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How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was a humorous book by Shepherd Mead . It inspired a successful 1961 musical of the same name, which was made into a movie in 1967.

Contents

The book

Mead's book satirized 1950s United States corporate business, in the guise of a "self-help" book.

The musical

The musical had a long run on Broadway (1,417 performances). The music and lyrics were written by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows , Jack Weinstock , and Willie Gilbert .

The songs

  • "How to Succeed"
  • "Happy to keep his Dinner Warm"
  • "Coffee Break"
  • "The Company Way"
  • "A Secretary is Not a Toy"
  • "Been a Long Day"
  • "Been a Long Day (Reprise)"
  • "Grand Old Ivy"
  • "Paris Original"
  • "Rosemary"
  • "Finale to Act I"
  • "Cinderella, Darling"
  • "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise)"
  • "Love From a Heart of Gold"
  • "I Believe in You"
  • "I Believe in You (Reprise)"
  • "Brotherhood of Man"
  • "Finale: The Company Way"

Broadway production

The show opened October 14, 1961, at the 46th Street Theater in New York City. It was directed by Abe Burrows and Bob Fosse.

Original cast

  • Robert Morse as Finch
  • Ray Mason as Gatch
  • Robert Kaliban as Jenkins
  • David Collyer as Tackaberry
  • Casper Roos as Peterson
  • Rudy Vallee as J.B. Biggley
  • Bonnie Scott as Rosemary
  • Paul Reed as Bratt
  • Claudette Sutherland as Smitty
  • Charles Nelson Reilly as Frump
  • Ruth Kobart as Miss Jones
  • Sammy Smith as Mr. Twimble
  • Virginia Martin as Hedy
  • Mara Landi as Miss Krumholz
  • Ray Mason as Toynbee
  • Lanier Davis as Ovington
  • Bob Murdock as Policeman
  • Sammy Smith as Womper

London production

The show opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on March 28, 1963 and ran for 520 performances. It was also directed by Abe Burrows and Bob Fosse.

Cast

  • Warren Berlinger as J. Pierpont Finch
  • Billy De Wolfe as J.B. Biggley
  • Patricia Michael as Rosemary
  • Josephine Blake as Smitty
  • David Knight as Bud Frump
  • Olice Lucius as Miss Jones
  • Bernard Spear as Mr. Twimble
  • Eileen Gourlay as Hedy La Rue

1967 United Artists film

The film version was directed by David Swift

CAST:

  • Robert Morse as J. Pierpont Finch
  • Michele Lee as Rosemary Pilkington
  • Rudy Vallee as Jasper B. 'J.B.' Biggley
  • Anthony 'Scooter' Teague as Bud Frump
  • Maureen Arthur as Hedy LaRue
  • John Myhers as Bert O. Bratt
  • Carol Worthington as Lucille Krumholtz
  • Kay Reynolds as Smitty
  • Ruth Kobart as Miss Jones
  • Sammy Smith as Mr. Twimble/Wally Womper
  • Jeff DeBenning as Gatch

Broadway revival

The revival opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on March 23, 1995 and ran for 548 performances. It was directed by Des McAnuff .

Cast

  • Matthew Broderick as J. Pierrepont Finch
  • Megan Mullally as Rosemary Pilkington
  • Ronn Carroll as J.B. Biggley
  • Jeff Blumenkrantz as Bud Frump
  • Victoria Clark as Smitty
  • Jonathan Freeman as Bert Bratt
  • Luba Mason as Hedy La Rue
  • Gerry Vichi as Mr. Twimble/Wally Womper
  • Lillias White as Miss Jones


External links

Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04