new haarlem arts theatre staged sweet charity at aaron davis hall in the summer of 2012, and i played bass guitar and double bass in a band led by my friend brett pontecorvo. we were onstage in costume and worked with the cast through the show.

The entrance to Aaron Davis Hall on the City College campus in Harlem.
aaron davis hall, on the city college campus at 135th and convent. photo by HPPYCYCLNG, cc by-sa 4.0.

julio agustin directed it as a latino re-conception rather than a straight revival. the characters moved toward the cast, so charity became caridad, while cy coleman's music, dorothy fields's lyrics and neil simon's book were left as written. edlyn gonzález played caridad, and agustin, who had spent years on broadway in fosse, chicago and steel pier before he moved to directing, took an audelco nomination for this one.

previews began on 26 july, the show opened on the 28th, and it closed on 19 august. the new york times praised lainie munro's choreography and the "sure-footed accompaniment from brett pontecorvo's small band". the times filmed an excerpt too, which is the only footage i know of.

the times review · the times' excerpt · theatermania's review · backstage's review · playbill on the production · the casting announcement · new haarlem arts theatre