Dog serves as reminder, participant in Southeast's musical 'Sweet Charity'

Chloe the Pomeranian makes her musical theater debut this week as the canine half of the "Woman with Dog" part in "Sweet Charity," the musical being put on by Southeast Missouri State University.

The part may be small, but it stands for something much bigger. Chloe, a rescued Pomeranian, was left to Judith Farris by her friend and former student Jill Armsbury Pendarvis, who died of lung cancer Jan. 22.

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Southeast and students decided to dedicate "Sweet Charity" to Armsbury. Farris, the voice coach at Southeast and the musical director for "Sweet Charity," brought Armsbury to speak to students at Southeast Missouri State University in 2008.

It was Armsbury's request that she take care of Chloe, Farris said. She brought the small dog to Cape Girardeau in January and frequently brought her to work so she wouldn't be lonely.

"Now the whole department feels like they own her," Farris said.

"Sweet Charity" tells the story of the perpetually optimistic Charity Hope Valentine, a taxi dancer in New York looking for love. The show contains adult themes and smoking. It is one of two large shows produced each year by the department.

The show started Wednesday and continues at 7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Bedell Performance Hall.

charris@semissourian.com

388-3641

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