Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It is based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for Nights of Cabiria.
The original Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, opened on January 29, 1966 at the Palace Theatre and ran for 608 performances. It starred Gwen Verdon, John McMartin, Helen Gallagher, Thelma Oliver, James Luisi, Arnold Soboloff, and Sharon Ritchie. The production was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning for Fosse's choreography. The show had a London production at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1967 starring Juliet Prowse.
Sweet Charity is a 1969 musical movie directed by Bob Fosse, written by Neil Simon, and starring Shirley MacLaine. It is based on the 1966 stage musical of the same name, which Fosse had directed and choreographed as well. The movie was notable for costumes by Edith Head and its dance sequences (notably The Rich Man's Frug).
Taxi dancer Charity continues to have Faith in the human race despite apparently endless disappointments at its hands, and Hope that she will finally meet the nice young man to romance her away from her sleazy life. Maybe, just maybe, handsome Oscar will be the one to do it. Written by Jeremy Perkins
