How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Encyclopedia
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical
with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
and book by Abe Burrows
, Jack Weinstock
, and Willie Gilbert
, based on Shepherd Mead
's 1952 book of the same name
.
The musical opened at the 46th Street Theatre on Broadway
in October 1961, running for 1,417 performances. The show won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle award, and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
. In 1967, a film based on the musical
was released by United Artists
, with many of the original cast recreating their roles. A 1995 revival was mounted at the same theatre as the original production (now named the Richard Rodgers Theatre
) ran for 548 performances and starred Matthew Broderick
and Megan Mullally
. 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 Ernest Martin, with the intention of retooling it as a musical. Feuer and Martin had great success with the 1950 adaptation of Guys and Dolls and brought in the creative team from that show to work on How to.... Abe Burrows
and Frank Loesser
set to work on the new adaptation, with rehearsals beginning in August 1961. Burrows collaborated on the book with Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, also serving as director. Their new adaptation became even more satirical and added romance to the story. Loesser wrote both music and lyrics for the show, which was orchestrated by Robert Ginzler
.
The original Broadway production credited the choreography to an obscure dance director named Hugh Lambert, while 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 its early development, producer Cy Feuer
attended a trade show and was extremely impressed by an elaborate dance number created by Lambert, prompting Feuer to hire Lambert to choreograph the new musical. According to Burrows, it soon became clear in rehearsals that Lambert's creative abilities were completely used up in that one elaborate dance number. Bob Fosse was brought in to replace him, but Fosse was unwilling to hurt Lambert's career by having him fired. Lambert's trade-show dance number was recycled as the "Treasure Hunt" dance in How to Succeed..., while Fosse agreed to take a "musical staging" credit for choreographing all the other dance numbers. Burrows also reveals that another crisis arose in rehearsals when former recording star Rudy Vallee
wanted to interpolate some of his hit songs from the 1930s.
On February 1, 2011 Simon & Schuster
re-issued a paperback edition of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying With a New Introduction by Stanley Bing
. Stanley Bing’s new introduction is written in the same style as the rest of the book and addresses office life in 2010—what has changed and what hasn’t—and all the new absurdities that the digital age has introduced.
in New York City, has a mind for advancement. The "Book Voice" tells him that everything he needs for success is contained within the book in his hand, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He enters the World Wide Wicket Company searching for a job. ("How To")
Finch bumps into J.B. Biggley, the president of the company, who dismisses him to the personnel manager, Mr. Bratt. Rosemary Pilkington, a secretary, is impressed with Finch and offers to help him meet Mr. Bratt. Finch uses Biggley's name with Mr. Bratt to get a job in the mailroom, where he works with Mr. Biggley's lazy and nepotism
-minded nephew Bud Frump. Rosemary dreams of a life with Finch in the suburbs and tells her friend Smitty that she will do what it takes to get Finch to fall for her ("Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm").
The fatigued workers rush to get their coffee break, only to find that Frump got the last cup. The crew elaborately dances while expressing their angst due to lack of coffee while Frump teases them with his cup before it's snatched by Mr. Gatch ("Coffee Break"). In the mailroom, Finch earns favor with the long-time head of the mailroom, Mr. Twimble, who tells him the secret to longevity at the company is to be absolutely unambitious and unthinking ("The Company Way").
As Twimble is being promoted to a new position as head of the shipping department, the head of the mailroom position is opening up, but as the book warns not to stay in the mailroom too long, Finch passes over the promotion to Bud Frump. Twimble is reluctant to allow Frump this position because of his slacker behavior, but Frump promises to follow Twimble's methods and be a good employee ("The Company Way (Reprise)"). Twimble and Bratt are impressed by Finch, and Bratt offers him a job as a junior executive
in the Plans and Systems department, headed by Mr. Gatch. Frump, seeing that he has been outdone, fumes.
An air-headed woman named Hedy LaRue calls Mr. Biggley searching for a job and is hired as a secretary. The male employees see her and are instantly attracted to her, but Mr. Bratt warns them not to do anything stupid ("A Secretary Is Not A Toy").
While waiting for an elevator with Smitty and Rosemary, Finch runs into Mr. Biggley's secretary, Mrs. Jones and gains her favor through compliments. He learns from her that Biggley is a former alumn of the Old Ivy college, which gives him an idea. While going down the elevator, Rosemary and Finch ponder about their relationship while Smitty giddily narrates their situation to the audience before setting them up on a date ("Been A Long Day"). Frump runs into Biggley and Hedy, arguing about her job. Frump realizes their secret romantic relationship and blackmails Biggley into giving him a promotion ("Been A Long Day (Reprise)").
Finch arrives early Saturday morning and sets up the office to appear that he has been working all night. Biggley arrives and witnesses Finch "asleep" at his desk. Finch "absent-mindedly" begins humming the Old Ivy fight song and convinces Biggley that he, too, is a proud alumnus, which leads them both to perform the fight song together ("Grand Old Ivy"). Biggley insists that Finch be given his own office and secretary, Hedy. With the book's help, Finch realizes that Biggley must be Hedy's advocate, and sends her on an errand to Gatch, knowing that he won't be able to resist making a pass at her. Finch is soon promoted to Gatch's position, Gatch having been dispatched to Venezuela
.
A reception for the new Advertising Department head, Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington
, is being held, and Rosemary hopes to impress Finch with her new dress, but all the women of the office are wearing identical copies of it ("Paris Original"). Hedy tipsily exits to shower in Biggley's office, and Frump, hoping to trap Finch and Hedy, tells Finch that Biggley is waiting in his office for him. In the office, Hedy and Finch kiss, but Finch realizes that he is in love with Rosemary, who enters as Hedy returns to the bathroom ("Rosemary"). After some farcical complications, Finch and Rosemary embrace — just in time for Frump and Biggley to walk through the door.
Ovington resigns when Biggley realizes that he graduated from Northern State, Old Ivy's bitter rival. Then, Biggley names Finch Vice-President in Charge of Advertising
, just in time for a big meeting in two days. Biggley leaves as Finch and Rosemary declare their love for J. Pierrepont Finch, and Bud Frump vows to return ("Act I Finale").
