Following the advice of a book entitled "How to Succeed in Business" a young window-cleaner, J. Pierrepont Finch, begins a meteoric rise from the mail-room to Vice President of Advertising at the World-Wide Wicket Company. Finch’s unorthodox and morally-questionable business practices jeopardize not only his career but also his romance with secretary Rosemary Pilkington. With a 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.”
The featured players are good but their performances appear to be dialed down somewhat in deference to their star. John Larroquette makes an affable J.B. Biggley and Rose Hemingway looks pretty in pink as Rosemary. One wishes that Christopher J. Hanke provided a more eccentric spin on Frump but Tammy Blanchard’s relatively subtle turn as the helplessly sexy Hedy is sweeter than the usual vixen caricature. A droll Rob Bartlett is an endearing fellow both as a mailroom drudge and as a ranking tycoon.
In addition to his patented boyish charm, Radcliffe possesses deft comic instincts. Every time Finch turns to the spotlight with a conspiratorial acknowledgement that the plan for advancement is working to perfection, the audience roared in hysterics. His voice, pleasantly serviceable but not distinguished, worried me in his first number, 'How to Succeed.' The singing improved as the show went on, but he's no Robert Morse, who originated the role with so much musical theater élan and effortless personality (as the film version wonderfully documents) that comparisons are invidious. But then this revival would very likely never have come into existence without the Harry Potter hordes. Looking into the crystal ball, I see fewer musicals and more dramatic comedies in Radcliffe's future. He'll never match Hugh Jackman's versatility, but there's no shame in being a likable 2 1/4 threat.
1961 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1963 | US Tour |
1st National Tour US Tour |
1963 | West End |
London Production West End |
1963 | US Tour |
2nd National Tour US Tour |
1965 | US Tour |
3rd National Tour US Tour |
1995 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2011 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2017 | West End |
Wilton's Music Hall Production West End |
2023 | West End |
West End |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Choreography | Rob Ashford |
2011 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Leading Actor in a Musical | Daniel Radcliffe |
2011 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Lighting Design | Howell Binkley |
2011 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying |
2011 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Scenic Design | Derek McLane |
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Daniel Radcliffe |
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Rob Ashford |
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Rob Ashford |
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | John Larroquette |
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | 0 |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Daniel Radcliffe |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Rob Ashford |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Rob Ashford |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | John Larroquette |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | 0 |
2011 | Theatre World Awards | Performance | John Larroquette |
2011 | Theatre World Awards | Performance | Rose Hemingway |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Rob Ashford |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Catherine Zuber |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Rob Ashford |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Howell Binkley |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Orchestrations | Doug Besterman |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | John Larroquette |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Tammy Blanchard |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Michael Speyer-Bernie Abrams/Jacki Florin-Adam Blanshay/TBS Service |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Larry Kaye/Paul Chau/Daniel Frishwasser/Michael Jackowitz |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Hop Theatricals |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Two Left Feet Productions/PowerArts |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Jen Namoff/Fakstone Productions |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Hilary A. Williams |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Takonkiet Viravan/Scenario Thailand |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Candy Spelling |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Michael McCabe/Joseph Smith |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Neil Meron |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Craig Zadan |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Broadway Across America |
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