While my kids were on February break, we headed to a matinee of How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying with a new cast including Nick Jonas, Beau Bridges and Michael Urie. I had seen Matthew Broderick in an earlier Broadway production years ago and was curious to see the difference in this production and the popular teen star’s performance.
In the revival of the musical comedy, Jonas stars as J. Pierrepont Finch, a window washer who works his way up the corporate ladder through a series of schemes and a self-help manual. Bridges plays his boss, the president of the World Wide Wicket Company, in the play, which originally debuted on Broadway in 1961. Jonas’ role had been played most recently by “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe, and “Glee” star, Darren Criss, who filled the house daily in his short 6-week stint in the show. The cast also included Rose Hemingway, Tammy Blanchard, Rob Bartlett, Mary Faber, Ellen Harvey, Michael Park, Abby Church and surprise, surprise, Anderson Cooper as the narrator.
The show is so well choreographed and the singing and dancing so good that its’ almost impossible for anyone NOT to enjoy this show. It’s a satire on the workforce and the performers all exaggerate their words and moves, and it just works. Their chemistry, combined with what appears to be sincere enjoyment performing in this classic piece, just works.
We had really good seats, second row center. When Jonas first comes out through the center of the orchestra, ready to work in WorldWide Wicket’s mailroom, both my kids eyes widened in wonder and amazement. The set and staging really work together to move the show’s plot along.
As for Jonas, I have no complaints. He’s good, not magnificent, but he works hard in this show and he sings and dances his heart out (but I’m possibly comparing him to Broderick, so let’s give him credit for that). At the show’s end, half the audience stood up and cheered for him, so I’m sure the show is attracting a lot of the teen market’s fans to Broadway and that’s a good thing. I adore Michael Urie, and he plays Bud Frump, an annoying co-worker to Finch, with such splendid comedic timing and flare. He made me smile all the way through the show.
My kids, aged 7 & 8, enjoyed it, but I’d have to say the show is for children ages 8 and up. It’s long and my younger one lost patience in the second act. If you want to get tickets for your family to go see How to Succeed, they are offering a family discount for four tickets for $75 each and can be ordered here.
Or you can enter to win a pair of tickets to HOW TO SUCCED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING right here!
1) You must be a Culture Mom Facebook Fan and a How to Succeed Facebook fan to enter.
Then finish the following sentence in the comment section below: “I want to see this show because…”
2) For a second entry, leave a second comment after tweeting the following:
I entered to win a pair of tickets to see @H2SBway via @TheCultureMom. http://bit.ly/yIGPiP #broadway #newyorkcity
Winners will be chosen on Friday, March 5h at noon. The winner will have 24 hours to accept the prize or it will go to the runner-up.
Disclosure: Giveaway courtesy of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
I want to see this show because it’s one of my favorite musicals, with wonderful songs and dancing, and I love Michael Urie, who’s now joined the cast!
Also I have a friend who hasn’t seen it yet who’d love to see it with me!
I also Tweeted about the contest: https://twitter.com/#!/ladystardust25/status/173462705301237761
I want to see the show because I loved the original cast, missed Darren Criss entirely and really want to see the new cast
I also tweeted about the contest: https://twitter.com/#!/Movidude74/status/173465690286723072
I want to see this show because I am a huge Jonas Brothers fan and I would love to see Nick back where it all began for him; on Broadway.
I also tweeted about this contest: https://twitter.com/#!/JoBrosSavedMe/status/173477376280375296
Well, I saw the movie once or twice, so I want to see this show because there’s nothing like seeing a musical on Broadway.
@gerryinwp
https://twitter.com/#!/GerryinWP/status/173491420626305024
@gerryinwp just tweeted
I want to see this show so I can share it with my daughter (who has been a Nick Jonas fan forever), my husband and I saw it with Matthew Broderick and my Mom took my brother and I to see the movie with Robert Moss and Michelle Lee at Radio City Musical Hall back in the lates ’60s. Sorry I don’t tweet.