The book warns Finch that as Vice-President of Advertising, he needs a brilliant idea. Bud Frump slyly tells Finch about his idea for a treasure hunt
, which Finch loves, unaware that Biggley has already heard the idea and shot it down. Finch bounces the idea off Rosemary, who tells him that, no matter what, she'll stick by his side ("Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise)").
Hedy tells Biggley she is extremely unhappy with her secretarial duties and is leaving for California
. He begs her to stay and though she initially refuses, she ultimately accepts after he reveals that he loves her, a feeling she reciprocates ("Love From a Heart of Gold"). The other executives hold a meeting in the Executive Washroom, where Frump tells them that Finch's idea will fail, and with it so will his career. Finch enters and gives himself a pep talk, telling himself that he is the only person he can trust while, behind his back, the executives plot and cheer at his approaching demise ("I Believe In You").
Finch presents "his" idea: he will hide five thousand shares of company stock
in each of the ten offices around the country and give the audience weekly clues as to their whereabouts. Biggley is about to reject this idea yet again until Finch explains that each clue will be given by the scantily-dressed World Wide Wicket Girl: Miss Hedy LaRue.
During the first television show, Hedy is asked to swear on a Bible
that she doesn't know the location of the prizes. Hedy, whom Biggley had told the night before where the treasure was hidden, panics and reveals the locations to the entire television audience, which prompts all the employees at Wicket to tear apart the offices looking for them. The book tells Finch, "How To Handle a Disaster. ...We suggest that your best bet is to review the first chapter of this book: 'How to Apply for a Job' ".
Treasure hunters have wrecked World Wide Wicket Company offices across the country, and the executives, including Chairman of the Board
Wally Womper, are waiting in Biggley's office for Finch's resignation. Before he goes in, Rosemary tells Finch once again that she'll stand by him no matter what ("I Believe in You (Reprise)"). About to sign his letter of resignation, Finch mentions that he'll probably be going back to washing windows. Womper is drawn to Finch as he, too, was a washer of windows and that they both "had a book," Wally's book being a book of betting records. Finch manages to place the blame for the treasure hunt on Bud, also mentioning that Frump is Biggley's nephew. Womper is about to "clean house from top to bottom", when Finch steps in on everyone's behalf. Finch tells the executives that despite the fact that the business world is a place filled with betrayal and competitiveness, the World Wide Wickett staff is like a family to him ("Brotherhood of Man"). Everyone is spared except Frump, who is fired because he is Biggley's nephew.
In the end, Biggley is still president, Womper is retiring to travel the world with his new wife, Hedy, and Finch becomes Chairman of the Board. Rosemary stands by his side and inadvertently inspires him to aspire for Presidency of the United States. As the show ends, the entire company bids the audience goodbye in song while Frump is lowered onto the stage on a window washing platform. He swears revenge against Finch one final time before he falls off the platform and is left hanging upside down by a rope ("Finale (The Company Way)").
Supporting Characters
Act II
as Finch, Bonnie Scott as his secretary Rosemary, Charles Nelson Reilly
as Bud Frump, and Rudy Vallee
as the company president.
Virginia Martin played Hedy LaRue.
production opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre
on March 28, 1963 and ran for 520 performances. It was also directed by Burrows and Bob Fosse, and featured a new London cast. Warren Berlinger and Billy De Wolfe starred as Finch and Biggley respectively, with Patricia Michael as Rosemary, Josephine Blake as Smitty, David Knight as Bud Frump, Olive Lucius as Miss Jones, Bernard Spear as Mr. Twimble, and Eileen Gourlay as Hedy La Rue.
on March 23, 1995 and closed on July 14, 1996 after 548 performances. It was directed by Des McAnuff
and choreographed by Wayne Cilento
. Matthew Broderick
starred as Finch, and Rosemary was played by Megan Mullally
. In a pre-recorded performance, Walter Cronkite
was the Book Voice. One of the later replacements for Mullally was Broderick's future wife, Sarah Jessica Parker
. The wardrobe was designed by Susan Hilferty and is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach, Florida.
in May 1996 and ended in Milwaukee in June 1997. Other stops included Sacramento
, Portland
, and Seattle. The national tour cast featured Ralph Macchio
as J. Pierrepont Finch, Shauna Hicks (Rosemary Pilkington), Richard Thomsen (J.B. Biggley), Pamela Blair
(Hedy LaRue), and Roger Bart
(Bud Frump). Both Macchio and the production played to favorable reviews.
was featured in a reading in December 2009, with Rob Ashford
as director and choreographer. Radcliffe is now starring in the revival, which began previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre
on February 26, 2011, with the official opening on March 27, 2011. Rob Ashford directs and choreographs. Other cast includes Rose Hemingway
as Rosemary Pilkington, Mary Faber
as Smitty, Tammy Blanchard
as Hedy La Rue, Christopher Hanke
as Bud Frump, and John Larroquette
as J.B. Biggley. Anderson Cooper
has recorded the Voice of the Book for the adaptation. The production was nominated for nine 2011 Tony Awards, including for director-choreographer Rob Ashford and as Best Revival of a Musical. John Larroquette won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. On August 1, 2011 it was announced that Darren Criss
would succeed Radcliffe in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch for a limited three week engagement that will last from January 3–22, 2012.. On September 7, 2011 it was announced that Nick Jonas
of the Jonas Brothers
will take on the role of Finch beginning Jan. 24, 2012, and continuing through July 1. On October 31, 2011 it was announced that Beau Bridges
will replace John Larroquette as J.B. Biggley starting January 3, 2012, and continuing through July 1.
released a film adapted and directed by David Swift
. Robert Morse
, Rudy Vallee
, Michele Lee
who replaced Bonnie Scott as Rosemary during the show's Broadway run, Sammy Smith, and Ruth Kobart
recreated their roles for the film, and Fosse again choreographed. Several songs were omitted from the score, such as "Love From a Heart of Gold," "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm," "Cinderella Darling," "Paris Original," and "Coffee Break", although there are musical and verbal references respectively to the last two. In the film's finale, Frump was not lowered onto the stage on a window washing platform nor did he swear revenge against Finch one final time nor did he fall off the platform nor was he left hanging upside down by a rope. Instead, Frump was among the entire company singing a finale version of "The Company Way".
