Sabella and George Join the Cast of the Upcoming Sweet Charity

Broadway.com has learned that Ernie Sabella is set for Herman and Rhett George will play Big Daddy in the upcoming Broadway revival of Sweet Charity. They join Christina Applegate, Denis O'Hare, Natascia Diaz, Solange Sandy, Paul Schoeffler and Shannon Lewis in the musical.

Ken Mandelbaum first reported Sabella for Sweet Charity on November 29. Sabella previously appeared on Broadway in Man of La Mancha, Chicago helmed by Charity director Walter Bobbie, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Guys and Dolls, Little Johnny Jones and The Robber Bridegroom.He was a regular on TV's Encore!, Perfect Strangers and Saved by the Bell. His film credits include In & Out, Mousehunt, Quiz Show, The Lion King in which he memorably voiced Pumbaa and The Out-of-Towners.

George has appeared on Broadway in Aida and Wicked. His other theatrical credits include off-Broadway's Radiant Baby, a national tour of Fame and The Lion King and Rent in Toronto.

Sweet Charity, based on Federico Fellini's Nights of Cabiria, centers on Charity Applegate, a dance-hall hostess read prostitute with a heart of gold. The tuner is set in 1960s New York and features music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and a book by Neil Simon.

This Sweet Charity, directed by Bobbie and choreographed by Wayne Cilento, is scheduled to premiere at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, where it will run from February 8 through February 20. It will then head to Chicago's Cadillac Palace February 23 through March 13 and Boston's Colonial Theatre March 15 through March 27 before beginning Broadway performances on April 4.