I want to see the show because a very good friend of mine was in this play in High School and I haven’t had the chance to see it since. I would love to introduce my son to it as his first Broadway play. We missed Daniel Radcliffe and John Laroquette but he would be thrilled to see Nick Jonas in it.
I just tweeted
I entered to win a pair of tickets to see @H2SBway via @TheCultureMom. http://bit.ly/yIGPiP #broadway #newyorkcity
@christinamiles
I want to see this show because my Husbad saw it when he was in college and Mom saw it ladt year with Rdcliff but I have not seen it and they tell me it is a great show so if I win I could make it a girls night out!
I want to see this show because I want to take my 13 year old son to see his first Broadway show. He just recently moved to NYC and this will be a great experience for him.
Just tweeted:
I entered to win a pair of tickets to see @H2SBway via @TheCultureMom. http://bit.ly/yIGPiP #broadway #newyorkcity
@loryfel
I want to see this show because I have a tween daughter who loves acting, dancing and Broadway and I know she would absolutely enjoy it!!!
I want to see this show because I played in the pit orchestra for the play in high school and love both the music and the show! I have also seen the movie and would love to see this on broadway as well!
I just tweeted:
I entered to win a pair of tickets to see @H2SBway via @TheCultureMom. http://bit.ly/yIGPiP #broadway #newyorkcity
@melisqueen
I want to see this show because Nick Jonas is just too cute!
madamerkf at aol dot com
I want to see this show because I have heard good reviews.
i tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#1/madamerkf/status/173983236727377920
madamerkf at aol dot com
I want to see this show because I have listened to the music and love it! My best friend and I go to see musicals together and share great memories together, and I would love to add this to the list. We are huge Nick Jonas fans!
I tweeted about the contest!
https://twitter.com/#!/sam_middi
I want to see this show because I think it would be a wonderful experience for my daughter and I to do together, before she heads off for college later this summer.
I tweeted about wanting to see the show!
Cant figure out how to post the link to it, but my Twitter name is @rosie527
I want to see this show because it would mean the world to me to see Nick Jonas on broadway in NYC. It can’t get any better than that <3
I want to see the show because it would make a dream of mine to come true. To see a Broadway play with Nick Jonas in it. Also I would love to one day be on Broadway doing a comedy musical! Lastly I want to see the show because it would be a very fun Mother/Daughter trip in NYC!
I tweeted about the contest!
https://twitter.com/#!/jennaj773/status/174237881420873729
I want to see this show because Nick Jonas has always been someone I look up to and someone who inspires me; it would mean so much to me to partake in this new part of his career as I do the same by going off to college this August!
I also tweeted! @megglesmaggu
I want to win this contest because I’ve been a Jonas fan for almost five years now and they’ve been there for me when nobody else was. There are a lot of hard times in my life that I know I would not have gotten through without their music and having them to look up to. Nick’s side project, the Administration, has especially helped me. It is my favorite album ever and the tour was the most amazing concert I have ever seen. I feel like they have been the only consistent people in my life for such a long time now, and I honestly don’t know what I would do without them in my life. Being able to see Nick live out a huge dream of his in an amazing show would be a dream come true for me.
I want to see this show because we are Nck Jonas fans.
I want to see this show because I’ve been a huge fan of Nick’s and I love Broadway. Unfortunately right now I don’t have the money to afford to buy tickets on my own so this would be a great opportunity to win to see my Idol. I know Nick will do amazing in this role and I’d love to be able to win tickets so I can see it with my own eyes. Thanks for the opportunity!
I tweeted it! My twitter name is @HopeLingersOn
I want to see that show because I really want to succeed in business without really trying and definitely need some training first.
also tweeted @bubblebuss
I want to see this show because I am a huge fan of Broadway Musicals and I rarely get to go because the tickets are prohibitively expensive! I would love to take my daughter to see her first show!
I would like to take my niece to the show. I am entering in case you are picking on Monday, March 5 and not Friday, March 2. Thanks.