wrote, "It stings mischievously and laughs uproariously...It belongs to the blue chips among modern musicals. Let Wall Street
and Madison Avenue tremble as the rest of us rejoice." John Chapman of the Daily News wrote, "Loesser is the perfect man for his end of the show - the songs; for he is a cynic without being tough. He has not put in a note of music or a syllable of lyric that doesn't carry the story along." Richard Watts, Jr.
of the New York Post
wrote, "In its first performance at the 46th St. Theater Saturday night, its satire, humor, book, music, lyrics, cast, staging, choreography, setting and general gaiety of spirit combined in a smooth, fast pattern of expert showmanship to make the occasion a delightful event."
1995 Tony Awards:
2011 Tony Awards:
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
and book by Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows was a Tony and Pulitzer-winning American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage.-Early years:...
, Jack Weinstock
Jack Weinstock
Jack Weinstock was an American author and playwright who is best known for writing the musical book for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He also co-authored the play Catch Me If You Can with Willie Gilbert and wrote the book for the musical Hot Spot.-External links:...
, and Willie Gilbert
Willie Gilbert
Willie Gilbert was an American author and playwright.Born William Gomberg in Cleveland, Ohio, Gilbert's proclivity for creating gags emerged as the humor writer for the Glenville High School Torch on which he worked alongside future playwright Jerome Lawrence and the creators of Superman, Jerry...
, based on Shepherd Mead
Shepherd Mead
Shepherd Mead, born Edward Mead, , was an American writer. He is best known as the author of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which was adapted into a hit Broadway show and motion picture....
's 1952 book of the same name
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (book)
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: The Dastard's Guide to Fame and Fortune was a humorous 1952 book by Shepherd Mead. It inspired a successful 1961 musical of the same name, which was made into a movie in 1967.-Description:...
.
The musical opened at the 46th Street Theatre on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in October 1961, running for 1,417 performances. The show won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle award, and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Pulitzer Prize for Drama
The Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918.From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway 'season' rather than the calendar year...
. In 1967, a film based on the musical
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (film)
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a 1967 American musical comedy film based on the 1961 stage musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the book written by Shepherd Mead...
was released by United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
, with many of the original cast recreating their roles. A 1995 revival was mounted at the same theatre as the original production (now named the Richard Rodgers Theatre
Richard Rodgers Theatre
The Richard Rodgers Theatre, is a Broadway theater in New York City, built by Irwin Chanin in 1925. When it was first opened, it was called Chanin's 46th Street Theatre. Chanin almost immediately leased it to the Shuberts, who bought the building outright in 1931 and renamed it the 46th Street...
) ran for 548 performances and starred Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
and Megan Mullally
Megan Mullally
Megan Mullally is an American actress and singer.After working in the theatre in Chicago, Mullally moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and began to appear in supporting roles in film and television productions. She made her Broadway debut in Grease in 1994 and she has since appeared in several Broadway...
. A 50th anniversary Broadway revival directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford
Rob Ashford
Rob Ashford is an American choreographer and director. He is a seven-time Tony Award nominee , five-time Olivier Award nominee, Emmy Award winner, Drama Desk winner, and Outer Critics Circle Award winner.-Biography:...
and starring Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
and John Larroquette
John Larroquette
John Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal...
opened on March 27, 2011, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 302 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan.Designed by architect G. Albert Lansburgh for vaudeville promoter Martin Beck, the theatre opened as the Martin Beck Theatre with a production of Madame Pompadour on November 11, 1924. It...
.
History
In 1952, Shepherd Mead's satirical book, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, became a bestseller. Playwright Willie Gilbert and fellow playwright Jack Weinstock created a dramatic interpretation in 1955 that was unproduced for five years. Agent Abe Newborn brought the work to the attention of producers Cy FeuerCy Feuer
Cy Feuer was an American theatre producer, director, composer, and musician.Born Seymour Arnold Feuerman in Brooklyn, New York,he studied trumpet privately with Max Schlossberg, he became a professional trumpeter at the age of fifteen, working at clubs on weekends to help support his family while...
and Ernest Martin, with the intention of retooling it as a musical. Feuer and Martin had great success with the 1950 adaptation of Guys and Dolls and brought in the creative team from that show to work on How to.... Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows was a Tony and Pulitzer-winning American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage.-Early years:...
and Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
set to work on the new adaptation, with rehearsals beginning in August 1961. Burrows collaborated on the book with Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, also serving as director. Their new adaptation became even more satirical and added romance to the story. Loesser wrote both music and lyrics for the show, which was orchestrated by Robert Ginzler
Robert Ginzler
Robert “Red” Ginzler was an influential American orchestrator,principally remembered for his contributions to the landmark Broadway...
.
The original Broadway production credited the choreography to an obscure dance director named Hugh Lambert, while the much better-known Bob Fosse
Bob Fosse
Robert Louis “Bob” Fosse was an American actor, dancer, musical theater choreographer, director, screenwriter, film editor and film director. He won an unprecedented eight Tony Awards for choreography, as well as one for direction...
received only a "musical staging by..." credit. Abe Burrows explains this in his autobiography Honest, Abe. While How to Succeed... was in its early development, producer Cy Feuer
Cy Feuer
Cy Feuer was an American theatre producer, director, composer, and musician.Born Seymour Arnold Feuerman in Brooklyn, New York,he studied trumpet privately with Max Schlossberg, he became a professional trumpeter at the age of fifteen, working at clubs on weekends to help support his family while...
attended a trade show and was extremely impressed by an elaborate dance number created by Lambert, prompting Feuer to hire Lambert to choreograph the new musical. According to Burrows, it soon became clear in rehearsals that Lambert's creative abilities were completely used up in that one elaborate dance number. Bob Fosse was brought in to replace him, but Fosse was unwilling to hurt Lambert's career by having him fired. Lambert's trade-show dance number was recycled as the "Treasure Hunt" dance in How to Succeed..., while Fosse agreed to take a "musical staging" credit for choreographing all the other dance numbers. Burrows also reveals that another crisis arose in rehearsals when former recording star Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallée
Rudy Vallée was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer.-Early life:Born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse and Catherine Lynch Vallée...
wanted to interpolate some of his hit songs from the 1930s.
