| How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | |
|---|---|
 1961 Original Cast Album | |
| Music | Frank Loesser |
| Lyrics | Frank Loesser |
| Book | |
| Basis | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying byShepherd Mead |
| Premiere | October 14, 1961 (1961-10-14):46th Street Theatre |
| Productions | 1961Broadway 1963West End 1995 Broadwayrevival 1996US tour 2011 Broadway revival 2023Off West End |
| Awards | 1962Pulitzer Prize for Drama Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Book |
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a 1961musical byFrank Loesser and book byAbe Burrows,Jack Weinstock, andWillie Gilbert, based onShepherd Mead's 1952book of the same name. The story concerns young, ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch, who, with the help of the bookHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, rises from window washer to chairman of the board of the World Wide Wicket Company.
The musical, starringRobert Morse andRudy Vallée, opened at the46th Street Theatre onBroadway in October 1961, running for 1,417 performances.[1] The show won sevenTony Awards, theNew York Drama Critics' Circle award, and the 1962Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
In 1967, afilm based on the musical was released byUnited Artists, with Morse, Vallee, Sammy Smith, and Ruth Kobart re-creating their stage roles.
A 1995 revival was mounted at the same theatre as the original production (now named theRichard Rodgers Theatre). It ran for 548 performances and starredMatthew Broderick andMegan Mullally.[2] A 50th-anniversary Broadway revival directed and choreographed byRob Ashford and starringDaniel Radcliffe andJohn Larroquette opened on March 27, 2011, at theAl Hirschfeld Theatre and ran for 473 performances.
In 1952, Shepherd Mead's satirical book,How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, became a bestseller. Playwrights Willie Gilbert and Jack Weinstock created a dramatic interpretation in 1955 that was unproduced for five years.[3] AgentAbe Newborn brought the work to the attention of producersCy Feuer andErnest H. Martin, with the intention of retooling it as a musical.[3] Feuer and Martin had great success with the 1950 adaptation ofGuys and Dolls and brought in the creative team from that show to work onHow to....[3] Burrows and Loesser set to work on the new adaptation, with rehearsals beginning in August 1961.[3] 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.[4] Loesser wrote both music and lyrics for the show, which was orchestrated byRobert Ginzler.
The original Broadway production credited the choreography to an obscure dance director named Hugh Lambert, while the much better-knownBob Fosse received only a "musical staging by..." credit. Abe Burrows explains this in his autobiographyHonest, Abe. WhileHow to Succeed was in its early development, producerCy Feuer attended atrade 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 inHow to Succeed..., while Fosse agreed to take a "musical staging" credit for choreographing all the other dance numbers.[5] Burrows also reveals that another crisis arose in rehearsals when former recording starRudy Vallée wanted to interpolate some of his hit songs from the 1930s.
J. Pierrepont Finch, a young window cleaner in New York City, reads the bookHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as he works. The "Book Voice" tells him that he will succeed if he follows the book's advice. He enters the World Wide Wicket Company searching for a job ("How To Succeed").
Finch bumps into J. B. Biggley, the president of the company, who dismisses him to the personnel manager, Mr. Bratt. Rosemary Pilkington, an ambitious young secretary, helps Finch meet Mr. Bratt. Finch tells Bratt that Biggley sent him, and Bratt gives him a job in the mailroom, where he works with Mr. Biggley's lazy, arrogant, andnepotism-minded nephew Bud Frump. Rosemary dreams of a life with Finch in the suburbs ("Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm"). The fatigued workers rush to get their coffee break ("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 ("The Company Way").
Twimble is promoted to head of the shipping department and has to choose his replacement as head of the mailroom. The book warns not to stay in the mailroom too long, so Finch recommends Frump instead of himself. Twimble is reluctant to promote the lazy Frump, but Frump promises to be a good employee ("The Company Way (Reprise)"). Twimble and Bratt are impressed by Finch's apparent selflessness, and Bratt offers him a job as a junior executive in the Plans and Systems department, headed by Mr. Gatch.
An extremely attractive but air-headed woman named Hedy LaRue, who is Mr. Biggley's secret mistress, is hired as a secretary. On her first day of work, the male employees are instantly attracted to her, but Mr. Bratt warns them against taking advantage of their employees ("A Secretary Is Not a Toy"). Finch learns from Mr. Biggley's secretary, Miss Jones, that Biggley is a proud alumnus ofOld Ivy College. In the elevator at the end of the workday, Rosemary's fellow secretary Smitty helps her and Finch set up a date ("Been a Long Day"). Frump runs into Biggley and Hedy and realizes their relationship, and he blackmails Biggley into giving him a promotion ("Been a Long Day (Reprise)").
