Thursday, June 14, 2007

From Sixteen Candles to Sweet Charity



I'm not afraid to say it-I love Broadway musicals. A lot of guys would not admit that, but I enjoy the top-notch performers, and I like to see musicals whenever possible. I live a long way from New York, but luckily a local venue in my town has Broadway musicals several times per year. I have a lot of admiration for performers who have the guts and talent to work in the field of musical theatre. I know that the competition is cut throat. Some of my favorite Broadway musicals are Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Little Shop of Horrors, Annie, and the one I saw most recently, Sweet Charity. I saw the touring production of Sweet Charity starring Molly Ringwald, best known for 1980s movies like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink. She was not the best singer or the best dancer on stage, but due to her name recognition, she was the star. The show is based on a Neil Simon book and it featured songs such as Big Spender and If My Friends Could See Me Now. Ringwald plays Charity Hope Valentine, an idealistic young woman looking for mister right, who works as a dance hostess in the Fandango Ballroom. The show is packed with great singing and dancing, quirky characters and it has funny and touching moments that made it a real treat that I would recommend checking out. In past performances the title role had been played by Christina Applegate from Married with Children.