On the weekend of April 13 and 14, SUNY New Paltz’s Miami Theatre Players lit up the Julien Studley Theatre with their show stopping production of “Sweet Charity.”
Their opening show was on Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. show. For their closing night, held on Sunday at 7 p.m., second-year journalism major Patrick Kelly and director of the Miami Theatre Players gave a heartwarming farewell speech to the graduating fourth-year cast members.
The romantic yet comical musical is set in 1960s New York City. Protagonist Charity Hope Valentine exemplifies this universal yet internalized longing feeling to be desired, loved or to simply be considered worthy.
Third-year history and political science double major Giovanna Phipps portrayed Charity, the leader of the Fandango Ballroom who just wants to be loved. The dance hall ladies work for hire – but considering Charity is the leader of the pack – they work together day in and day out forming bonds that extend beyond the ballroom.
With a cast of less than 30 members, some individuals underwent necessary quick changes to depict other characters throughout the show. The ballroom dancers along with other featured characters took on different roles in a variety of scenes. First-year digital media production major Catherine Wren portrayed frug girl. This is Wren’s second semester with the Miami Theatre Players, and she was one of two choreographers for “Sweet Charity.”
The club’s president, fourth-year adolescent education English major Elise Otton was the other choreographer. Otton portrayed the role of Betsy – one of the dance hall hostesses.
Initially, the Miami Theatre Players were set to put on a production of “Chicago,” but they were afflicted with a difficult situation – playwrights. Thus, the club only had so much time to figure out another plan – “Sweet Charity.” Wren said that they “had a really short turnaround to put on the show, but still we managed to do it and do it well.”
For Kelly, this has been their fourth semester with the Miami Theatre Players. “Despite a few setbacks, the cast really took the change in stride and really dove right into the material, making it their own and making it the amazing show that it was. They rehearsed late into the night, multiple times a week, and brought their A-game every time.”
From the moment Phipps set foot on stage, she captivated the entire audience with her elegant voice. This was Phipps’ first time performing musical theater in five years since the COVID-19 pandemic. Phipps shared that it was “really cool, but it’s a little nerve racking.”
Phipps said that she was “welcomed with such open arms and support and never expected that. I thought that people were not going to like me, but I was literally crying almost every day and was so happy, because I felt so much love.”
When Charity encounters Vittorio Vidal – portrayed by third-year Andrew Geher – she thinks she’s fallen in love with the charming fashion icon. Charity is under the impression that Vittorio reciprocates that feeling until his ex-girlfriend Ursula comes back into the plot.
Oscar Lindquist, played by Wyatt Crum, falls in love with Charity. Her love life is seemingly chaotic until she meets Oscar while stuck in an elevator at the Y. By a “fickle finger of fate,” Charity is quickly enamored by Oscar and he asks for Charity’s hand in marriage.
Oscar takes Charity to a meeting at the Rhythm of Life church, which he discovered in his membership to the church of the month. In this scene the cast’s chemistry shines through, as the audience gets a glimpse into their tight-knit bonds, both on and off stage. The ensemble performance of “Rhythm of Life” was all-encapsulating as the followers would “flap their wings and fly to daddy.”
Not long after the initial proposal, Oscar changes his mind and he decides to leave Charity. While Charity is left with her thoughts in emotional turmoil, she realized he was the only one she’d ever truly fallen in love with.
“It was actually the most healthy theater space I’ve ever been in – everybody was so loving. There was no jealousy, it was just such good vibes, which I was really happy to experience,” said Phipps.
Phipps said that the 60s have been a prevalent era in her life, stating that she has “always felt very connected to that time period,” so it was not difficult for Phipps to take on the role of a 60s icon.
Phipps remarked upon the process of getting into character to portray Charity. Phipps expressed that she feels there is a part of her “that lives in all of us to a certain extent with the desire to be loved– the desire to be wanted and to feel special. I felt like that, and I’m sure everybody on the planet has felt like that or wanted that.”
Phipps added, “I think for me, it wasn’t super hard to get into because I feel that way every day.”
Kelly said “Phipps was such a delight to work with and so amazing to direct. I had such an amazing creative team– each and every one of them are such beautiful humans and they truly made this experience such a delight. I think this is one of the most talented cast of people assembled in Miami’s history, and I’m so grateful with how it all turned out.”
The production was nothing short of perfection – with the timecasted costumes and the simplicity of the set – this was a sheer representation of pure talent. Congratulations to the cast and crew of the Miami Theatre Players for their incredible Spring 2024 production of “Sweet Charity!” You can look for updates, upcoming shows and audition opportunities on their section of New Paltz’s Engage website or on their Instagram, @themiamitheatreplayers.
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