Finch arrives early Saturday morning and sets up the office so it looks like he has been working all night. Biggley believes Finch's ruse, and Finch convinces Biggley that he, too, is a proud alumnus of Old Ivy (a "Groundhog"), and they sing the Old Ivy fight song ("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 Gatch will make a pass at her. Gatch falls for the trap and is dispatched toVenezuela, and Finch is promoted to his position as head of Plans and Systems.
At a reception for the new Advertising Department head, Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington, Rosemary hopes to impress Finch with her new "Paris original" dress, but all the other women arrive at the reception wearing the same dress ("Paris Original"). Frump schemes for Biggley to catch Finch kissing LaRue in his office, but after LaRue blackmails Finch into kissing her, he realizes he's actually in love with Rosemary ("Rosemary"). After some farcical complications, Frump and Biggley walk into the office just as Finch embraces Rosemary. Ovington is forced to resign when Biggley learns that he is a graduate from Northern State, Old Ivy's bitterest rival (a "Chipmunk"). Biggley names Finch vice-president in charge of advertising. Biggley leaves as Finch and Rosemary declare their love for each other, and Bud Frump vows revenge ("Act I Finale").
Two days later, Rosemary has been neglected by Finch. She decides to quit, but her fellow secretaries convince her to stay because she's living their dream of marrying an executive ("Cinderella, Darling"). (In the 1995 revival, this song was replaced with a reprise of "How to Succeed", with the lyrics suggesting ways in which a woman can get hold of a man's financial assets).
The book warns Finch that because vice-president of advertising is a bad position, he needs a brilliant idea. Bud Frump slyly tells Finch his idea for a treasure hunt, which Finch loves, unaware that Biggley has already heard the idea and rejected it. Finch shares the idea with Rosemary, who tells him that she'll stay with him no matter what happens ("Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise)"). Hedy tells Biggley that she is unhappy as a secretary and is leaving forCalifornia. He begs her to stay and tells her he loves her, and she agrees to stay ("Love From a Heart of Gold"). In the executive washroom, Finch gives himself a pep talk while, behind his back, the other executives and Frump plot against him ("I Believe In You").
Finch presents "his" idea to Biggley: he will hide five thousand shares of companystock in each of the ten offices around the country and give a television audience weekly clues as to their whereabouts. Biggley accepts this idea when Finch explains that each clue will be given by the scantily-dressed World Wide Wicket Treasure Girl: Miss Hedy LaRue.
During the first television show, Hedy is asked to swear on aBible that she doesn't know the location of the prizes. Hedy panics and reveals the locations to the entire television audience, which prompts all the Wicket employees to tear apart the offices looking for them. The book tells Finch, "How To Handle a Disaster. ...We suggest that your best bet if you are the cause of the Disaster is to review the first chapter of this book: 'How to Apply for a Job'."
The executives, includingChairman of the Board Wally Womper, are waiting in Biggley's office for Finch's resignation. Rosemary again tells Finch 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 go back to washing windows. Womper is drawn to Finch as he, too, was a window washer and they both "had a book": Wally's book was a book of betting records. Finch blames the treasure hunt on Frump, 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 even though the business world is a place filled with betrayal and competitiveness, the World Wide Wicket staff is like a family to him ("Brotherhood of Man"). Everyone is spared except Frump, who is fired because he is Biggley's nephew.
Biggley remains president, Womper retires 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 thePresidency of the United States. Frump gets a job washing windows, swearing revenge against Finch ("Company Way (Finale)").[6]
Major Characters
Supporting Characters
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The show opened on Broadway on October 14, 1961, at the46th Street Theatre, and closed on March 6, 1965, after 1,417 performances. The cast starredRobert Morse as Finch,Bonnie Scott as his secretary Rosemary,Charles Nelson Reilly as Bud Frump, andRudy Vallée as J. B. Biggley.Virginia Martin played Hedy LaRue.
TheWest End production opened at theShaftesbury 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 andBilly 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 LaRue.
The Australian production presented byJ. C. Williamson's opened atHer Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne on August 16, 1963.[7] Len Gochman starred as Finch, with Betty McGuire as Hedy, and Annabelle Adams as Rosemary. The show toured across Australia, playing seasons in Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide.Nancye Hayes, who started in the ensemble, would later go on to replace Betty McGuire as Hedy.
