Christina Applegate Sidelined with Broken Foot, d'Amboise to Open Show on Broadway

Christina Applegate, the star of the upcoming Broadway production of SWEET CHARITY, broke her foot during a performance of the musical Friday, March 11 in Chicago. The show was playing its second of three pre-Broadway engagements there at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Producer Barry Weissler announced that standby, Charlotte D'Amboise will star as Charity Hope Valentine, when the show opens in New York on April 21st. They've stated that they're hopeful for Applegate to join the show as soon as her foot has healed.

Miss Applegate sustained her injury at the beginning of the show and continued to play for approximately 20 minutes before being unable to continue. The show was stopped while Miss Applegate's understudy, Dylis Croman, prepared to go on and finish the performance. Miss Croman also played the final three performances in Chicago on Saturday, March 12th and Sunday, March 13th.

Miss Applegate's standby in the role, Tony nominee Charlotte D'Amboise, will play the role in the production's third and final pre-Broadway engagement at Boston's Colonial Theatre March 18-27, and when the show opens on Broadway.

Charlotte D'Amboise is currently starring in the Broadway company of Chicago as Roxie Hart, a role that earned her rave New York reviews and the L.A. Drama Critics' Circle Award, L.A. Ovation Award and Bay Area Theatre Circle Award for the national tour. She has also just finished the Encores! production of Can-Can. Prior Broadway credits: the Wife in Contact, Lola in Damn Yankees (Fred Astaire Award), Jerome Robbins' Broadway (Tony nomination), Company, Carrie, Song & Dance, Cats. Off Broadway: Tonight at 8:30 (Williamstown Theatre), Non-Pasquale Film: The Preacher's Wife, The In Crowd. TV: "Law & Order," "Beyond the Bermuda Triangle" (MOW). One her proudest moments was performing at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony for her father.

Co-starring Tony winner Denis O'Hare, SWEET CHARITY is directed by Tony winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony winner Wayne Cilento. The book is by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and is based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Flaiano.

SWEET CHARITY is produced by Barry and Fran Weissler and Clear Channel Entertainment in association with Edwin W. Schloss, and features scenic design by Scott Pask, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, hair design by Paul Huntley, and sound design by Peter Hylenski. The music director for SWEET CHARITY is Gordon Lowry Harrell with orchestrations by Don Sebesky, additional vocal arrangements by Michael Rafter and additional dance arrangements by James Abbott.