How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

By Frank Loesser, Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead’s 1952 book of the same name.
The musical opened at the 46th Street Theatre on Broadway in October 1961, running for 1,417 performances.[1] The show won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle award, and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 1967, a film based on the musical was released by United Artists, with many of the original cast recreating their roles. A 1995 revival was mounted at the same theater as the original production (now named the Richard Rodgers Theatre), and ran for 548 performances, and starred Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally.[2]A 50th anniversary Broadway revival directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford and starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette opened on March 27, 2011, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre and ran for 473 performances.

History

In 1952, Shepherd Mead’s satirical book, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, became a bestseller. Playwright Willie Gilbert and fellow playwright Jack Weinstock created a dramatic interpretation in 1955 that was unproduced for five years. Agent Abe Newborn brought the work to the attention of producers Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin, with the intention of retooling it as a musical.

Feuer and Martin had great success with the 1950 adaptation of Guys and Dolls and brought in the creative team from that show to work on How to…. Abe Burrows and Frank Loesser set to work on the new adaptation, with rehearsals beginning in August 1961. Burrows collaborated on the book with Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, also serving as director. Their new adaptation became even more satirical and added romance to the story.[3] Loesser wrote both music and lyrics for the show.

The original Broadway production credited the choreography to an obscure dance director named Hugh Lambert, while the much better-known Bob Fosse received only a “musical staging by…” credit. Abe Burrows explains this in his autobiography Honest, Abe. While How to Succeed… was in its early development, producer Cy Feuer attended a trade show and was extremely impressed by an elaborate dance number created by Lambert, prompting Feuer to hire Lambert to choreograph the new musical.

According to Burrows, it soon became clear in rehearsals that Lambert’s creative abilities were completely used up in that one elaborate dance number. Bob Fosse was brought in to replace him, but Fosse was unwilling to hurt Lambert’s career by having him fired. Lambert’s trade-show dance number was recycled as the “Treasure Hunt” dance in How to Succeed…, while Fosse agreed to take a “musical staging” credit for choreographing all the other dance numbers.[4] Burrows also reveals that another crisis arose in rehearsals when former recording star Rudy Vallee wanted to interpolate some of his hit songs from the 1930s.

Productions

Broadway (1961-1965)

The show opened on Broadway on October 14, 1961 at the 46th Street Theatre, and closed on March 6, 1965 after 1,417 performances. The cast starred Robert Morse as Finch, Bonnie Scott as his secretary Rosemary, Charles Nelson Reilly as Bud Frump, and Rudy Vallee as the company president. Virginia Martin played Hedy LaRue.

West End (1963-1964)

The West End production opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on March 28, 1963 and ran for 520 performances. It was also directed by Burrows and Bob Fosse, and featured a new London cast. Warren Berlinger and Billy De Wolfe starred as Finch and Biggley respectively, with Patricia Michael as Rosemary, Josephine Blake as Smitty, David Knight as Bud Frump, Olive Lucius as Miss Jones, Bernard Spear as Mr. Twimble, and Eileen Gourlay as Hedy La Rue.

Broadway Revival (1995-1996)

A Broadway revival opened at the original theatre, now renamed Richard Rodgers Theatre on March 23, 1995 and closed on July 14, 1996 after 548 performances. It was directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Wayne Cilento. Matthew Broderick starred as Finch, and Rosemary was played by Megan Mullally. In a pre-recorded performance, Walter Cronkite was the Book Voice. The replacements for Mullally and Broderick were Broderick’s future wife, Sarah Jessica Parker as Rosemary and John Stamos as Finch. The wardrobe was designed by Susan Hilferty and is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach, Florida.

