Flat Rock Playhouse Presents HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, Now thru 7/12

The Flat Rock Playhouse 2015 season will continue with the Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which will run from tonight, June 17th through July 12th on the Clyde & Nina Allen Mainstage in the village of Flat Rock.

This jazzy shaken-not-stirred musical, based on Shepard Mead's book How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, follows the ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch, a window washer desperate for success. Finch begins working in the mailroom at the World Wide Wicket Company, but with the help of his "How to" guidebook, learns how to zoom up the corporate ladder without breaking a sweat. With a zippy and inventive score, this musical satire set in the late 1950s/early 60s is sure to dazzle with lively dance numbers and souped-up songs such as A Secretary is Not a Toy, I Believe in You, Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm, The Company Way, Been a Long Day, Rosemary, and Brotherhood of Man.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying first premiered in 1961 with a then relatively unknown Robert Morse as Finch who garnered outstanding critical acclaim. The show went on to acquire seven Tony Awards including best musical and best composer, the Grammy for best original cast show album and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying has since seen two Broadway revivals with stars such as Matthew Broderick (1995), Daniel Radcliffe (2011) and Nick Jonas (2012). With music and lyrics by the Tony Award winning Frank Loesser, the man behind the Broadway smash Guys and Dolls, this sparkling and effervescent comedy comes to Flat Rock Playhouse for the very first time. WARNING: See this show before your boss does!

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying will be directed and choreographed by Richard J. Hinds, returning to Flat Rock since his triumphant and critically acclaimed production of Evita in 2013. Hinds' extensive credits as Associate and Assistant Director/Choreographer on Broadway, Off-Broadway and the West End include Newsies!, Jekyll and Hyde, Il Divo: A Musical Affair andHere Lives Love. He has also worked on the national and international tours of 9 to 5, Disney's High School Musical and High School Musical: The Ice Tour.

Starring in the central role of J. Pierrepont Finch will be Adam Kaplan, Flat Rock Playhouse Apprentice Class of 2009 and 2011. Originally from Westport, Connecticut, Adam Kaplan is a New York based actor and singer who made his Broadway debut in Disney'sNewsies! performing the leading role Jack Kelly numerous times. He also recently performed with the New York Philharmonic in Show Boat, which was recorded for PBS Live at Lincoln Center.

Sharing the stage with Kaplan in principal roles are George McDaniel as J. B. Bigley, Libby Servais as Rosemary, Matt DaSilva as Bud Frump, Courtney Daniels as Smitty, Catherine LeFrere as Hedy LaRue and Marcy McGuigan as Miss Jones.

Joining Hinds on the production team are Dennis C. Maulden, CJ Barnwell, Ashli Arnold and Bryan Delaney as the Scenic, Light, Costume and Sound designers respectively. Bill Muñoz will be Stage Manager with Lindsey A. Moss as Assistant Stage Manager. Paul Feraldi will be designing the properties.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is presented by Mainstage Series Sponsor The Cliffs with BMW of Asheville serving as Opening Night Sponsor. The Executive Producers of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying are Hendersonville Magazine, Veranda Café and Gifts, John Cox and Peter Parry.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying will run June 17th through July 12th at Flat Rock Playhouse's Clyde & Nina Allen Mainstage. Performances Wednesday through Saturday evening at 8 PM, matinees Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets are $15 - 40 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732-8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

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