S. Hansen, T. Fenton, A. Cooper, N. Olsen, M. Murphy, T. Hulser and C. Kelly at a recent rehearsal for ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.’ Photo by Gina Greco
The Town of Webb School Drama Department will present How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
How to Succeed is a musical by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead’s 1952 book of the same name.
It tells the story of young, ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch, who, with the help of the book, rises from window washer to chairman of the board of the World Wide Wicket Company.
The musical, starring Robert Morse and Rudy Vallee, 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 Morse and Vallee recreating their stage roles.
A 1995 revival was mounted at the same theatre as the original production, now named the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
It ran for 548 performances and starred Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally.
A 50th anniversary Broadway revival directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette opened on March 27, 2011, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre and ran for 473 performances.
Town of Webb students Tyler Fenton and Allyson Cooper have been cast to play the lead roles of J. Pierrepont Finch and Rosemary Pilkington. In supporting roles are: TJ Hulser (J.B. Biggley), Nicholas Olsen (Bud Frump), Melissa Murphy (Hedy LaRue), Nicole Redpath (Miss Jones), Carter Kelly (Bratt), Ryan Johnston (Twimble), Olivia Phaneuf (Smitty), David Ehrensbeck (Gatch), Robin Smith (Miss Krumholtz), Shawn Hansen (Ovington), Josh Huber (Jenkins), Josh Kelly (Tackaberry).
The female supporting cast includes Allyson Brosemer, Mackenzie Kelly, Chloe Brosemer, Vicky Franco, Mara Gaffney, Caroline DeFilipps, Lexie Beal, Rachel Smith, Alex DiOrio and Fern Bailey.
The cast is under the stage direction of Anne DeFilipps, and musical direction of Valerie Gaudin.
The pit band is welcoming back Emily Herrmann, Bob Liddle, Hugh Stuart and Phil Leone.
Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (62-plus), and $5 for students.
“Please come out and support all of the hard work our Town of Webb students have done to present this fun-filled show,” Gaudin said.