US National Tour (1996-1997)

A national tour of ‘How To Succeed’ ran beginning in Baltimore in May 1996 and ended in Milwaukee in June 1997. Other stops included Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle. The national tour cast featured Ralph Macchio as J. Pierrepont Finch, Shauna Hicks (Rosemary Pilkington), Richard Thomsen (J.B. Biggley), Pamela Blair (Hedy LaRue), and Roger Bart (Bud Frump). Both Macchio and the production played to favorable reviews.^[7]^[8]^[9]

Broadway Revival (2011-2012)

Daniel Radcliffe was featured in a reading in December 2009, with Rob Ashford as director and choreographer.^[10] Radcliffe starred in the revival for ten months, which began previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on February 26, 2011, with the official opening on March 27, 2011. Rob Ashford directs and choreographs.^[11] Other cast includes Rose Hemingway as Rosemary Pilkington, Mary Faber as Smitty, Tammy Blanchard as Hedy La Rue, Christopher Hanke as Bud Frump, and John Larroquette as J.B. Biggley. Anderson Cooper has recorded the Voice of the Book for the adaptation.^[12]^[13] The production was nominated for nine 2011 Tony Awards, including for director-choreographer Rob Ashford and as Best Revival of a Musical.^[14] John Larroquette won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Darren Criss succeeded Radcliffe in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch for a limited three week engagement from January 3–22, 2012. Criss was awarded the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite Replacement for his performance in this role.^[15]Beau Bridges replaced John Larroquette as J.B. Biggley starting January 3, 2012.^[16] Nick Jonas took over the role of Finch on January 24, 2012.^[17] Jonas was nominated for a 2012 Broadway Beacon Award for his performance in this role.^[18] Michael Urie replaced Christopher Hanke in the role of Bud Frump starting on January 24, 2012.^[19] The production closed on May 20, 2012 after 30 previews and 473 regular performances.[20]

Run

Opening & Closing Dates	Type & Version	Theatre
14 Oct 1961 – Mar 06, 1965	Musical / Original	46th Street Theatre New York, NY
28 Mar, 1963- 520 Performances	Musical / Original/Westend	Shaftesbury Theatre London, UK
23 Mar 1995-14 Jul, 1996	Musical / Revival	Richard Rodgers Theatre New York, NY
27 Mar 2011- 20 May 2012	Musical / Revival	Al Hirschfeld Theatre New York, NY

Plot

Act I

J. Pierrepont Finch, a young window cleaner, has a mind for advancement. A “Book Voice” tells him that everything he needs for success is contained within the book in his hand, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He enters the World Wide Wicket Company searching for a job. Finch knocks J.B. Biggley, the president of the company, to the ground. Finch presses Biggley for a job, who dismisses him to the personnel manager, Mr. Bratt. Rosemary Pilkington, a secretary, is impressed with Finch and offers to help him meet Mr. Bratt. Bratt treats Finch brusquely until Finch mentions he was referred to Bratt by Mr. Biggley. Finch is given a job in the mailroom, where he works with Mr. Biggley’s lazy and nepotism-minded nephew Bud Frump. Rosemary dreams of a life with Finch in the suburbs and tells her friend Smitty that she’d be “Happy to Keep his Dinner Warm”.

The fatigued workers rush to get their “Coffee break”, only to find it bone dry. The Book Voice warns Finch, “One word of caution about the mailroom: it is a place out of which you must get.” Twimble, head of the mailroom, is moving to the shipping department. He tells Finch that the secret to longevity at the company is to play things “The Company Way”. Twimble appoints Finch as his successor, but Finch, heeding the words of his trusty book, declines the promotion, saying that Bud Frump is more qualified. Frump accepts, vowing to play things “The Company Way”, too. Twimble and Bratt are impressed by Finch, and Bratt offers him a job as a junior executive in the Plans and Systems department, headed by Mr. Gatch. Frump, seeing that he has been outdone, fumes.

A sexy but air-headed woman named Hedy LaRue calls the office searching for a job, and Bratt brings her in to be assigned secretary. The employees see her and are instantly attracted to her, but Bratt, in order to preserve his relationship with Hedy, reminds them “A Secretary is Not a Toy.”

