Sears, Pilkington & More Lead Goodspeed's HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS 9/24

Two time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals is delighted to announce the cast of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. The musical comedy will run from Sept 24 - Nov 28 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, sponsored by Liberty Bank, Connecticut Light and Power and Continental Airlines. 

In this satire of American industry, an ambitious window-washer uses a bit of charm, a lot of flattery and a little self-help manual called How to Succeed... to zoom up from mail room clerk to executive suite boss. A triumph of musical theatre with a happy and witty score that includes "The Company Way," "I Believe in You" and "Brotherhood of Man." Winner of 7 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

How to Succeed... features Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser, Book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, based on the book by Shepherd Mead.

J. Pierrepont Finch will be played by Brian Sears, whose Broadway credits include the revivals of Grease, Finian's Rainbow and Lend Me a Tenor. Rosemary Pilkington will be played by Natalie Bradshaw fresh from her appearance on Broadway in the revival of Hair . Ms. Bradshaw played Joanie in The Norma Terris production of Happy Days, A New Musical. J.B. Biggley will be played by Ronn Carroll whose Broadway credits include the original cast of Promises, Promises; On Golden Pond; The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Crazy For You and Steel Pier as well as the revivals of Gypsy, How to Succeed..., Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma and many more. Goodspeed audiences will remember Mr. Carroll for his portrayal of Benjamin Franklin in 1776 and as Pelinore in Camelot.. Hedy La Rue will be played by Nicolette Hart who performed in the original Broadway productions of Rent, The Wedding Singer and Legally Blonde. Ms. Hart wowed Goodspeed audiences as Tammy Wynette in Stand By Your Man at The Norma Terris Theatre. Smitty will be played by Erin McGuire who previously performed as Amelia Earhart in Goodspeed's Norma Terris production Flight of the Lawnchair Man.

Jennifer Smith whose Broadway credits include the original cast of La Cage aux Folles, The Secret Garden, Victor/Victoria, High Society, The Producers and The Drowsy Chaperone returns to Goodspeed where previously she appeared in Lucky in the Rain and George M!. Smith will play Miss Jones. Bud Frump will be played by Tom Deckman whose Broadway credits include the original cast of Good Vibrations and Spamalot.. Mr. Twimble/Wally Womper will be played by Richard Vida who performed in the original Broadway productions of Les Misérables and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Mr. Vida returns to Goodspeed where he last appeared in Tin Pan Alley Rag at The Norma Terris Theatre. Bratt will be played by Aaron Serotsky who recently performed on Broadway in August: Osage County.

The ensemble will include James Beaman from Goodspeed Musicals' Annie Get Your Gun . Jerry Christakos who appeared in the Broadway production of Kiss of the Spiderwoman returns to Goodspeed where he previously performed in Wonderful Town and 1776. Other members of the ensemble include Lianne Marie Dobbs, Sara Marie Hicks (Broadway's Gypsy), Matthew Kilgore (Broadway's Irving Berlin's White Christmas) , Natalie Newman, Brian Ogilvie, Kristin Piro, John Scacchetti (Broadway's Gypsy and 42nd Street), Drew Taylor (Broadway's The Secret Garden, Annie and Sweet Smell of Success) returns to Goodspeed where he previously appeared in High Button Shoes. Completing the ensemble will be Micki Weiner. The swings will be Peter Mills and Kellyn Uhl.

How to Succeed... will be directed by Greg Ganakas, whose musical theatre directional credits include productions of Caroline, or Change at Studio Theatre in Washington, DC; Ain't Misbehavin' at the Dallas Theater Center; the world premiere of God Lives in Glass at the Provincetown Playhouse in New York City, the world premiere of The Times at The Long Wharf, New Haven; Oklahoma! at the Ordway Theatre in St. Paul and several productions at North Shore Music Theatre. Mr. Ganakas has directed such Goodspeed audience favorites as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers which went on to a successful National Tour, Babes in Arms, George M!, The Pajama Game and Brigadoon. How to Succeed... will be choreographed by Kelli Barclay, whose previous Broadway credits include Assistant Choreographer on the revival of 42nd Street and Associate Choreographer of Irving Berlin's White Christmas.

Scenic designs will be by Adrian W. Jones, who most recently designed the Broadway prodcution Looped. Costume Design will be by Gregory Gale who designed the Broadway productions of Band in Berlin, Urinetown, The Wedding Singer, Cyrano de Bergerac and Rock of Ages. Mr. Gale designed the costumes for Goodspeed's Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and High Button Shoes. Lighting design will be by Paul Miller who made his Broadway debut as the assistant lighting director for Titanic. Additional Broadway credits as assistant, associate and designer include The Sound of Music, On the Town, Saturday Night Fever, The Music Man,The Producers, Hairspray, Sweeney Todd and Legally Blonde.

The Music Director for How to Succeed... will be Michael O'Flaherty. He is in his 19th season as Goodspeed's Resident Music Director. William J. Thomas will be Assistant Music Director. Orchestrations will be provided by Dan DeLange, who provided the orchestrations for Goodspeed Musicals' Carnival!, Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, 42nd Street, Half a Sixpence, High Button Shoes, Singin' in the Rain, The Boy Friend, Red Hot and Blue, Call Me Madam, and Babes in Arms. How to Succeed... is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

How to Succeed...will run September 24 through November 28, 2010. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).

Tickets are available through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open seven days a week, or on-line at www.goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more visit us at goodspeed.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi

To post a comment, you must register and login.