbie Allen. HEY BIG SPENDER was indeed a goosebump moment. Excellent performances were given by Bebe Neuwith and Michael Rupert. But, that was about it. Again I ask, with all the shows out there, why would the producers think that this show, which has always been a clinker, would suddenly turn into a successful moneymaker, let alone a good piece of theater?

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 1:18pm

I don't recall CHICAGO ever being thought of as a classic until 1996 when the current revival opened. Ya never know.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 3:47pm

Can't believe it, huh? Well right other than CONTACT, CHICAGO, COMPANY, DAMN YANKEES, JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY, CARRIE, SONG AND DANCE and CATS .... she's hasn't done a thing!

Updated On: 3/15/05 at 03:47 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 4:02pm

WISH- WTF? How many damn times can we see you say same exact thing? All the thread has to say is "Sweet Charity", and here comes WISH with his bullsh*t that we could care less about.

[Marquise]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 4:25pm

I say we tie the b*tch up to a chair and force his eye lids open (a la "A Clockwork Orange") and force him to repeated viewings of the 1969 movie version of "Sweet Charity", while the Original Broadway Cast and Revival Cast Albums are playing simultaneously.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 4:29pm

I almost feel bad that I called this, albeit in different circumstances, the day I found out Charlotte was the standby.
I knew something was going to happen (although I really thought it was going to be a Gettelfinger-like replacement thing) and Charlotte was going to be on Broadway.
But, good wishes to Christine Applegate, whom I've always enjoyed in the past, and for her chances to debut on Broadway soon.

[NYSinger1]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 5:18pm

I think Charlotte will be amazing. I am happy for her. I do hope Christina gets her chance to prove she can be a great B'way actress.

But, I did call it. I knew the second they announce she was going to Boston to finish the run, she would be opening on b'way.

[Marquise]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 5:46pm

and your medal is in the mail...

[NYSinger1]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 5:48pm

thank you. But, I do feel so bad for Christina. I think after her out of town tryouts, she would have had the role down really well. From what I know of the role, she seems like she would really grow into it.

[justme2]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 8:49pm

So, you are *happy* that your predictions came true and Applegate is out of the opening? Nice.