Lampooning the corporate world… How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

This classic Broadway musical takes to the stage at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre now through October 16. Opening in 1967 on Broadway with an exhilarating score by Frank Loesser, the original show won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle award and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The movie version was released in 1967.

With book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING is all about working your way up, by not really working at all. The setting is the fictitious World Wide Wicket Company, where power, ambition, and greed create one funny and clever tale of big business in the 60s. (Think MAD MEN without the satire!) What the audience will find so amusing is the office environment of that era, "coffee breaks", secretaries with typewriters, their dress and ambition (or lack thereof.)

The play chronicles the rapid rise of young J. Pierrepont Finch from window washer to executive, who takes his career advice from a book and voice of … HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. From hilarious corporate-world stock characters you've probably worked with to sexual harassment to the office romance, Finch can hardly keep up. High energy song and dance numbers include "I Believe in You," "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm," and "Brotherhood of Man."

The show stars Ari Butler (thank you, Manhattan, for letting us borrow this adorable talent) as young J. Pierrepont Finch, Jessica Naimy as the lovely Rosemary Pilkington (great vocals) Terry Hamilton as as J.B. Biggley and Angela Ingersoll as Hedy LaRue who steals the show with her "larger than life" performance. Alex Goodrich as Bud Frump, the president's nephew, was seen previously in Elf at the Marriott Theatre. His comedic antics kept the audience in hysterics. Felicia P. Fields as Miss Jones is a Chicago treasure whose spectacular performance set the stage on fire!

The Marriott's production is directed by Don Stephenson with splendid choreography by Melissa Zaremba and musical direction by Ryan T. Nelson. Mention must be made of the unique, colorful flashing set design by Tom Ryan and the 60s-influenced costumes based on original costume design by Catherine Zuber.

Fun fact: Don Stephenson is married to Emily Loesser (featured as the Voice of the Book in the production), who is the daughter of Frank Loesser (composer of How to Succeed).