Composer

:

Cy Coleman

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1966

Average_duration

:

64:32

Sweet Charity is a musical that was composed by Cy Coleman, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields and a book by Neil Simon. The musical is based on Federico Fellini's film Nights of Cabiria. The plot revolves around the life of a dance hall hostess named Charity Hope Valentine, who is always looking for love but never seems to find it. The musical was composed in 1966 and premiered on Broadway on January 29, 1966. The original production was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse and starred Gwen Verdon as Charity. The musical was a huge success and ran for 608 performances. The musical is divided into two acts and has a total of 17 musical numbers. The first act introduces the character of Charity and her life as a dance hall hostess. She meets a shy accountant named Oscar and falls in love with him. However, their relationship is short-lived as Oscar discovers Charity's profession and leaves her. The second act sees Charity trying to move on from Oscar and finding love with a movie star named Vittorio Vidal. However, their relationship is also short-lived as Vittorio's girlfriend Ursula discovers their affair. Charity is left alone once again but decides to start a new life. The musical is known for its catchy songs and energetic dance numbers. The most famous song from the musical is "Big Spender", which is sung by the dance hall hostesses. The song has become a popular anthem for female empowerment. The musical also explores themes of love, loneliness, and the search for happiness. Charity is a relatable character who is always looking for love but never seems to find it. Her journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring. In conclusion, Sweet Charity is a timeless musical that has captured the hearts of audiences for over 50 years. The music composed by Cy Coleman, the lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and the book by Neil Simon have all contributed to the success of the musical. The musical's themes of love, loneliness, and the search for happiness are still relevant today.

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