Darren Criss, breakout star of Fox's Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning smash hit television show "GLEE", will make his Broadway debut as J. Pierrepont Finch in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, performing a strictly limited three week engagement from January 3, through January 22, 2012. He will replace Daniel Radcliffe, who will play his final performance on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Tickets for Mr. Criss' engagement in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are now on sale.
Hypable.com just featured a first look of the star as Finch, and you can check out the photo below!
"Daniel gives an extraordinary performance eight times a week and we knew finding someone to fill his shoes would be nearly impossible. When we learned of Darren's dream of performing on Broadway we knew we had found our Finch but presumed his "GLEE" schedule would eliminate any chance to work with him," said director/choreographer Rob Ashford. "We are ecstatic and grateful to Ryan Murphy and his "GLEE" team at 20th Century Fox TV for helping to make both Darren's and our dream come true."
Actor/musician/songwriter Darren Criss has gone from YouTube sensation to a six-time Billboard charting musician and composer, and cast member of Fox's Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series "GLEE." He was recently promoted to a series regular after making a splash as a guest star in Season Two, playing Blaine Anderson. Criss' breakout performance of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" in his first episode set a milestone for "GLEE," debuting at #1 on Billboard for the first time in the show's history and selling over 200,000 tracks in its first week. He is also the co-founder of StarKid Productions, where he wrote and starred in A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel. Additional credits under StarKid Productions include Me and My Dick and most recently Starship. His television credits include "Eastwick," "Cold Case" and "Archer."
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING began previews on Saturday, February 26, 2011 and opened Sunday, March 27 at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). Nominated for eight 2011 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING is directed and choreographed by Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, and currently stars Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch, 2011 Tony Award winner John Larroquette as J. B. Biggley, Rose Hemingway in her Broadway debut as Radcliffe's onstage romantic interest Rosemary Pilkington, Tammy Blanchard as Hedy La Rue, Christopher J. Hanke as Bud Frump, Rob Bartlett as Twimble/Wally Womper, Mary Faber as Smitty, Ellen Harvey as Miss Jones, 2011 Emmy Award winner Michael Park as Bert Bratt, and Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist Anderson Cooper making his Broadway debut as the voice of the narrator, in a cast of 30.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING has music and lyrics by Academy Award and Tony Award winner Frank Loesser, and a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, based on the book by Shepherd Mead. The creative team for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING includes Derek McLane (Sets) Catherine Zuber (Costumes), Howell Binkley (Lighting), Jon Weston (Sound), Tom Watson (Hair), Doug Besterman (Orchestrations), and David Chase (Music Director and Arranger). The 50th Anniversary production of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING is produced by Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Joseph Smith, Michael McCabe, Candy Spelling, Takonkiet Viravan/Scenario Thailand, Two Left Feet Productions/PowerArts, Jen Namoff/Fakston Productions, Hilary A. Williams, HOP Theatricals, LLC/Paul Chau/Daniel Frishwasser/Michael Jackowitz, and Michael Speyer - Bernie Abrams/Jacki Barlia Florin - Adam Blanshay/Arlene Scanlan/TBS Service.
With the aid of a trusty self-help book "How to Succeed in Business" wily window washer J. Pierrepont Finch enjoys a riotous rise up the corporate ladder. Will Finch's unorthodox business practices at the World-Wide Wicket Company get him in hot water with the head honcho J.B. Biggley, and jeopardize his romance with secretary Rosemary Pilkington? With a hilarious book and beloved score by Frank Loesser, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING is packed with hit standards such as "I Believe in You," "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm," "The Company Way," "Been a Long Day," "Rosemary," and "Brotherhood of Man."
Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING range from $52 - $132, and are available at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre box office and at Telecharge.com ( 212-239-6200 ). The playing schedule is as follows: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday at 8pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm.
For more information please visit: www.howtosucceedbroadway.com