It is Friday afternoon, just after five o’clock. As the employees make their way to the elevators, the ever-alert Finch learns that Biggley is extremely proud of his alma mater, Old Ivy, and learns that he will be in the office Saturday morning. Rosemary and Smitty encounter Finch at the elevator. They agree that it’s “Been a Long Day”, and Smitty helps them arrange a date. Frump runs into Biggley and Hedy, arguing about her job. Frump realizes their relationship and blackmails Biggley into giving him a promotion.

Finch arrives early Saturday morning in order to appear that he has been working all night. Biggley arrives and witnesses Finch “asleep” at his desk. Finch “absent-mindedly” begins humming “Grand Old Ivy”, the Old Ivy fight song. Finch convinces the Old Man that he, too, is a proud alumnus. Biggley insists that Finch be given his own office and secretary, Hedy, prompting the Book Voice to warn Finch to beware of secretaries who have many talents, none of them secretarial. Finch realizes that Biggley must be her advocate, and sends her on an errand to Gatch, knowing that he won’t be able to resist making a pass at her. Finch is soon seated behind Gatch’s desk, Gatch having been dispatched to Venezuela.

A reception for the new Advertising Department head, Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington, is being held, and Rosemary hopes to impress Finch with her new “Paris Original”, but all the women of the office are wearing identical copies of the dress. Hedy tipsily exits to shower in Biggley’s office, and Frump, hoping to trap Finch and Hedy, tells Finch that Biggley is waiting in his office for him. In the office, as Hedy and Finch are kissing passionately, Finch realizes that he is in love with “Rosemary”, who enters as Hedy returns to the bathroom. After some farcical complications, Finch and Rosemary embrace—just in time for Frump and Biggley to walk through the door.

Ovington resigns after being prompted for his alma mater by Finch; Biggley realizes that Ovington matriculated from Old Ivy’s bitter rival. Biggley a loyal “Ground Hog” cannot stand another day of the “Chipmunk” Ovington. Then, Biggley names Finch Vice-President in Charge of Advertising, just in time for a big meeting two days hence. Biggley leaves as Finch and Rosemary declare their love for “J. Pierrepont Finch”, and Bud Frump vows to return.

Act II

It is the morning of the big meeting, and Rosemary is feeling neglected by Finch. She decides to quit, but her fellow secretaries convince her to stay: she’s living their dream of marrying an executive and becoming “Cinderella, Darling.”. (In the 1995 revival, this song was replaced with a reprise of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, with the lyrics suggesting ways in which a girl can get hold of a man’s financial assets).

The book warns Finch that as Vice-President of Advertising, he needs a brilliant idea. Bud Frump slyly tells Finch about his idea for a treasure hunt. Finch loves the idea, unaware that Biggley has already heard the idea and shot it down. Finch bounces the idea off Rosemary, who tells him that, no matter what, she’d be “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm” (reprise).

Hedy tells Biggley she is extremely unhappy with her secretarial duties and is leaving for California. He begs her to stay, and they declare their “Love From a Heart of Gold.” In the executive washroom, Frump assures the others that Finch’s plan will fail and, with it, his career. Finch enters and gives himself a pep talk, telling himself “I Believe in You.”

Finch presents “his” idea: he will hide five thousand shares of company stock in each of the ten offices around the country and give the audience weekly clues as to their whereabouts. Biggley is about to reject this idea yet again, when Finch explains that each clue will be given by the scantily-dressed World Wide Wicket Girl: Miss Hedy LaRue.

During the first television show, Hedy is asked to swear on a Bible that she doesn’t know the location of the prizes. Hedy, whom Biggley had told the night before where the treasure was hidden, panics and reveals the locations to the entire television audience. The book tells Finch, “How To Handle a Disaster. …we suggest that your best bet is to review the first chapter of this book: ‘How to Apply for a Job’ “.

