How to Succeed 1963 London Production

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 7:12pm

Does anyone have a cast list for this production?
Dare I hope for a production photo or cast album cover?
Was it well received? How to Succeed happens to be one of my all time favorite shows.
Also, when I was working on a production of it years ago the musical director told me that she had heard a rumour that Frank Loesser didn't write the score, but that it was ghost written. I really don't believe it, but I wonder if anyone has ever heard this rumour?

[Amneris]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 10:44pm

H2$ has a funky cute production about to open in 2 weeks in nyc :)

[Amneris]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 11:28pm

I should actually promote the show while I am at it..

www.rodephsholom.org/theater

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:09am

I'd never heard that rumour although it's fairly well known, "rumour" that Frank ghost wrote some songs for some of his protoges--Adler with Pajama Game (A New Town is a Blue Town is the one people question I think) and Meredith Willson (My White Knight I believe)

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:12am

Who is Frank Ghost?

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:19am

It's Loesser's name when he ghost writes :P There's a reason I didn't write Frank *G*host, but yeah I coulda been more clear

E

[wildcat]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 11:05am

Warren Berlinger (FINCH)
Billy DeWolfe (BIGGLEY)
David Knight (BUD FRUMP)
Patricia Michael (ROSEMARY)
Eileen Gourlay (HEDY)
Josephine Blake (SMITTY)
Bernard Spear (TWIMBLE)
Olive Lucius (MISS JONES)
Shaftsbury Thatre March 28th, 1963
520 performances

The London Cast Recording has the same cover design (front and back) as the Broadway album.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 11:17am

Thanks!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 11:31am

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 1:54pm

HTSIBWRT is one of my 2 favorite musicals (the other being My Fair Lady). I have never, ever heard any rumor that any of the songs were written by anyone else. I saw the original B'way production,and it was great, particularly Michele Lee, who stole the show, imo.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 4:55pm

While it does seem that Loesser may have written "A New Town Is a Blue Town" and "There Once Was a Man" — John Raitt did state that — I really think that the preponderance of evidence is that he didn't write "My White Knight." He may have given Willson some advice on how to restructure it, but I really don't think he can be said to have written it. Among other things, Barbara Cook says that "My White Knight" was all Willson.

[D2]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 6:36pm

There have always been rumors that Loesser had a heavy involvement in the writing of THE MUSIC MAN's book.

Back on topic, sort of, reading the cast list for the London HOW TO SUCCEED... I noticed that Josephine Blake played Smitty. I saw her in the Chita Rivera role in the London production of THE RINK. She was sensational.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 6:40pm

Thank you all for your information and taking the time.
it's one thing to look up facts and figures, but it's another thing altogether to get information from actual people. And every once in a while an eyewitness account of a performance is far more interesting.

Great avatar, D2

[D2]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 7:02pm

Thanks, Fen.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 10:12pm

Fenchurch, I was at the UCLA research library yesterday with some time to kill so I started looking through the 1960's bound volumes of "Theatre orld" from London and in the 1963 volume, there is an extensive article with about 20 photos from "How To" and in the next issue a very long article about young Warren Berlinger. Maybe you can approach your library and see if they have bound copies....

You may remember Warren Berlinger in his older incarnation, popping up on show like Happy Days, always doing the same routine which was basically "I coulda had a career, I shoulda hadda a career, I woulda had a career..." or something like that.

Posted: 4/28/07 at 10:33pm

"HTSIBWRT is one of my 2 favorite musicals (the other being My Fair Lady). I have never, ever heard any rumor that any of the songs were written by anyone else. I saw the original B'way production,and it was great, particularly Michele Lee, who stole the show, imo. "

How anyone could ever steal a show from Robert Morse is beyond me.

[Amneris]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 12:09am

I only have the film to base Michelle and Robert on for H2$ and I think her Rosemary was unexciting. I thought his Finch was brilliant. He had so much charm. They just didn't go well together. Plus, she was so much taller then he was. I also think in the revival, Mullally was an adorable Rosemary. Broderick could read the phonebook on the stage and be fantastic.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 12:20am

I saw the revival approxiamtely 12 times, at one point. How to Succeed was my obsession. I've directed it once and been in it twice, playing Finch and Bud.
I still think it's probably one of the most well crafted musical comedies every made.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 1:09am

Warren Berlinger,and Billy De Wolfe also starred in the Patty Duke film, "Billie".