Orlando, FL – Valencia College Theater is proud to present the award-winning musical “Sweet Charity” Oct. 23 through Nov. 1 in the college’s Performing Arts Center.
“Sweet Charity” is a poignant, funny play about the misadventures of a gullible dance-hall hostess, Charity Hope Valentine, who always gives her heart to the wrong man.
At the beginning of the play, Charity is seeing a married man, who she hopes will marry her as soon as he divorces his wife. As this eternal optimist tries to find Mr. Right, the audience meets her Times Square acquaintances: her cynical trio of girlfriends from the dance hall, the phony evangelist, the Coney Island “fun people,” the Central Park walkers and the YMCA “self-improvers.”
The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1966, was nominated for 12 Tony awards. It was conceived, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, based on a screenplay by Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano and Tullio Pinelli. Audiences unfamiliar with the play will surely know some of the songs from the musical, written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields, including “Big Spender” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now.”
The Valencia production is a collaboration between director Julia Gagne, Orlando choreographer Eric Yow and musical director Tim Hanes. In 2014, the trio collaborated to produce Valencia’s production of “West Side Story,” which sold out almost every performance.
Performances will be held Oct. 23 through Nov. 1 and will be staged in the Performing Arts Center on Valencia’s East Campus. These include a special talkback with the cast and director after the performance on Friday, Oct. 30. There will also be a special American Sign Language-interpreted performance on Oct. 30. (For reserved seats for deaf or hard-of-hearing patrons during the sign-language performance, please contact the box office at 407-582-2900.)
General admission tickets cost $15. Senior citizens, Valencia faculty, staff and students may purchase tickets for $12. Tickets can be purchased online at www.valenciacollege.edu/arts. Use the online code VALENCIAWEB and you’ll save $2 per ticket.
Looking for a bargain? Take advantage of the special “Industry Night” ticket price on Monday, Oct.26, when all tickets are $10 each. No discounts will be applied to those tickets.
For more information or to order tickets by phone, please call the college box office at 407-582-2900.
WHAT: Sweet Charity
WHO: Valencia College Theater
Directed by Julia Gagne
Musical direction by Tim Hanes
Choreography by Eric Yow
WHEN: Only 7 Performances
Oct. 23, 24, 26, 30, 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinees: Oct. 25 & Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Performing Arts Center
Valencia College East Campus
701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL.
TICKETS: $15 general admission
$12 for Valencia students, faculty, staff and senior citizens
Box Office: 407-582-2900
Online: www.valenciacollege.edu/arts