Treasure hunters have wrecked World Wide Wicket Company offices across the country, and the executives, including Chairman of the Board Wally Womper, are waiting in Biggley’s office for Finch’s resignation. Rosemary tells Finch “I Believe in You”. About to sign his letter of resignation, Finch mentions that he’ll probably be going back to washing windows. Womper is drawn to Finch as he, too, was a washer of windows and that they both “had a book”, Wally’s book being a book of betting records. Finch manages to place the blame for the treasure hunt on Bud, also mentioning that Frump is Biggley’s nephew. Womper is about to “clean house from top to bottom”, when Finch steps in on everyone’s behalf. Finch tells the executives that they’re all part of the “Brotherhood of Man.” Everyone is spared, except Frump, who is fired because he is Biggley’s nephew.

Biggley is still president, Womper is retiring to travel the world with his new wife, Hedy, and Finch will become Chairman of the Board. Rosemary stands by his side and inadvertently inspires him to aspire for Presidency of the United States. Bud Frump is lowered on a window-washing scaffold, outside the building, squeegee in one hand and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in the other.[5]

Major Characters

J Pierrepont Finch- a window washer who applies for a job at the World Wide Wicket Company. Rosemary’s love interest.

Rosemary Pilkington- a secretary who works at the World Wide Wicket Company. Finch’s love interest.

Bud Frump- Biggley’s arrogant and snobbish nephew who thinks he can get away with anything because he is J.B. Biggley’s nephew.

J.B. Biggley- The boss of the World Wide Wicket Company.

Smitty- a secretary who works at the World Wide Wicket Company. Rosemary’s best friend.

Hedy LaRue- Biggley’s attractive and dim-witted mistress. The future Mrs. Wally Womper.
Supporting Characters

Book voice- the narrator

Mr. Bratt- Personnel manager.

Mr. Twimble- Head of the mailroom for 25 years before finally being promoted to the shipping department.

Mr. Gatch- a wise-cracking executive.

Miss Krumholtz- a secretary.
Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington- head of the advertising department until he is fired by Biggley, for being a “Chipmunk.”

Mr. Wally Womper- the Chairman of the World Wide Wicket Company.

Miss. Jones- Biggley’s Secretary
Executives and Secretaries- Chorus

Musical Numbers

Act I

Overture
How To Succeed – J. Pierrepont Finch
Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm – Rosemary Pilkington
Coffee Break – Smitty, Bud Frump & Chorus
The Company Way – Finch & Twimble
The Company Way (Reprise) – Bud, Twimble & Company
A Secretary is Not a Toy – Bratt, Bud & Men
Been a Long Day – Smitty, Finch & Rosemary
Been a Long Day (Reprise )- Bud, J.B. Biggley & Hedy LaRue
Grand Old Ivy – Finch & Biggley
Paris Original – Rosemary, Smitty, Mrs. Jones & Girls
Rosemary – Finch & Rosemary
Act I Finale – Finch, Rosemary & Bud

Act II

Cinderella, Darling – Smitty & Girls
- 1995 revival replacement: How to Succeed (Reprise)
Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise) – Rosemary
Love From a Heart of Gold – Biggley & Hedy
I Believe in You – Finch & Men
I Believe in You (Reprise) – Rosemary
Brotherhood of Man – Finch, Wally Womper, Mrs. Jones & Men
Finale – Company

Buy the Best Price How to Succeed CD Now

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Best Price Now)
1. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying 1961 [Cast Recording] Charles Nelson Reilly, Sammy Smith, Ruth Kobart, Robert Morse, Frank Loesser, Rudy Vallee
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying! 1995
2. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying! 1995 [Cast Recording] Megan Mullally, Ronn Carroll, Victoria Clark, Matthew Broderick, Frank Loesser.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying 2011
3. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Daniel Radcliffe, John Larroquette, Robert Sher, Rob Ashford and Rose Hemingway(2011) – Cast Recording

Film Adaptation

In 1967, United Artists released a film adapted and directed by David Swift. Robert Morse, Rudy Vallee, Michele Lee who replaced Bonnie Scott as Rosemary during the show’s Broadway run, Sammy Smith, and Ruth Kobart recreated their roles for the film, and Fosse again choreographed. Some songs are omitted, such as “Love From a Heart of Gold,” “Cinderella Darling” and “Coffee Break”, although there is a reference to the last.

