Fremont Street Theater's 'HOW TO SUCCEED' Opens Tonight

Now under new ownership, the Fremont Street Theater Company proudly returns with its annual summer production - this year, the Tony-Award winning How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The show opens at 7:30 p.m., tonight, August 7, at historic Cutting Hall in Palatine and will run the two weekends of August 7-9 and 14-16 for a total of eight performances.

"If you ever worked for a corporation, especially in an office, this show is for you," says Madeline Franklin, director and new owner of Fremont Street Theater Company with her husband, Rusty, who serves as managing director.

And she just might be right. From the whining, conniving boss' nephew to the "company man" who will say and do just about anything to get ahead to so many of the one-liners, quips and the quirky, spirited musical numbers, audience members will be reminded both of people and circumstances they themselves have been through - and lived to tell about - and now even laugh about.

Says Franklin, who has directed all of Fremont's productions for the past four summers, "In many ways, it's the musical version and predecessor of contemporary comedies like The Office." Written in 1961, the production leans heavily on 1950s values and ideas, but the inner-workings of corporate America ring ever true today. While none of it can or should be taken seriously, the raw humor mixed with the great musical score provide for an amazing blend of comedy, song and dance, she explains.

With its book written by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a satire of big business and all it holds sacred. It follows the rise of J. Pierrepont Finch, who uses a little handbook called "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" to climb the corporate ladder from lowly window-washer to high-powered executive in record time, and tackles the familiar but potent dangers as the aggressively compliant "company man," the office party, backstabbing co-workers, and, of course, office romances that, in this case, become true love.

With an exhilarating score by Frank Loesser including songs like "I Believe in You," "Brotherhood of Man," and "The Company Way," this irreverent and tune-filled romp interweaves sly, swift and sharp jabs to the funny bone while never failing to keep audiences on the edges of their seats throughout the show. It won seven Tony Awards in 1962 including Best Musical and then enjoyed two additional Broadway runs in the 1990s and again in 2011-12, the latter featuring Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame as J. Pierrepont Finch.

Fremont veterans Dina DiCostanzo and Ken McMullen return to serve as choreographer and musical director, respectively. Rusty Franklin serves as producer and Rick Browne serves as co-producer.

The Fremont Street Theater Company strives to tap into Chicagoland's exceptional talent pool of actors, dancers, singers, musicians, choreographers, directors and technical designers to satisfy the quintessential need for a superior theater company in the Northwest Suburbs.

Nighttime performances will start at 7:30 p.m. and run Fridays, August 7 and 14, and Saturdays, August 8 and 15. Matinee performances will begin at 2 p.m., Saturdays, August 8 and 15, and Sundays, August 9 and 16, and all run at the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center at the corner of Fremont and Wood streets in Palatine.

Tickets cost $19 for Adults in advance, $21 at the door; and $17 for Students and Seniors in advance, $19 at the door. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at the Cutting Hall Box Office by calling (847) 202-5222 or by visiting the box office at 150 E. Wood Street in Palatine between 2 and 6 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays, or online through Fremont Street Theater Company's website: www.fremontstreettheater.com.

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