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MAD MEN OF INDUSTRY TAKEOVER GOODSPEED IN “HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING”
Two time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals is delighted to announce the cast of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. This musical comedy will run from Sept 24 – Nov 28 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. This production will be sponsored by Liberty Bank, Connecticut Light and Power and Continental Airlines. [Official Press Opening will be October 20, 2010]
In this hysterical 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 [Official Press Opening October 20, 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.
Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., and additional productions at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. The first regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement), Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of assisting production sponsor Liberty Bank; supporting sponsor Connecticut Light and Power; Continental Airlines, the official airline of Goodspeed Musicals; and Sennheiser, the official audio sponsor of Goodspeed Musicals. Goodspeed Musicals is supported in part by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
GOODSPEED MUSICALS
CARNIVAL! FACT SHEET
Production: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Music and Lyrics by: Frank Loesser
Book by: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert
Based on the Book by: Shepherd Mead
Theatre: Goodspeed Opera House
6 Main Street, East Haddam, Connecticut
Director: Greg Ganakas
Choreographer: Kelli Barclay
Set Designer: Adrian W. Jones
Costume Coordinator: Gregory Gale
Lighting Designer: Paul Miller
Music Director: Michael O’Flaherty
Assistant Music Director: William J. Thomas
Orchestrations: Dan DeLange
Principals: Brian Sears (J. Pierrepont Finch)
Natalie Bradshaw (Rosemary Pilkington)
Ronn Carroll (JB Biggley)
Nicolette Hart (Hedy LaRue)
Erin McGuire (Smitty)
Jennifer Smith (Miss Jones)
Tom Deckman (Bud Frump)
Richard Vida (Mr. Twimble/Wally Womper)
Aaron Serotsky (Bratt)
Ensemble:
James Beaman (Gatch)
Jerry Christakos
Lianne Marie Dobbs
Sara Marie Hicks
Matthew Kilgore
Natalie Newman
Brian Ogilvie
Kristin Piro
John Scacchetti
Drew Taylor
Micki Weiner
Swings:
Peter Mills
Kellyn Uhl
Background: 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. Abe Burrows and Frank Loesser set to work on the new adaptation. 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. Loesser wrote both music and lyrics for the show. The musical opened at the 46th Street Theatre on Broadway in October 1961, running for 1,417 performances before its last show on March 6, 1965. 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. It starred Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally.
Synopsis: In this hysterical 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.
Dates: Sept 24 – Nov 28, 2010
Performances: 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.).
THANKSGIVING WEEK SCHEDULE:
Monday, November 22, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.;
Friday, November 26, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.;
Saturday, November 27, at 3:00 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and
Sunday, November 28, at 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $27.50 - $71.00
Goodspeed Box Office (860.873.8668) or on-line at goodspeed.org
Special
Events:
Girls’ Night Out: Friday, Sept 24, 7 pm. Celebrate Opening Night in style! Gather the girls for glitz and glamour Broadway-style with our Ticket ‘n’ 'Tini special. Package includes one ticket to the 8 pm performance and a specialty martini – a hot deal at $44 per person.
Wine Tasting: Sunday, Sept 26, 5 pm. Treat yourself to a sampling of fine wines hosted by Shore Discount Liquors of Deep River with complimentary hors d’oeuvres from the Gelston House of East Haddam. Only $10 with your ticket to the 6:30 pm performance. Reserve in advance through the Box Office.
First Friday Happy Hour: Oct 1, 7 pm. Mingle at our Friday night Happy Hour. Enjoy an introductory talk by a member of our creative staff, appetizers courtesy of La Vita Gustosa of East Haddam, and specially priced beverages. Free with your ticket to the performance.
Teen Nights: Sept 29 & 30, 7:30 pm; Oct 1, 8 pm. Introduce your favorite young person to the magic of musical theatre. Each adult who buys a regular-priced ticket on the specified dates may purchase a $15 ticket for a teen age 12 to 18. Meet the cast after the Friday, Oct 1, performance for autographs.
Goodspeed Dinner Cruise/Theatre Package: Autumn foliage on the Connecticut River! Includes a leisurely cruise and sumptuous buffet aboard the Lady Katharine and ticket to the show. Friday 10/8 5:30 cruise, 8:00 show; Sun 10/10 4 pm cruise 6:30 pm show, $99/person. Thurs 10/28 11:30 am cruise, 2 pm show, $79/person.
Meet The Cast: A lively audience discussion with the cast is offered after the Thursday evening performances on Oct 21 and Nov 4 & 18.
Trick or ‘Tini: Sat, Oct 30. Package includes a ticket to the 8 pm performance plus a free specialty martini. Scary savings at only $44 per person!
Food Drive: Monday, Nov 22. Two-for-one tickets to the 7:30 pm performance with a non-perishable food donation to benefit the East Haddam Food Bank.
Student Rush: $15 tickets for any student with a valid student ID beginning at 10 am on any Wednesday or Thursday for that evening’s performance.
Goodspeed Dinners: Reserve tickets for any Wednesday or Thursday evening performance and enjoy special pre-show dinner offers. You’ll receive a voucher for special discounts at local restaurants.
$79/person.
Student Rush: $15 tickets for students with a valid student ID beginning at 10 am on any Wednesday or Thursday for that evening’s performance.
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