On February 1, 2011 Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
re-issued a paperback edition of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying With a New Introduction by Stanley Bing
Stanley Bing
Stanley Bing is the pen name of Gil Schwartz , a business humorist and novelist. He has written a column for Fortune magazine for more than ten years, after having spent a decade at Esquire, and has written many books...
. Stanley Bing’s new introduction is written in the same style as the rest of the book and addresses office life in 2010—what has changed and what hasn’t—and all the new absurdities that the digital age has introduced.
Act I
J. Pierrepont Finch, a young window cleanerWindow cleaner
A window cleaner is a person who maintains the cleanliness of windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces as a profession.-Profession:...
in New York City, has a mind for advancement. The "Book Voice" tells him that everything he needs for success is contained within the book in his hand, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He enters the World Wide Wicket Company searching for a job. ("How To")
Finch bumps into J.B. Biggley, the president of the company, who dismisses him to the personnel manager, Mr. Bratt. Rosemary Pilkington, a secretary, is impressed with Finch and offers to help him meet Mr. Bratt. Finch uses Biggley's name with Mr. Bratt to get a job in the mailroom, where he works with Mr. Biggley's lazy and nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
-minded nephew Bud Frump. Rosemary dreams of a life with Finch in the suburbs and tells her friend Smitty that she will do what it takes to get Finch to fall for her ("Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm").
The fatigued workers rush to get their coffee break, only to find that Frump got the last cup. The crew elaborately dances while expressing their angst due to lack of coffee while Frump teases them with his cup before it's snatched by Mr. Gatch ("Coffee Break"). In the mailroom, Finch earns favor with the long-time head of the mailroom, Mr. Twimble, who tells him the secret to longevity at the company is to be absolutely unambitious and unthinking ("The Company Way").
As Twimble is being promoted to a new position as head of the shipping department, the head of the mailroom position is opening up, but as the book warns not to stay in the mailroom too long, Finch passes over the promotion to Bud Frump. Twimble is reluctant to allow Frump this position because of his slacker behavior, but Frump promises to follow Twimble's methods and be a good employee ("The Company Way (Reprise)"). Twimble and Bratt are impressed by Finch, and Bratt offers him a job as a junior executive
Corporate title
Publicly and privately held for-profit corporations confer corporate titles or business titles on company officials as a means of identifying their function in the organization...
in the Plans and Systems department, headed by Mr. Gatch. Frump, seeing that he has been outdone, fumes.
An air-headed woman named Hedy LaRue calls Mr. Biggley searching for a job and is hired as a secretary. The male employees see her and are instantly attracted to her, but Mr. Bratt warns them not to do anything stupid ("A Secretary Is Not A Toy").
While waiting for an elevator with Smitty and Rosemary, Finch runs into Mr. Biggley's secretary, Mrs. Jones and gains her favor through compliments. He learns from her that Biggley is a former alumn of the Old Ivy college, which gives him an idea. While going down the elevator, Rosemary and Finch ponder about their relationship while Smitty giddily narrates their situation to the audience before setting them up on a date ("Been A Long Day"). Frump runs into Biggley and Hedy, arguing about her job. Frump realizes their secret romantic relationship and blackmails Biggley into giving him a promotion ("Been A Long Day (Reprise)").
Finch arrives early Saturday morning and sets up the office to appear that he has been working all night. Biggley arrives and witnesses Finch "asleep" at his desk. Finch "absent-mindedly" begins humming the Old Ivy fight song and convinces Biggley that he, too, is a proud alumnus, which leads them both to perform the fight song together ("Grand Old Ivy"). Biggley insists that Finch be given his own office and secretary, Hedy. With the book's help, Finch realizes that Biggley must be Hedy's advocate, and sends her on an errand to Gatch, knowing that he won't be able to resist making a pass at her. Finch is soon promoted to Gatch's position, Gatch having been dispatched to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
A reception for the new Advertising Department head, Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington
BBDO
BBDO is a worldwide advertising agency network, with its headquarters in New York City. The agency began in 1891 with George Batten's Batten Company, and later in 1928, through a merger of BDO and Batten Co. the agency became BBDO...
, is being held, and Rosemary hopes to impress Finch with her new dress, but all the women of the office are wearing identical copies of it ("Paris Original"). Hedy tipsily exits to shower in Biggley's office, and Frump, hoping to trap Finch and Hedy, tells Finch that Biggley is waiting in his office for him. In the office, Hedy and Finch kiss, but Finch realizes that he is in love with Rosemary, who enters as Hedy returns to the bathroom ("Rosemary"). After some farcical complications, Finch and Rosemary embrace — just in time for Frump and Biggley to walk through the door.
Ovington resigns when Biggley realizes that he graduated from Northern State, Old Ivy's bitter rival. Then, Biggley names Finch Vice-President in Charge of Advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
, just in time for a big meeting in two days. Biggley leaves as Finch and Rosemary declare their love for J. Pierrepont Finch, and Bud Frump vows to return ("Act I Finale").
Act II
It is the morning of the big meeting, and Rosemary is feeling neglected by Finch. She decides to quit but her fellow secretaries convince her to stay: she's living their dream of marrying an executive and living an easy life ("Cinderella, Darling"). (In the 1995 revival, this song was replaced with a reprise of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, with the lyrics suggesting ways in which a girl can get hold of a man's financial assets).The book warns Finch that as Vice-President of Advertising, he needs a brilliant idea. Bud Frump slyly tells Finch about his idea for a treasure hunt
Treasure hunt
A treasure hunt is one of many different types of games which can have one or more players who try to find hidden articles, locations or places by using a series of clues. This is a fictional activity; treasure hunting can also be a real life activity. Treasure hunt games may be an indoor or...
