Skylar Astin, Betsy Wolfe, Michael Urie, and More to Lead Kennedy Center's HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING

[Jessetenny]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 2:00pm

YES! Please transfer to Broadway, that cast though!

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Skylar-Astin-Betsy-Wolfe-Michael-Urie-and-More-to-Lead-Kennedy-Centers-HOW-TO-SUCCEED-IN-BUSINESS-WITHOUT-REALLY-TRYING-20180430

[barcelona20]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 2:30pm

Please don't transfer to Broadway.

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 2:38pm

I found Michael Urie to be really an inspired choice for Bud Frump at the time, since it wasn't that much of a stretch from the sassy brown-noser he played on Ugly Betty (which I loved). Overall, I very much enjoyed his performance, especially how he essentially slithered through "Coffee Break".

[kaykordeath]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 2:45pm

Jessetenny said: "YES! Please transfer to Broadway, that cast though!



https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Skylar-Astin-Betsy-Wolfe-Michael-Urie-and-More-to-Lead-Kennedy-Centers-HOW-TO-SUCCEED-IN-BUSINESS-WITHOUT-REALLY-TRYING-20180430"


This would have to wait until after Urie's return in Torch Song I suppose....

[binau]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 2:47pm

Doesn’t it feel way too soon since the last revival for a transfer? One that actually had a star. Or perhaps stars.

Updated On: 4/30/18 at 02:47 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 2:48pm

I can't imagine there's any intention for a transfer, whatsoever. 

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 2:50pm

I have no desire to see this come to Broadway and I think no producer does either. 

[Jessetenny]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 2:53pm

To be clear, I never thought a producer had thoughts to transfer this to Broadway, I know we just had a revival, but that would be a dream of mine to hopefully see Skylar and Betsy recognized by the Tonys

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 2:53pm

Nick Jonas couldn't sell the last revival, which wasn't even that long ago.  There's no way any commercial producer is going to open a revival of this show with Skyler Astin in the lead, however talented he may. 

I agree with ljay.  There is absolutely no chance this production  moves to Broadway, where it would likely be less successful than the KC transfers of Ragtime, Sideshow, Follies, all of which lost money.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 3:28pm

And this is just a semi staged concert production. I don’t see it transferring, but I’m just thrilled for Betsy

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 4:31pm

Shouldn't Skylar have a more age appropriate Rosemary?

I thought Betsy might be playing Smitty or Hedy.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 6:47pm

CurtainPullDowner said: "Shouldn't Skylar have a more age appropriate Rosemary?

I thought Betsy might be playing Smitty or Hedy."

I thought the same thing. I'm not sure about his singing, but this would be more interesting if Michael Urie was playing Finch opposite Betsy.

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/30/18 at 7:39pm

VintageSnarker said: "CurtainPullDowner said: "Shouldn't Skylar have a more age appropriate Rosemary?

I thought Betsy might be playing Smitty or Hedy."

I thought the same thing. I'm not sure about his singing, but this would be more interesting if Michael Urie was playing Finch opposite Betsy."

Uh...no. Michael Urie is not a Finch by any stretch.

[Skye8]

Posted: 6/6/18 at 9:38am

Would love to hear reports if anyone here is attending this week!

[brotherhoodofman]

Posted: 6/6/18 at 11:05am

I'm attending tonight, I'll report back in the morning!

[Kad]

Posted: 6/6/18 at 11:16am

CurtainPullDowner said: "Shouldn't Skylar have a more age appropriate Rosemary?

I thought Betsy might be playing Smitty or Hedy."

There's only a six-year difference between them.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/6/18 at 11:46am

Who is performing (or pre-recorded as) the Narrator? Jon Hamm is an obvious first choice, but Andy Daly would work too.

[pdjennings]

Posted: 6/6/18 at 11:56pm

*refreshing for any updates*

[Broadwayloverdc12]

Posted: 6/7/18 at 12:12am

I thought this was incredibly polished and closer to a full production with wonderful choreography than a staged concert. Skylar was perfect in the role. And so adorable. Betsy sounded amazing. Michael Urie was a lot of fun. The whole cast was great. The audience seemed to love it. Highly recommended, especially if you’re a fan of the show or even just the score.

[Oak2]

Posted: 6/7/18 at 12:23am

Broadwayloverdc12 said: "I thought this was incredibly polished and closer to a full production with wonderful choreography than a staged concert. Skylar was perfect in the role. And so adorable. Betsy sounded amazing. Michael Urie was a lot of fun. The whole cast was great. The audience seemed to love it. Highly recommended, especially if you’re a fan of the show or even just the score."

Thank you for your input! Glad to hear it sounds great! I'm seeing the matinee this Sunday, never have seen this show performed before (only listened to various cast recordings), so I'm glad to hear it's more choreographed and less of just a concert, which is what I was worried about. Can't wait to see it!

[antonijan]

Posted: 6/7/18 at 12:31am

Too excited for this!

#PutAShowInAnotherShow

Father Comes Home From The War, Without Really Trying, but something funny happens on the way to Oklahoma!

[pdjennings]

Posted: 6/7/18 at 12:40am

Thanks!
Who was the book voice? I’m kinda hoping they kept Anderson Cooper ...

[Broadwayloverdc12]

Posted: 6/7/18 at 12:59am

It was a woman as the book voice . I’m not sure whose it was but the voice sounded a little like Bebe Neuwirth’s

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/7/18 at 9:24am

I have a friend who went last night and said it was Neuwirth.

[brotherhoodofman]

Posted: 6/7/18 at 9:44am

So I THINK the book narrator was Renee Fleming ... the voice sounded like her "please silence your cell phone" announcement she recorded that plays before some Kennedy Center shows. Nothing was credited in the Playbill though.

Good news was the sound design was excellent. They fixed the issues that plagued Chess (muddied lyrics, overly loud orchestra). The sound was crystal clear and there was never a moment where I couldn't understand someone. If only all the shows at the Kennedy Center sounded this good! Michael Urie's mike did go out for part of a scene and he came back out with a handheld until the mike was fixed.

This was a fully staged musical -- full costumes, props. No actors on book, everything very seamless. The orchestra is on an elevated stage with the space below used for the elevator (which along with projections helps show changes in offices).

Can't say enough about how GOOD this show was. If you're in doubt, go see it. Skylar Astin's voice is superb and born for songs like "Rosemary." He played the role very smooth, like that arrogant guy in your college/office who always got ahead no matter what he did. (Not the nervous energy like Daniel Radcliffe had, where you felt like his character knew he was flying by his seat of his pants. Skylar's believed and knew this was always his destiny!) Good chemistry with Betsy Wolfe who had some very nice vocal moments as well. Michael Urie had big sassy moments that stole the show and John Michael Higgins' "Grand Old Ivy" is great fun.

I think there was one song added in from a previous production (not the Broadway revival) but I don't have my Playbill with me.

There were definitely some changes made that I felt reflected the #MeToo movement. "A Secretary Is Not a Toy" was spruced up with the secretaries holding signs saying No and the men being made subservient. A couple other dialogue changes and such as well that I felt gave Rosemary more authority and control over her destiny.