The story began in 1957 with renowned Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini's creation La Notti di Cabiria. Fellini's film brought us the dark and cynical story of Cabiria, a prostitute down on her luck and looking for a better life. His no holds barred attack on optimism, false hope, faith, and the practices of the Catholic church jarred the cinematic world, enraged the Catholic institution, and destined his story to become a classic.

Broadway legends Bob Fosse and Neil Simon realized the genius of Fellini's work. They determined to bring the story of a simple girl, down on her luck and looking for love, to the stage. Thus, in 1966, Sweet Charity was born. Audiences were delighted by the comical antics of Charity Hope Valentine. Her heart-breaking romances, her light-hearted mishaps, her social blunders, and her undying ability to always find the bright side of any situation.

Yet while Fosse and Simon worked to bring a simpler, comical, and less political work to the stage, there was no denying the underlying cynicism surrounding the work. While Charity remained the eternal optimist, her peers and environment shed a harsh light on the growing state of society--girls forced to sell their bodies to make a living, youngsters turning to drugs and charismatic charlatans to find faith and meaning in life, relationships for convenience rather than love, shattered dreams, and missed opportunities.

For the past two months, an extremely dedicated team of actors and designers has worked on the daunting challenge of bringing Charity's life story to the stage. Hours of rehearsal, planning, and designing have gone into the production you are about to see. These actors and designers have entered a story-land world outside of their own, yet one not too far from today's reality.

Charity remains a lone beacon in a society where optimism and hope are easily crushed by cynicism and despair. Yet Charity accepts her fate with the poise and dignity of a woman well beyond her years. Her refreshing attitude toward life unknowingly serves as a model for all those around her. Perhaps we can all learn a little from her…

Kristin M. Stewart
Artistic Director