A Broadway revival opened at the 46th Street Theatre (by then renamed theRichard Rodgers Theatre) on March 23, 1995, and closed on July 14, 1996, after 548 performances. It was directed byDes McAnuff, choreographed byWayne Cilento, with musical direction byTed Sperling.Matthew Broderick starred as Finch and Rosemary was played byMegan Mullally. The cast also includedRonn Carroll as J. B. Biggley,Victoria Clark as Smitty,Jeff Blumenkrantz as Bud Frump, and, in a pre-recorded performance,Walter Cronkite as the Book Voice. The replacements for Mullally and Broderick were Broderick's future wifeSarah Jessica Parker as Rosemary andJohn Stamos as Finch.Ralph Macchio was offered the role of Finch when Broderick left the show, but opted to take the role in the touring cast instead. Broderick made a brief return to the show so he could star opposite Parker.Robert Mandan played Biggley in its California pre-Broadway run but chose not to transfer to New York.
The wardrobe was designed by Susan Hilferty and is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection inPompano Beach, Florida.
A national tour ofHow To Succeed ran beginning inBaltimore in May 1996 and ended inMilwaukee in June 1997. Other stops includedSacramento,Portland, andSeattle. The national tour cast featuredRalph Macchio as J. Pierrepont Finch, Shauna Hicks (Rosemary Pilkington), Richard Thomsen (J. B. Biggley),Pamela Blair (Hedy LaRue), andRoger Bart (Bud Frump). Both Macchio and the production played to favorable reviews.[8][9][10]
Daniel Radcliffe was featured in a reading in December 2009, withRob Ashford as director and choreographer.[11] Radcliffe starred in the revival for ten months, which began previews at theAl Hirschfeld Theatre on February 26, 2011, with the official opening on March 27, 2011. Rob Ashford directed and choreographed.[12] Other cast includedJohn Larroquette as J. B. Biggley,Rose Hemingway as Rosemary Pilkington,Mary Faber as Smitty,Tammy Blanchard as Hedy La Rue, andChristopher Hanke as Bud Frump.Anderson Cooper recorded the Voice of the Book for the production.[13][14] The production was nominated for nine 2011 Tony Awards, including for director-choreographer Rob Ashford and as Best Revival of a Musical.[15] John Larroquette won theTony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
Darren Criss succeeded Radcliffe in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch for a limited, three-week engagement January 3–22, 2012. Criss was awarded the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite Replacement for his performance in this role.[16]Beau Bridges replaced John Larroquette as J. B. Biggley starting January 3, 2012.[17]Nick Jonas took over the role of Finch on January 24, 2012.[18] Jonas was nominated for a 2012 Broadway Beacon Award for his performance in this role.[19]Michael Urie replacedChristopher Hanke in the role of Bud Frump starting on January 24, 2012.[20]
The production closed on May 20, 2012, after 30 previews and 473 regular performances.[21] Acast recording was released byDecca Broadway on June 7, 2011.
An off-West End gender-fluid revival of the show ran from May to June 2023 at theSouthwark Playhouse (Borough) in London. It included Olivier winnerTracie Bennett in the role of J. B. Biggley and featuredMichelle Visage as the voice of "the book".[22]
| Character | Broadway | West End | First Broadway Revival | US National Tour | Second Broadway Revival | Off-West End Revival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1963 | 1995 | 1996 | 2011 | 2023 | |
| J. Pierrepont Finch | Robert Morse | Warren Berlinger | Matthew Broderick | Ralph Macchio | Daniel Radcliffe | Gabrielle Friedman |
| Rosemary Pilkington | Bonnie Scott | Patricia Michael | Megan Mullally | Shauna Hicks | Rose Hemingway | Allie Daniel |
| Bud Frump | Charles Nelson Reilly | David Knight | Jeff Blumenkrantz | Roger Bart | Christopher Hanke | Elliot Gooch |
| J. B. Biggley | Rudy Vallée | Billy De Wolfe | Ronn Carroll | Richard Thomsen | John Larroquette | Tracie Bennett |
| Smitty | Claudette Sutherland | Josephine Blake | Victoria Clark | Susann Fletcher | Mary Faber | Verity Power |
| Hedy LaRue | Virginia Martin | Eileen Gourlay | Luba Mason | Pamela Blair | Tammy Blanchard | Annie Aitken |
| Miss Jones | Ruth Kobart | Olive Lucius | Lillias White | Tina Fabrique | Ellen Harvey | Grace Kanyamibwa |
| Bert Bratt | Paul Reed | Robert Nichols | Jonathan Freeman | John Deyle | Michael Park | Taylor Bradshaw |
| Mr. Twimble/Wally Womper | Sammy Smith | Bernard Spear | Gerry Vichi | Michael Cone | Rob Bartlett | Danny Lane |
| Book Voice | Carl Princi (uncredited) | N/a | Walter Cronkite | Anderson Cooper | Michelle Visage | |
Source:[23]
Source:[24]
In 1967,United Artists released a film adapted and directed byDavid Swift.Robert Morse,Rudy Vallée,Michele Lee (who replaced Bonnie Scott as Rosemary during the show's Broadway run), Sammy Smith andRuth 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 among the entire company singing a finale version of "The Company Way."