, which Finch loves, unaware that Biggley has already heard the idea and shot it down. Finch bounces the idea off Rosemary, who tells him that, no matter what, she'll stick by his side ("Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise)").
Hedy tells Biggley she is extremely unhappy with her secretarial duties and is leaving for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He begs her to stay and though she initially refuses, she ultimately accepts after he reveals that he loves her, a feeling she reciprocates ("Love From a Heart of Gold"). The other executives hold a meeting in the Executive Washroom, where Frump tells them that Finch's idea will fail, and with it so will his career. Finch enters and gives himself a pep talk, telling himself that he is the only person he can trust while, behind his back, the executives plot and cheer at his approaching demise ("I Believe In You").
Finch presents "his" idea: he will hide five thousand shares of company stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
in each of the ten offices around the country and give the audience weekly clues as to their whereabouts. Biggley is about to reject this idea yet again until Finch explains that each clue will be given by the scantily-dressed World Wide Wicket Girl: Miss Hedy LaRue.
During the first television show, Hedy is asked to swear on a Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
that she doesn't know the location of the prizes. Hedy, whom Biggley had told the night before where the treasure was hidden, panics and reveals the locations to the entire television audience, which prompts all the employees at Wicket to tear apart the offices looking for them. The book tells Finch, "How To Handle a Disaster. ...We suggest that your best bet is to review the first chapter of this book: 'How to Apply for a Job' ".
Treasure hunters have wrecked World Wide Wicket Company offices across the country, and the executives, including Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
Wally Womper, are waiting in Biggley's office for Finch's resignation. Before he goes in, Rosemary tells Finch once again that she'll stand by him no matter what ("I Believe in You (Reprise)"). About to sign his letter of resignation, Finch mentions that he'll probably be going back to washing windows. Womper is drawn to Finch as he, too, was a washer of windows and that they both "had a book," Wally's book being a book of betting records. Finch manages to place the blame for the treasure hunt on Bud, also mentioning that Frump is Biggley's nephew. Womper is about to "clean house from top to bottom", when Finch steps in on everyone's behalf. Finch tells the executives that despite the fact that the business world is a place filled with betrayal and competitiveness, the World Wide Wickett staff is like a family to him ("Brotherhood of Man"). Everyone is spared except Frump, who is fired because he is Biggley's nephew.
In the end, Biggley is still president, Womper is retiring to travel the world with his new wife, Hedy, and Finch becomes Chairman of the Board. Rosemary stands by his side and inadvertently inspires him to aspire for Presidency of the United States. As the show ends, the entire company bids the audience goodbye in song while Frump is lowered onto the stage on a window washing platform. He swears revenge against Finch one final time before he falls off the platform and is left hanging upside down by a rope ("Finale (The Company Way)").
Characters
Major Characters- J. Pierrepont Finch - a window washer who applies for a job at the World Wide Wicket Company. Rosemary's love interest.
- Rosemary Pilkington - a secretary who works at the World Wide Wicket Company. Finch's love interest.
- Bud Frump - Biggley's arrogant and snobbish nephew who thinks he can get away with anything because he is J.B. Biggley's nephew.
- J.B. Biggley - The boss of the World Wide Wicket Company. Hedy's love interest, although he is already married.
- Smitty - a secretary who works at the World Wide Wicket Company. Rosemary's best friend.
- Hedy LaRue - Biggley's attractive and dim-witted mistress. The future Mrs. Wally Womper.
Supporting Characters
- Book voice - the narrator
- Mr. Bert Bratt - Personnel manager.
- Mr. Twimble - Head of the mailroom for 25 years; finally gets promoted to the shipping department.
- Mr. Milton Gatch - a wise-cracking executive, who is almost successful but his penchant for ladies becomes his downfall.
- Miss Krumholtz - a secretary of Mr. Gatch, then J. Pierrepont Finch.
- Mr. Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington - head of the advertising department until he is fired by Biggley for being a "Chipmunk."
- Mr. Wally Womper - the Chairman of the World Wide Wicket Company. He is, as tradition goes, played by the same actor as Twimble.
- Miss Jones - Biggley's immovable secretary
- Executives and Secretaries - Chorus
Musical numbers
Act I- Overture
- How To - J. Pierrepont Finch
- Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm - Rosemary Pilkington
- Coffee Break - Smitty, Bud Frump & Chorus
- The Company Way - Finch & Twimble
- The Company Way (Reprise) - Bud, Twimble & Company
- A Secretary is Not a Toy - Bratt, Bud & Men
- Been a Long Day - Smitty, Finch & Rosemary
- Been a Long Day (Reprise )- Bud, JB Biggley & Hedy LaRue
- Grand Old Ivy - Finch & Biggley
- Paris Original - Rosemary, Smitty, Mrs. Jones & Girls
- Rosemary - Finch & Rosemary
- Act I Finale - Finch, Rosemary & Bud
Act II
- Cinderella, Darling - Smitty & Girls
- 1995 revival replacement: How to Succeed (reprise)
- Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise) - Rosemary
- Love From a Heart of Gold - Biggley & Hedy
- I Believe in You - Finch & Men
- I Believe in You (Reprise) - Rosemary
- Brotherhood of Man - Finch, Wally Womper, Mrs. Jones & Men
- Finale (The Company Way) - Company
Broadway (1961-1965)
The show opened on Broadway on October 14, 1961 at the 46th Street Theatre, and closed on March 6, 1965 after 1,417 performances. The cast starred Robert MorseRobert Morse
Robert Morse is an American actor and singer. Morse is best known for his appearances in musicals and plays on Broadway. He has also acted in movies and television shows. His best known role is that of J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway musical, and 1967 film How to Succeed in Business...
as Finch, Bonnie Scott as his secretary Rosemary, Charles Nelson Reilly
Charles Nelson Reilly
Charles Nelson Reilly was an American actor, comedian, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in theater, movies, children's television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game....
as Bud Frump, and Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallée
Rudy Vallée was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer.-Early life:Born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse and Catherine Lynch Vallée...
as the company president.
Virginia Martin played Hedy LaRue.
