HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!- Page 4

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 1:35pm

It's muscle, take his meant to provoke comments with a grain of salt. Anyone who thinks the How to Succeed score is forgettable need to get their ears checked.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 1:38pm

They posted this picture of a dance rehearsal on the show's FB page:



I'd say he's got that Rob Ashford choreography going on. He looks kind of sexy. Which is definitely a new twist on the character.

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 2:08pm

Here's my interview with Ryan Watkinson who is is dancing his heart out in How To.. He talks about working with Daniel and many of you agreed with what he had to say about Daniel's performance. If you saw the preview, or are seeing the show in the future-feel free to leave a comment after the interview on DC Theatre Scene and let our readers know what you thought. I know they'd appreciate it.
Interview with How to Succeed's Ryan Watkinson

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 2:28pm

That tongue thing on ELLEN alone should win him a TONY.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 2:51pm

Apparently, no one who saw the show was in their seats for the opening of Act II.

It is the greatest stage musical, ever. I certainly hope they are sticking to the Tony and Pulitzer-winning original, and not that pseudo-PC, humor-draining revival. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing cuttable from the original show, including "Cinderella, Darling". Well, okay, you can cut the Pirate Dance!

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 2:55pm

Add me to those curious about the Act II opening. I love "Cinderella, Darling" and really hope it's in this production.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 2:59pm

"Cinderella Darling" opens Act II.

And, John Boy, the "Pirate Dance" should be cut! It was pretty awful.

Very cute merch, BTW.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 3:02pm

Thanks for the response. Happy to hear!!!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 3:11pm

Most important, what are the Pirates wearing?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 3:13pm

CPD, they wore capris with bold vertical stripes! (You see...I was paying attention!)

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 3:15pm

Breaking news: Last night's 1st preview of H2S was stopped for 20 minutes just 5 minutes into the show. As Daniel Radcliffe descended over the audience on an elaborate window-washing set piece, the cables got crossed, and Daniel was suspended upside-down over the audience for 20 minutes. Director Rob Ashford has been quoted saying, "I know it's a Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winning musical, but I want to try this with shear spectacle, safety of my actors be damned. Give Daniel a broom and he'll be okay."

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 3:17pm

Daniel is actually a very good dancer.

To make everyone happy...here's the musical numbers list:

ACT I

Overture
How to Succeed
Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm
Coffee Break
Company Way
Company Way (Reprise)
Rosemary's Philosophy
A Secretary Is Not a Toy
Been a Long Day
Been a Long Day (Reprise)
Grand Old Ivy
Paris Original
Rosemary
Act I Finale

ACT II

Cinderella Darling
Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise)
Love From a Heart of Gold
I Believe in You
Pirate Dance
I Believe in You (Reprise)
Brotherhood of Man
Finale

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 3:25pm

Miss P., just capris?

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 3:25pm

So glad "Cinderella" is back in.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 3:25pm

haha- I've always thought of Finch as a bit of a 'sexy' character. Maybe not sexy I guess, but Robert Morse was pretty darn adorable back in the day. And still is in that old-man type way on Mad Men now!

[shrekster224]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 4:56pm

miss pennywise, do you mind posting the understudy list as well? Thanks!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 5:55pm

Eh. It looks just like "Promises, Promises." Boring and unimaginative in it's design and direction.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 6:09pm

Could someone PLEASE elaborate on the design and direction?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 6:21pm

I wish I had the skills to form my entire opinion on a show based on a single picture of the curtain call.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 6:24pm

Eh. It looks just like "Promises, Promises." Boring and unimaginative in it's design and direction.

Just as it was done for the 2001 Broadway revival of BELLS ARE RINGING and the 2010 Broadway revival of PROMISES, PROMISES... the visual design of this 2011 Broadway revival of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING is minimalistic early 60's Mid-Century design for its 'look'. Google the term and you'll see the influence.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 6:54pm

A) Not basing it off just the curtain call, but the actual show.

B) I totally under the influence and the idea, but it's just something we've all seen before. Why not try to do something different or take a risk?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 6:54pm

CPD, capris, tight-fitting "sailor-type" shirts and bandanas. That scene does nothing to advance the story, and, in fact, does the opposite.

The set looks A LOT like the PROMISES, PROMISES set in terms of colors, lighting and so forth. Except there is one of those "Hollywood Squares" constructions where the men occasionally go in to gyrate. The costumes are also similar to PROMISES, PROMISES.

BTW...I saw the first preview of Ashford's PROMISES, PROMISES and HOW TO SUCCEED is a much better production already. (A bit of trivia here: Donna McKechnie was a dancer in both the original productions of HOW TO SUCCEED and PROMISES, PROMISES! Pretty sure HOW TO SUCCEED was her Bway debut, but not 100% positive.)

The understudies list? Egad. It's freaking long! But since I love you guys so much...

Finch: David Hull and Justin Keyes
Biggely: Rob Bartlett and Michael Park
Rosemary: Cameron Adams and Stephanie Rothenberg
Bud Frump: Justin Keyes and Charlie Williams
Hedy LaRue: Paige Faure and Megan Sikora
Smitty: Paige Faure and Megan Sikora
Miss Jones: Erica Mansfield and Megan Sikora
Twimble/Wally: Cleve Asbury and Kevin Covert
Mr. Bratt: Nick Mayo and Joey Sorge

Swings:
Erica MAnsfield
Sarah O'Gleby
Michaeljon Slinger
Matt Wall

I'm in a car driving back to DC from NYC so it's kinda hard to type!

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 7:11pm

I pretty much agree with what everyone else has said here. Unlike most others, this has never been a favorite musical of mine. I always thought it was silly - even when it was timely. Despite this, I had a wonderful time last night and enjoyed almost every minute.

Just a few lasting thoughts:

- When I heard Daniel's singing for the first time, I immediately thought of Bobby Morse. It wasn't that he was trying to channel Morse or copy him in any way, it just reminded me of the same kind of singing style. I thought his voice was a little hesitant and weak at first, but it got stronger and fuller as the night progressed.

- The costumes and hairstyles (including the men) were spot on and made me feel like I'd morphed back to the 60's. Beautiful rich pastels were used in the sets and costumes.

- Bobby Morse always gave me the feeling that he always knew, from the beginning, exactly how to get ahead in business. He always had a little grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye and when he sang "I Believe in You" you KNEW that he was telling you the truth. Daniel's take on J.P. Finch is totally different. When he sings "I Believe in You", you feel like he's actually scared to death and he's trying to convince himself that he can do it. He looked worried and frowned through the whole song. At first I was disappointed in this, but it occurred to me that this was really a much smarter way to play the part. After all, if JP was so sure of himself why did he need a book?

- I laughed so hard during "Grand Old Ivy" that I thought I was going to fall off the chair. However - if you want to see Larroquette in the show, go now. He looked like he was going to have a coronary at any time.

- Mary Faber's Smitty was adorable and she was a total hoot in "Been a Long Day".

- I loved all the choreography (bravo Rob Ashford) and a special nod to the men in "Company Way". Just watch those boxes fly!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 7:12pm

LOL - please tell me you're not driving!!

Put the computer away!!

[shrekster224]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 7:27pm

Thank you so much for taking the time to so that, miss pennywise!

Megan Sikora is awfully dynamic! She's great though.