How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
This week we’re going back a decade and reviving some pure Broadway musical theatre. Today’s TONY Tuesday is:
‘Brotherhood of Man’ from ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ performed at the 2011 TONY Awards.
‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ is a 1961 musical based on the book of the same name. It focuses on window washer J. Pierrepont Finch and how he uses this “How to” book to ascend all the way to chairman of the board.
The book ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really trying’ was released in 1952 and immediately became a best seller. Seeing potential in the book it was adapted into a play by writers Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert. After not being able to get it anywhere for half a decade, it finally drew the attention of Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin who had produced the smash hit ‘Guys and Dolls’ when agent Abe Newborn bought it to their attention. They felt the show had huge potential as a musical and brought in the musician and lyricist of ‘Guys and Dolls’ Frank Loesser, and it’s book writer Abe Burrows. Burrows collaborated on the book with Weinstock and Gilbert making the plot more satirical, and also added a romantic arc for the character of J. Pierrepont Finch. The show started rehearsals in 1961. Choreography was provided by an unknown dance director called Hugh Lambert. Feuer had seen a number of his in a trade show and was blown away by the standard and asked him to take the reins. However, reports show that Lambert seemed to have put all his artistic flair into the number that Feuer had seen, and was unable to provide more creativity to the choreography. Dance legend Bob Fosse was called in to do an artistic overhaul, choreographing the majority of the numbers in the show. Fosse however, insisted on taking a musical staging credit as he didn’t want Lambert to be fired and have his career be in jeopardy.
The musical opened at the 46th Street theatre (Now the Richard Rodgers) on October 14th, 1961 to rave reviews. The show was a commercial and critical success winning all but one of the TONY awards it was nominated for and becoming one of (now 10) the only musicals to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The opening night cast included Robert Morse, Bonnie Scott, Rudy Vallee and Virginia Martin. The musical was adapted into a motion picture and released in 1967 with both Morse and Vallee reprising their roles from the stage show. Fosse choreographed and 5 songs from the musical were omitted for the film. Burrows also adapted the show for television and was aired as an ABC comedy special in 1975. The show was notably revived in 1995 at the same Broadway theatre starring Matthew Broderick as Finch and Megan Mullaly as Rosemary. Throughout the run the roles were taken over by John Stamos and Sarah Jessica Parker. Broderick also came back for a limited engagement to reprise the role opposite his future wife. The revival was succeeded by a US national tour. The show was again revived on Broadway for the 2011 season starring Daniel Radcliffe as Finch, alongside John Larroquette, Rose Hemingway and Tammy Blanchard. The musical was reviewed well, however, most critics felt that the book now seemed dated in this day and age and would have benefited from a few rewrites. During the show’s run, Radcliffe was replaced by Darren Criss and Nick Jonas. The only West End production to have occurred ran in 1963 and was again directed by Burrows and Choreographed by Fosse. Starring Warren Berlinger, Billy De Wolfe, Patricia Michael and Josephine Blake.
‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ is a rousing show of one man’s journey from the bottom to the top. Like it’s predecessor ‘Guys & Dolls’, it is ultimate Broadway musical theatre, and we are in much need of a London revival.
The cast recording is available on Spotify and Apple Music:
FACTS:
Music: Frank Loesser
Lyrics: Frank Loesser
Book: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert.
Theatre: The 46th Street Theatre (NOW The Richard Rodgers)
Run: October 14th 1961 – March 6th 1965 ( 1,417 performances)
TONYS:
(NOMINATED) Best Composer – Frank Loesser
(WON) Best Musical, Best Author – Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, Best leading performance by an actor in a musical – Robert Morse, Best performance by a featured actor in a musical – Charles Nelson Reilly, Best direction of a musical – Abe Burrows, Best Producer – Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin, Best conductor and musical director – Elliot Lawrence.
