The producers of the 50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING announced today that Emmy, Golden Globe and Grammy Award-winning star of screen, television and stage, Beau Bridges, will return to Broadway for the first time in 38 years in his first musical as J. B. Biggley, beginning Tuesday, January 3, 2012, for 6 months through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Mr. Bridges will co-star with Darren Criss (January 3, 2012 - January 22, 2012) and Nick Jonas (January 24, 2012 - July 1, 2012). Beau Bridges will replace 2011 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winner John Larroquette, who will play his final performance along with co-star Daniel Radcliffe on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Tickets for Mr. Bridges' engagement in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are now on sale.
"When the musical HOW TO SUCCEED came my way, I jumped at the chance," said
Beau Bridges. "Samuel French recently published Acting: The First Six Lessons, a play I co-authored with my daughter Emily. We performed the play in Los Angeles for two months, and that experience reignited my desire to be on stage. I am very much looking forward to again spending time in the heart of New York City."
For over 50 years multi Emmy, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner
Beau Bridges has enjoyed a career in film, television and theater. He has appeared on Broadway in the plays Where's Daddy? (1966) and Who's Who in Hell (1974). In Los Angeles, he appeared in the original production of The Trial of the Catonsville Nine at the
Mark Taper Forum and had the leading role in
Jane Anderson's Looking for Normal at the Geffen Theatre. He has acted in over 100 films, including The Descendants, which will be released November 18, 2011 (co-starring
George Clooney), The Fabulous Baker Boys (co-starring his brother
Jeff Bridges) for which he won the National Society of Film Critics Award, The Other Side of the Mountain, and Norma Rae. His television credits include "Sea Hunt," "
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," "The Outer Limits," "Stargate: SG-1," "My Name Is Earl," "Desperate Housewives," "Brothers & Sisters," and "White Collar." He won Emmy Awards for HBO's "The Second Civil War," "The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom" and "Without Warning: The
James Brady Story." Mr. Bridges is also a director and producer and the son of actor
Lloyd Bridges.
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."
