Michael Urie to Join HOW TO SUCCEED... as 'Bud Frump' January 2012

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 star of stage and television, Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty," The Temperamentals) will make his Broadway debut as Bud Frump, beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012, for 6 months through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Urie will co-star with Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges. Urie replaces Christopher J. Hanke, who will play his last performance on Sunday, January 22, 2012 alongside Darren Criss. Tickets for Urie's engagement in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are now on sale.

Michael Urie is currently starring as Yepikhodov in the Classic Stage Company's production of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. He also recently starred in the Signature Theatre Company's revival of Angels in America as Prior Walter, as well as the 2009's The Temperamentals, in which he originated the role of Rudi Gernreich and received a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor. Also in New York, Michael has worked with The Nerve Ensemble at HERE, The Foundry, HB Playwrights, and in WTC VIEW during the Fringe Festival, which went on to become a film from director/writer Brian Sloan. His regional theatre credits include Dickie and Babe at The Blank Theatre in LA, Horatio in Dan Sullivan's Hamlet at SCR, The Old Globe, Seattle Rep, DC's Folger Theatre, Barrington Stage, and Austin's Hyde Park Theatre. Michael has appeared at The Triad Theatre as Miley Cyrus, David Cassidy, Kenny Loggins, Tommy Lee and sometimes Lance Bass in the hilarious Celebrity Autobiography. With producing partner Glenn Meehan, he is co-founder of UR-MEE productions. Michael can also be heard as the voice of Sebastian in Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and seen on ABC as Marc on Ugly Betty. He directed the documentary Thank You For Judging as well as the upcoming independent film, He's More Famous Than You. He received his training at Juilliard.

The 2011 Broadway cast recording of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING was just nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award.

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.

Daniel Radcliffe and 2011 Award winner John Larroquette will conclude their run in the show on Sunday, January 1, 2012. 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, performing a strictly limited three week engagement from Tuesday, January 3, through Sunday, January 22, 2012. Nick Jonas will succeed Criss, stepping in to the role of 'Finch' on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Emmy, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Beau Bridges will take over the role of J. B. Biggley on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, starring opposite both Criss and Jonas.

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. PLEASE NOTE: Beginning January 25, Wednesday evening performances will be at 7:30pm.

For more information please visit:
www.howtosucceedbroadway.com