The musical was adapted by Burrows for a television production starring Alan Bursky,Susan Blanchard andLarry Haines, directed byBurt Brinckerhoff. The production aired as anABC Comedy Special on June 27, 1975.
The original 1961 Broadway production opened to unanimously positive reviews, one of only eight musicals that opened on Broadway between 1943 and 1964 that did so.[25]New York Times criticHoward Taubman wrote, "It stings mischievously and laughs uproariously...It belongs to the blue chips among modern musicals."[26] Taubman praised the show's "adult viewpoint and consistency of style", stating that Burrows had "directed brilliantly" and that Loesser had "written lyrics with an edge and tunes with a grin...the songs sharpen the ridicule."[26] Taubman stated Robert Morse played Finch "with unfailing bravura and wit", pronouncing Finch, as portrayed by Morse, "a rumpled, dimpled angel with a streak of Lucifer."[26]John Chapman of theDaily News deemed it "the definitive musical about high life in the city" with "perfect musical comedy construction."[27] Chapman declared that "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."[3][28]Richard Watts Jr. of theNew 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."[3]
In theNew York Herald Tribune, criticWalter Kerr stated, "Not a sincere line is spoken in the new Abe Burrows-Frank Loesser musical, and what a relief that is...How to Succeed is crafty, conniving, sneaky, cynical, irreverent, impertinent, sly, malicious, and lovely, just lovely."[28] He opined that Burrows was most responsible for the musical's success, pronouncing, "What most distinguishes a sassy, gay, and exhilarating evening is--you'll never believe this--the book...Gags are subordinated to impish running commentary; Mr Loesser's perky score is subordinated to the merry malice that is afoot."[28] John McClain of theNew York Journal American declared it to be "The most inventive and stylized and altogether infectious new musical in recent recollection", pronouncing it "the sheerest farce..gay, zingy, amoral, witty and shot with style. It comes very close to being a new form in musicals."[28] He praised Loesser's score, saying, "All the music has been integrated into the plot, to fit the mood as well as the momentum. His lyrics are generally superb."[28] McClain particularly noted Bob Fosse's choreography, saying that his dances were "a whole new chapter in ingenuity."[29] Norman Nadel of theNew York World-Telegram and Sun declared, "Whichever white winged angel watches over theatrical enterprises was sitting on top of the 46th St. Theatre Saturday night, joyously blasting away on a solid gold trumpet."[30]
In contrast, in their reviews of the 2011 Broadway revival, theNew York Times chief theater criticBen Brantley warns that the show's book writers "failed to give Ponty any defining traits beyond all-consuming ambition" and that "you don’t particularly want [Daniel Radcliffe's] character in the show to succeed, and that really is a problem."[31] Charles McNulty of theLos Angeles Times opined that the musical "is hampered by a dated book" and that its "episodic structure now seems as belabored as a sitcom plucked from a rusty time capsule", while "all the romantic brouhaha with moony secretaries is beyond retro."[32]
The show was the second musical in three years to win the top three theatre awards - Tony, the New York Drama Critics Circle award, and the Pulitzer Prize - following the success ofFiorello!. It was only the fourth musical to win the Pulitzer afterOf Thee I Sing (1932),South Pacific (1950) andFiorello!.[33]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Grammy Award[34] | Best Musical Theatre Album | Frank Loesser | Won |
| 1962 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Won | |
| Best Author | Abe Burrows,Jack Weinstock andWillie Gilbert | Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Musical | Robert Morse | Won | ||
| Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Charles Nelson Reilly | Won | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Abe Burrows | Won | ||
| Best Producer | Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin | Won | ||
| Best Composer | Frank Loesser | Nominated | ||
| Best Conductor and Musical Director | Elliot Lawrence | Won | ||
| New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards[35] | Best Musical | Frank Loesser, Abe Burrows, Willie Gilbert and Jack Weinstock | Won | |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Musical | Matthew Broderick | Won | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Des McAnuff | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | Wayne Cilento | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Matthew Broderick | Nominated | ||
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Featured Actor in a Musical | John Larroquette | Won | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Tammy Blanchard | Nominated | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Rob Ashford | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | Nominated | |||
| Best Orchestrations | Doug Besterman | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Catherine Zuber | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Howell Binkley | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Daniel Radcliffe | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | John Larroquette | Won | ||
| Outstanding Director of a Musical | Rob Ashford | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | Grammy Award[36] | Best Musical Theater Album | John Larroquette &Daniel Radcliffe, artists; Robert Sher, producer;Frank Loesser, composer/lyricist | Nominated |
