How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Frank Loesser with a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, is based on Shepherd Mead’s 1952 book of the same name. The book is a humorous satire of an instruction manual, subtitled The Dastard’s Guide to Fame and Fortune. Mead’s novel lampoons contemporary office life in corporate America in the guise of a self-help book, and was inspired by the author’s own experiences in an advertising firm in the 1930’s. The musical follows young, ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch, who, with the help of the book ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’, rises from window washer to chairman of the board of the World Wide Wicket Company.

The musical, starring Robert Morse and Rudy Vallee, opened on Broadway in October 1961, running for 1,417 performances. How to Succeed… won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle award, and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Although the original Broadway production credited the choreography to an obscure dance director named Hugh Lambert, the much better-known Bob Fosse received only a “musical staging by...” credit. Abe Burrows explains this in his autobiography Honest, Abe. While How to Succeed... was in pre-production, producer Cy Feuer attended a trade show and was dazzled by an elaborate dance number. Upon learning that Hugh Lambert had created the number, Feuer promptly brought him on board to choreograph How To Succeed. According to Burrows, it soon became clear in rehearsals that Lambert’s creative abilities did not extend past that one elaborate dance number. Bob Fosse was brought in to replace him, but Fosse, mindful of Lambert’s career, did not want him fired. The trade-show dance number was recycled as the “Treasure Hunt” dance in How to Succeed... while Fosse graciously settled for a “musical staging” credit for choreographing all the other dance numbers.

(L-R) Arnie Burton as Bert Bratt, Chris Dwan as J Pierrepont Finch, Ashley Blanchet as Rosemary Pilkington and Ryann Redmond as Smitty. Photo Credit: Os Galindo

(L-R) Chris Dwan as J Pierrepont Finch, Ryann Redmond as Smitty and Ashley Blanchet as Rosemary Pilkington. Photo Credit - Os Galindo

The Cast of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Photo Credit - Os Galindo

In 1967 Morse and Vallee recreated their stage roles for a film version. A 1995 revival was mounted at the same theatre as the original production (now named the Richard Rodgers Theatre). It ran for 548 performances, with Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally in the lead roles. Most recently a 50th anniversary Broadway revival directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford and starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette opened on March 27, 2011, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre and ran for 473 performances; Radcliffe was followed by several matinee idols as Finch, including Darren Criss and Nick Jonas, which served to renew interest in the musical by younger audiences.

(L-R) Chris Dwan as J Pierrepont Finch, Ryann Redmond as Smitty and and Stuart Marland as Jasper B. Biggley. Photo Credit - Os Galindo

CHARACTERS

J. PIERREPONT FINCH - Our story’s protagonist. An irrepressible, clear-eyed, almost puckish hero, he is a window washer who applies for a job at the World Wide Wicket Company and attempts to climb the ‘ladder of success.’

GATCH – A sleazy executive with a penchant for the ladies.

J.B. BIGGLEY – The stuffed-shirt, philandering executive of World Wide Wickets.

ROSEMARY – A secretary more interested in finding a man than a career; Finch’s love interest.

SMITTY – An experienced secretary with a droll sense of humor and a cynical outlook.

BUD FRUMP – Biggely’s arrogant, scheming nephew.

MISS JONES – J.B.’ s stuffy, abrupt secretary with a hidden soft side.

MR. TWIMBLE – Mailroom supervisor who is fussy, old-fashioned and loyal.

WALLY WOMPER – the company’s chief executive and a former window washer

HEDY - A voluptuous, sexually-charged woman adored by all of the men.

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The Cast of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Photo Credit - Os Galindo

Stuart Marland as Mr. Biggley and Chris Dwan as J Pierrepont Finch. Photo Credit - Os Galindo

How to succeed in business without really trying October 25 - November 06, 2016
WHO/WHAT:	Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) presents How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
DATES:	October 25 – November 06, 2016
WHERE:	The Hobby Center for Performing Arts – Sarofim Hall (800 Bagby St., Houston, TX, 77002)
TICKETS:	Online: tuts.com, Phone: 713.558.TUTS
ABOUT THE SHOW:	Music & Lyrics by Frank Loesser Book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is about climbing the corporate ladder, 1960’s office culture, and the satire of self-help books. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is not just the name of a smash musical but also the book (based on a real book by Shepherd Mead) that inspired window-washer J. Pierrepont Finch’s meteoric ascent up the corporate ladder of the World Wide Wicket Company. Known as ‘Ponty’ to his friends, this enterprising young man schemes and charms his way to the top in an office teeming with characters straight out of a 1960’s romp. This musical’s snappy tunes and witty repartee were penned by Frank Loesser, with book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert