HOUSTON, TEXAS… John C. Breckenridge, President and CEO of Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), announced today the July 4th evening performance of Sweet Charity has been canceled.  “Due to the city’s July 4th Downtown festivities, expected crowds, and freeway closures near the Hobby Center; TUTS has decided to cancel the July 4th performance of Sweet Charity to accommodate the holiday and ease the difficulty on our patrons,” said Breckenridge.  Sweet Charity ticket buyers may exchange into another performance free-of-charge by calling the TUTS Box Office at (713) 558-TUTS.

     Theatre Under The Stars presents the new tour of Sweet Charity, starring Paige Davis from June 26-July 8 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby at Walker).  Davis, the Emmy-nominated host of The Learning Channel’s series, “Trading Spaces, ” will take the lead as Charity Hope Valentine in the three-time Tony Award nominated musical, Sweet Charity. 

 
   Directed by Scott Faris (South Pacific starring Robert Goulet) and choreographed by Wayne Cilento (Wicked, Aida) Sweet Charity features show-stopping numbers including “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “Big Spender” and “Where Am I Going?”

   Sweet Charity received Tony Award nominations for “Best Musical Revival,” “Best Choreography" and “Best Actress.” The Wall Street Journal declared it “A blast.”  USA Today characterized Tony nominee Wayne Cilento’s choreography as “exhilarating!”  

With a hilarious book by none other than Neil Simon, Sweet Charity features a classic score by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields. 

   Davis’ prowess as a triple threat dancer, actress and singer quickly led to a long association with the hit musical Chicago, where she starred as Roxie Hart on Broadway and starring roles in its national and international tours.  Regionally, Davis has been seen as Val in A Chorus Line, April in Company, Catherine in Pippin and Irene Malloy in Hello, Dolly!, among others.  As an author, Davis has written a book called Paige by Paige:  One Year of Trading Spaces, which was a New York Times Best Seller.

   Charity Hope Valentine is the eternal optimist.  While working at the seedy Fandango ballroom, she is often taken advantage of and continually experiences bad relationships.  Finally, she seems to have met a decent fellow in Oscar.  Trying to hide her true profession, she lies to him and tells him that she works in a bank.  Soon, Oscar asks Charity to marry him.  After he discovers Charity’s real profession, he backs out of the marriage.  Nevertheless, Charity continues to remain hopeful that good things will happen in her life.

   Single tickets for TUTS’ production Sweet Charity ($29-$92) are available to the public by phone at (713) 558-8887 or outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882; or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm); or on-line at www.tuts.com.  Audio described performances are available July 8 at 2 p.m.; open captioning July 8 at 7:30 p.m.  Wheelchair accessible.  Student discount tickets available one hour before performance.  Senior citizens (60+) receive 35 percent off all performances.  Group discounts are available for 10 or more and may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888.  

   TUTS 2006-2007 “Really Big” Season is sponsored by Stanford.  Sponsors of TUTS’ production of Sweet Charity include St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, The Humphreys Foundation, AIG American General, and Ballard Exploration Company, Inc.  Air transportation is provided by Continental Airlines, the official airline of Theatre Under The Stars.  Media sponsors are ABC-13 and Houston Chronicle.

   Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) was founded in 1968 by Frank M. Young.   TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the building opened.  Since its founding, TUTS has produced more than 275 musicals including many local, national and world premieres and is currently represented on Broadway with Beauty and the Beast.  TUTS is also noted for mounting many International tours, including Debbie Reynolds in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Juliet Prowse in Mame, Robert Goulet in Man of La Mancha and the Tony Award-winning revival of Carousel.  As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre provides instruction and stage experience for more than 1,700 students annually.  Now housed in the new Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston’s high school musical theatre programs.

•  del.icio.us •  digg •  facebook
E-mail this article to a friend (requires login).