‘Sweet Charity’ revival has been revived for NYC

It’s back -- and so is its star, Christina Applegate.

The problem-plagued revival of “Sweet Charity,” which last week canceled its Broadway engagement after Applegate broke her foot and the show received tepid out-of-town reviews, will open May 4 in New York, two weeks later than originally planned, producer Barry Weissler said Tuesday.

“Christina came to me and made the most deeply felt emotional plea,” Weissler said in a telephone interview. “She has given up all her movies for the year, plus her home and husband are on the West Coast. This is what she has wanted since she was a little girl, and I just couldn’t take it away from her.”

Weissler said he has received assurances from Applegate’s doctors that she will be able to perform in the musical, which is a dance-heavy show.

“Sweet Charity” will now begin preview performances April 11 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre with Applegate’s standby, Charlotte d’Amboise, playing the role through April 16. Applegate, who broke her right foot during a performance in Chicago on March 11, will take over on April 18.

Weissler declined to say how much the musical, originally budgeted at $7.5 million, would now cost. “We have to do two advertising campaigns -- one for Charlotte, one for Christina,” he said. “It’s going to cost.”