West End (1963-1964)
The West EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Shaftesbury Theatre
The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:The theatre was designed for the brothers Walter and Frederick Melville by Bertie Crewe and opened on 26 December 1911 with a production of The Three Musketeers, as the New...
on March 28, 1963 and ran for 520 performances. It was also directed by Burrows and Bob Fosse, and featured a new London cast. Warren Berlinger and Billy De Wolfe starred as Finch and Biggley respectively, with Patricia Michael as Rosemary, Josephine Blake as Smitty, David Knight as Bud Frump, Olive Lucius as Miss Jones, Bernard Spear as Mr. Twimble, and Eileen Gourlay as Hedy La Rue.
Broadway revival (1995-1996)
A Broadway revival opened at the original theatre, now re-named Richard Rodgers TheatreRichard Rodgers Theatre
The Richard Rodgers Theatre, is a Broadway theater in New York City, built by Irwin Chanin in 1925. When it was first opened, it was called Chanin's 46th Street Theatre. Chanin almost immediately leased it to the Shuberts, who bought the building outright in 1931 and renamed it the 46th Street...
on March 23, 1995 and closed on July 14, 1996 after 548 performances. It was directed by Des McAnuff
Des McAnuff
Desmond McAnuff is the Canadian-American artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and director of musical theatre of such Broadway productions as Big River, The Who's Tommy and Jersey Boys.-Biography:...
and choreographed by Wayne Cilento
Wayne Cilento
Wayne Louis Cilento is an American dancer and choreographer. He is best known for originating the role of "Mike" in the Broadway show A Chorus Line, and later becoming one of Broadway's most prolific choreographers.-Early life:...
. Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
starred as Finch, and Rosemary was played by Megan Mullally
Megan Mullally
Megan Mullally is an American actress and singer.After working in the theatre in Chicago, Mullally moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and began to appear in supporting roles in film and television productions. She made her Broadway debut in Grease in 1994 and she has since appeared in several Broadway...
. In a pre-recorded performance, Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll...
was the Book Voice. One of the later replacements for Mullally was Broderick's future wife, Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
. The wardrobe was designed by Susan Hilferty and is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach, Florida.
US National Tour (1996-1997)
A national tour of 'How To Succeed' ran beginning in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
in May 1996 and ended in Milwaukee in June 1997. Other stops included Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, and Seattle. The national tour cast featured Ralph Macchio
Ralph Macchio
Ralph George Macchio is an American actor, best known for his roles as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series, Bill Gambini in My Cousin Vinny, and Johnny Cade in The Outsiders. He is also known to American television audiences for his season five recurring role as Jeremy Andretti on the...
as J. Pierrepont Finch, Shauna Hicks (Rosemary Pilkington), Richard Thomsen (J.B. Biggley), Pamela Blair
Pamela Blair
Pamela Blair , known as Pam, is an American actress, singer, and dancer best known for originating the role of "Val" in the musical A Chorus Line and several appearances on American soap operas.-Early life and career:...
(Hedy LaRue), and Roger Bart
Roger Bart
Roger Bart is an American actor and singer.-Life and career:Bart was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of a teacher and a chemical engineer, and grew up in Bernardsville, New Jersey. His uncle is journalist Peter Bart. He made his Broadway debut in Big River as Tom Sawyer in 1987...
(Bud Frump). Both Macchio and the production played to favorable reviews.
Broadway revival (2011-Present)
Daniel RadcliffeDaniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
was featured in a reading in December 2009, with Rob Ashford
Rob Ashford
Rob Ashford is an American choreographer and director. He is a seven-time Tony Award nominee , five-time Olivier Award nominee, Emmy Award winner, Drama Desk winner, and Outer Critics Circle Award winner.-Biography:...
as director and choreographer. Radcliffe is now starring in the revival, which began previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 302 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan.Designed by architect G. Albert Lansburgh for vaudeville promoter Martin Beck, the theatre opened as the Martin Beck Theatre with a production of Madame Pompadour on November 11, 1924. It...
on February 26, 2011, with the official opening on March 27, 2011. Rob Ashford directs and choreographs. Other cast includes Rose Hemingway
Rose Hemingway
Rose Hemingway is an American actress, performer and singer, known for performing in musical theatre productions.- Early life :She was born and raised in Philadelphia, with "strict Catholic" parents...
as Rosemary Pilkington, Mary Faber
Mary Faber
Mary Faber is an American singer, actress, and dancer. Faber graduated from the Governor's School for the Arts and Brandeis University.-Stage career:...
as Smitty, Tammy Blanchard
Tammy Blanchard
Tammy Blanchard is an American actress. She has worked primarily in films and television, making her professional start in the soap opera Guiding Light...
as Hedy La Rue, Christopher Hanke
Christopher Hanke
Christopher Jason Hanke , often credited as Christopher J. Hanke, is an American actor known for his roles on Broadway and television.- Early life :...
as Bud Frump, and John Larroquette
John Larroquette
John Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal...
as J.B. Biggley. Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Hays Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is normally broadcast live from a New York City studio; however, Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories...
has recorded the Voice of the Book for the adaptation. The production was nominated for nine 2011 Tony Awards, including for director-choreographer Rob Ashford and as Best Revival of a Musical. John Larroquette won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. On August 1, 2011 it was announced that Darren Criss
Darren Criss
Darren Everett Criss is an American actor, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and a founding member and co-owner of the theater company StarKid Productions. He currently portrays Blaine Anderson, an openly gay high school student, on the FOX television series Glee...
would succeed Radcliffe in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch for a limited three week engagement that will last from January 3–22, 2012.. On September 7, 2011 it was announced that Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas
Nicholas Jerry "Nick" Jonas is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actor best known as one of the Jonas Brothers, a pop-rock band he formed with his brothers Joe and Kevin. The Jonas Brothers originally started as an attempted solo singing career for Nick, but the record producer liked the...
of the Jonas Brothers
Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
will take on the role of Finch beginning Jan. 24, 2012, and continuing through July 1. On October 31, 2011 it was announced that Beau Bridges
Beau Bridges
Lloyd Vernet "Beau" Bridges III is an American actor and director.- Early life :Bridges was born in Los Angeles, the son of actor Lloyd Bridges and his college sweetheart, Dorothy Bridges . He was nicknamed "Beau" by his mother and father after Ashley Wilkes's son in Gone with the Wind, the book...
will replace John Larroquette as J.B. Biggley starting January 3, 2012, and continuing through July 1.
