The musical will have a pre-Broadway premiere in Minneapolis, Feb. 8-20, 2005 at the Orpheum Theatre. The production will rehearse in New York, then come to Minneapolis for rehearsal and tech before launching to the public. The musical will then proceed to stints in Chicago and Boston's Colonial Theatre (March 15-27, 2005).

Christina Applegate — of "Married with Children" fame —is set to star in the title role of Charity Hope Valentine, the part originated on Broadway by four time Tony Award winner Gwen Verdon. Barry and Fran Weissler will co produce the production with Clear Channel Entertainment.

Walter Bobbie will direct and Wayne Cilento will choreograph the production.

Set designer Scott Pask (Nine, Take Me Out) has signed on and costume designer William Ivey Long (Hairspray, Twentieth Century) is also on board, according to Bobbie.

The revival will feature a revised book by Neil Simon as well as one new song added to the classic Cy Coleman-Dorothy Fields score. Sweet Charity is a quirky, romantic, urban musical comedy about a dance hall hostess with a heart of gold. It includes such songs like "Big Spender," "If My Friends Could See Me Now," "Where Am I Going?" and "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This." The Neil Simon-Cy Coleman-Dorothy Fields show from 1966 was a triumph for creator-director-choreographer Bob Fosse and actress Gwen Verdon. The 1969 film starred Shirley MacLaine as the innocent Charity. A 1986 Broadway revival (overseen by Fosse, who died shortly after) starred Debbie Allen.