Response

In his review of the original 1961 Broadway production, New York Times critic Howard Taubman wrote, “It stings mischievously and laughs uproariously…It belongs to the blue chips among modern musicals. Let Wall Street and Madison Avenue tremble as the rest of us rejoice.”[10] John Chapman of the Daily News wrote, “Loesser is the perfect man for his end of the show – the songs; for he is a cynic without being tough. He has not put in a note of music or a syllable of lyric that doesn’t carry the story along.”[10] Richard Watts, Jr. of the New York Post wrote, “In its first performance at the 46th St. Theater Saturday night, its satire, humor, book, music, lyrics, cast, staging, choreography, setting and general gaiety of spirit combined in a smooth, fast pattern of expert showmanship to make the occasion a delightful event.”[10]

Awards and Nominations

Original Broadway Production

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
1962	Tony Award	Best Musical		Won
		Best Author	Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert	Won
		Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical	Robert Morse	Won
		Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical	Charles Nelson Reilly	Won
		Best Direction of a Musical	Abe Burrows	Won
		Best Producer	Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin	Won
		Best Composer	Frank Loesser	Nominated
		Best Conductor and Musical Director	Elliot Lawrence	Won

1995 Broadway Revival

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
1995	Tony Award	Best Revival of a Musical		Nominated
		Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical	Matthew Broderick	Won
		Best Direction of a Musical	Des McAnuff	Nominated
		Best Choreography	Wayne Cilento	Nominated
	Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Musical		Nominated
	Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Actor in a Musical	Matthew Broderick	Nominated

2011 Broadway Revival

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2011	Tony Award	Best Revival of a Musical		Nominated
		Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical	John Larroquette	Won
		Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical	Tammy Blanchard	Nominated
		Best Direction of a Musical	Rob Ashford	Nominated
		Best Choreography	Rob Ashford	Nominated
		Best Orchestrations	Doug Besterman	Nominated
		Best Costume Design	Catherine Zuber	Nominated
		Best Lighting Design	Howell Binkley	Nominated
	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Revival of a Musical		Nominated
		Outstanding Actor in a Musical	Daniel Radcliffe	Nominated
		Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical	John Larroquette	Won
		Outstanding Director of a Musical	Rob Ashford	Nominated
		Outstanding Choreography	Rob Ashford	Nominated
	Theatre World Award		Rose Hemingway	Won
	Theatre World Award		John Larroquette	Won
2012	Grammy Award^[28]	Best Musical Theater Album	John Larroquette & Daniel Radcliffe, artists; Robert Sher, producer; Frank Loesser, composer/lyricist	Nominated

Cast

Original Casts of Notable Productions

Production	J. Pierrepont Finch	Rosemary Pilkington	Bud Frump	J.B. Biggley	Smitty	Hedy LaRue	Miss Jones	Bert Bratt	Book Voice
Original 1961 Broadway	Robert Morse	Bonnie Scott	Charles Nelson Reilly	Rudy Vallee	Claudette Sutherland	Virginia Martin	Ruth Kobart	Paul Reed	Carl Princi (uncredited)
Original 1963 London	Warren Berlinger	Patricia Michael	David Knight	Billy De Wolfe	Josephine Blake	Eileen Gourlay	Olive Lucius
1995 Broadway Revival	Matthew Broderick	Megan Mullally	Jeff Blumenkrantz	Ronn Carroll	Victoria Clark	Luba Mason	Lillias White	Jonathan Freeman	Walter Cronkite
1996 US National Tour	Ralph Macchio	Shauna Hicks	Roger Bart	Richard Thomsen		Pamela Blair
2005 Chichester Festival	Joe McFadden^[29]		David Langham	James Bolam		Annette McLaughlin			Alistair McGowan
2011 Broadway Revival	Daniel Radcliffe	Rose Hemingway	Christopher Hanke	John Larroquette	Mary Faber	Tammy Blanchard	Ellen Harvey