Film adaptation
In 1967, United ArtistsUnited Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
released a film adapted and directed by David Swift
David Swift (director)
David Swift was an American film actor, writer, director and producer. He is best known for his 1967 film, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and the Disney films Parent Trap franchise.-Biography:...
. Robert Morse
Robert Morse
Robert Morse is an American actor and singer. Morse is best known for his appearances in musicals and plays on Broadway. He has also acted in movies and television shows. His best known role is that of J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway musical, and 1967 film How to Succeed in Business...
, Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallée
Rudy Vallée was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer.-Early life:Born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse and Catherine Lynch Vallée...
, Michele Lee
Michele Lee
Michele Lee is an American singer, dancer, actress, producer, director and frequent game show panelist of the 1970s. She is best-known for her role as Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie on the 1980s prime-time soap opera, Knots Landing...
who replaced Bonnie Scott as Rosemary during the show's Broadway run, Sammy Smith, and Ruth Kobart
Ruth Kobart
Ruth Kobart was an American performer, whose six-decade career encompassed opera, Broadway musical theatre, regional theatre, films, and television.-Life and career:...
recreated their roles for the film, and Fosse again choreographed. Several songs were omitted from the score, such as "Love From a Heart of Gold," "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm," "Cinderella Darling," "Paris Original," and "Coffee Break", although there are musical and verbal references respectively to the last two. In the film's finale, Frump was not lowered onto the stage on a window washing platform nor did he swear revenge against Finch one final time nor did he fall off the platform nor was he left hanging upside down by a rope. Instead, Frump was among the entire company singing a finale version of "The Company Way".
Responses
In his review of the original 1961 Broadway production, New York Times critic Howard TaubmanHoward Taubman
Hyman Howard Taubman was an American music critic, theater critic, and author.-Biography:Born in Manhattan, Taubman attended DeWitt Clinton High School and then won a four-year scholarship to Cornell University, from which he graduated, as a Phi Beta Kappa member, in 1929.He then returned to New...
wrote, "It stings mischievously and laughs uproariously...It belongs to the blue chips among modern musicals. Let Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
and Madison Avenue tremble as the rest of us rejoice." John Chapman of the Daily News wrote, "Loesser is the perfect man for his end of the show - the songs; for he is a cynic without being tough. He has not put in a note of music or a syllable of lyric that doesn't carry the story along." Richard Watts, Jr.
Richard Watts, Jr.
Richard Watts, Jr. was an American theatre critic.Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Watts was educated at Columbia University. He began his writing career as the film critic for the New York Herald Tribune before assuming the post of the newspaper's drama critic in 1936.After spending World War...
of the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
wrote, "In its first performance at the 46th St. Theater Saturday night, its satire, humor, book, music, lyrics, cast, staging, choreography, setting and general gaiety of spirit combined in a smooth, fast pattern of expert showmanship to make the occasion a delightful event."
Awards and nominations
1962 Tony Awards:- Best Musical (WINNER)
- Best Producer (WINNER)
- Distinguished Musical Actor – Robert MorseRobert MorseRobert Morse is an American actor and singer. Morse is best known for his appearances in musicals and plays on Broadway. He has also acted in movies and television shows. His best known role is that of J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway musical, and 1967 film How to Succeed in Business...
(WINNER) - Distinguished Supporting or Featured Musical Actor – Charles Nelson ReillyCharles Nelson ReillyCharles Nelson Reilly was an American actor, comedian, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in theater, movies, children's television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game....
(WINNER) - Best Direction of a Musical – Abe BurrowsAbe BurrowsAbe Burrows was a Tony and Pulitzer-winning American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage.-Early years:...
(WINNER) - Best Composer – Frank LoesserFrank LoesserFrank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
(Nomination) - Best Author (Musical) – Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert (WINNER)
- Best Conductor and Musical Director – Elliot Lawrence (WINNER)
1995 Tony Awards:
- Best Revival of a Musical (Nomination)
- Best Leading Actor in a Musical – Matthew BroderickMatthew BroderickMatthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
(WINNER) - Best Direction of a Musical – Des McAnuffDes McAnuffDesmond McAnuff is the Canadian-American artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and director of musical theatre of such Broadway productions as Big River, The Who's Tommy and Jersey Boys.-Biography:...
(Nomination) - Best Choreography – Wayne CilentoWayne CilentoWayne Louis Cilento is an American dancer and choreographer. He is best known for originating the role of "Mike" in the Broadway show A Chorus Line, and later becoming one of Broadway's most prolific choreographers.-Early life:...
(Nomination)
2011 Tony Awards:
- Best Revival of a Musical (Nomination)
- Best Featured Actor in a Musical – John LarroquetteJohn LarroquetteJohn Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal...
(WINNER) - Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Tammy BlanchardTammy BlanchardTammy Blanchard is an American actress. She has worked primarily in films and television, making her professional start in the soap opera Guiding Light...
(Nomination) - Best Costume Design of a Musical – Catherine ZuberCatherine Zuber- Broadway :Zuber's Broadway credits include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying , Born Yesterday , Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, South Pacific , The Coast of Utopia , The Light in the Piazza , Edward Albee's Seascape , Awake and Sing! ,...
(Nomination) - Best Lighting Design of a Musical – Howell BinkleyHowell BinkleyHowell Binkley is a professional lighting designer in New York City. He received the 2006 Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a musical for Jersey Boys....
(Nomination) - Best Direction of a Musical – Rob AshfordRob AshfordRob Ashford is an American choreographer and director. He is a seven-time Tony Award nominee , five-time Olivier Award nominee, Emmy Award winner, Drama Desk winner, and Outer Critics Circle Award winner.-Biography:...
(Nomination) - Best Choreography – Rob Ashford (Nomination)
- Best Orchestrations – Doug Besterman (Nomination)
Cast lists
| Casts of notable productions | J. Pierrepont Finch | Rosemary Pilkington | Bud Frump | J.B. Biggley | Smitty | Hedy LaRue | Miss Jones | Bert Bratt | Book Voice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original 1961 Broadway | Robert Morse Robert Morse Robert Morse is an American actor and singer. Morse is best known for his appearances in musicals and plays on Broadway. He has also acted in movies and television shows. His best known role is that of J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway musical, and 1967 film How to Succeed in Business... |
Bonnie Scott | Charles Nelson Reilly Charles Nelson Reilly Charles Nelson Reilly was an American actor, comedian, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in theater, movies, children's television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game.... |
Rudy Vallee Rudy Vallée Rudy Vallée was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer.-Early life:Born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse and Catherine Lynch Vallée... |
Claudette Sutherland | Virginia Martin | Ruth Kobart Ruth Kobart Ruth Kobart was an American performer, whose six-decade career encompassed opera, Broadway musical theatre, regional theatre, films, and television.-Life and career:... |
Paul Reed Paul Reed (actor) Paul Reed was born Sidney Kahn and was an American actor known for his trademark "slow burn", which he made famous in his role as Captain Paul Block on Car 54, Where Are You?.... |
Carl Princi (uncredited) |
| Original 1963 London | Warren Berlinger Warren Berlinger Warren Berlinger is an American character actor, with both Broadway runs and over a thousand television appearances to his credit.-Personal life:... |
Patricia Michael | David Knight | Billy De Wolfe Billy De Wolfe Billy De Wolfe was an American character actor. He was active in films from the mid-1940s until his death in 1974. He was a good friend of Doris Day from the time of their meeting during the filming of Tea for Two until his death... |
Josephine Blake | Eileen Gourlay | Olive Lucius | ||
| 1995 Broadway Revival | Matthew Broderick Matthew Broderick Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his... |
Megan Mullally Megan Mullally Megan Mullally is an American actress and singer.After working in the theatre in Chicago, Mullally moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and began to appear in supporting roles in film and television productions. She made her Broadway debut in Grease in 1994 and she has since appeared in several Broadway... |
Jeff Blumenkrantz Jeff Blumenkrantz Jeff Blumenkrantz is an American actor and musical theatre composer/lyricist.Born and raised in New Jersey, Blumenkrantz is a graduate of Northwestern University... |
Ronn Carroll | Victoria Clark Victoria Clark Victoria Clark is an American musical theatre singer and actress. Clark has performed in many Broadway musicals and in other theatre, film and television work, and her soprano voice can be heard on numerous cast albums and several animated films... |
Luba Mason | Lillias White Lillias White Lillias White is an American singer and actress.The Brooklyn, New York native made her Broadway debut in Barnum in 1981. She understudied the role of Effie in the original 1981 production of Dreamgirls and played the part in the 1987 revival... |
Jonathan Freeman | Walter Cronkite Walter Cronkite Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll... |
| 1996 US National Tour | Ralph Macchio Ralph Macchio Ralph George Macchio is an American actor, best known for his roles as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series, Bill Gambini in My Cousin Vinny, and Johnny Cade in The Outsiders. He is also known to American television audiences for his season five recurring role as Jeremy Andretti on the... |
Shauna Hicks | Roger Bart Roger Bart Roger Bart is an American actor and singer.-Life and career:Bart was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of a teacher and a chemical engineer, and grew up in Bernardsville, New Jersey. His uncle is journalist Peter Bart. He made his Broadway debut in Big River as Tom Sawyer in 1987... |
Richard Thomsen | Pamela Blair Pamela Blair Pamela Blair , known as Pam, is an American actress, singer, and dancer best known for originating the role of "Val" in the musical A Chorus Line and several appearances on American soap operas.-Early life and career:... |
||||
| 2005 Chichester Festival | Joe McFadden | David Langham | James Bolam James Bolam James Christopher Bolam, MBE is a British actor, best known for his roles as Jack Ford in When the Boat Comes In, Trevor Chaplin in The Beiderbecke Trilogy, Terry Collier in The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Roy Figgis in Only When I Laugh, Dr Arthur Gilder in... |
Annette McLaughlin | Alistair McGowan Alistair McGowan Alistair McGowan is a British impressionist, stand-up comic, actor, singer and writer best known to British audiences for The Big Impression , which was, for four years, one of BBC1's top-rating comedy programmes - winning numerous awards, including a BAFTA in 2003... |
||||
| 2011 Broadway Revival | Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series.... , Darren Criss Darren Criss Darren Everett Criss is an American actor, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and a founding member and co-owner of the theater company StarKid Productions. He currently portrays Blaine Anderson, an openly gay high school student, on the FOX television series Glee... , Nick Jonas Nick Jonas Nicholas Jerry "Nick" Jonas is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actor best known as one of the Jonas Brothers, a pop-rock band he formed with his brothers Joe and Kevin. The Jonas Brothers originally started as an attempted solo singing career for Nick, but the record producer liked the... |
Rose Hemingway Rose Hemingway Rose Hemingway is an American actress, performer and singer, known for performing in musical theatre productions.- Early life :She was born and raised in Philadelphia, with "strict Catholic" parents... |
Christopher Hanke Christopher Hanke Christopher Jason Hanke , often credited as Christopher J. Hanke, is an American actor known for his roles on Broadway and television.- Early life :... |
John Larroquette John Larroquette John Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal... |
Mary Faber Mary Faber Mary Faber is an American singer, actress, and dancer. Faber graduated from the Governor's School for the Arts and Brandeis University.-Stage career:... |
Tammy Blanchard Tammy Blanchard Tammy Blanchard is an American actress. She has worked primarily in films and television, making her professional start in the soap opera Guiding Light... |
Ellen Harvey | Michael Park Michael Park (actor) Michael Park is an American actor, best known for his role of Jack Snyder on As the World Turns . Park won back to back Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2010 and 2011.-Career:... |
Anderson Cooper Anderson Cooper Anderson Hays Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is normally broadcast live from a New York City studio; however, Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories... |