I first saw How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying when I was, oh, probably 5 years old. I remember watching it on my parent's color TV (Yes kids, there was a time when we had Black & White TV's!). I don't know what it was, maybe the colors, something about the style, but most certainly at that young age I loved the MUSIC. And I still do.
The show has always been a favorite of mine, although I find it hard to get past not seeing the actors who played the roles in the 1960's movie version. What you say? You've never seen the movie?? Oh, PLEASE put it in on your 'must see' list. I mean, you're reading a theater website for goodness sake, you'll go ecstatic for this movie. It's golden. But it is missing two incredible songs from the show. I think it's a bit of a crime that they cut "Coffee Break" and "Paris Original" from the movie. But whether it's Cinema or Theater, what you have is a rare musical with an extremely strong story, incredibly clever plot points, and did I mention the great music?
Why am I harping on this music thing anyway? Well, it stands as a good basis for a Cabaret show. And what a show they put on this past June. Look at this cast!
HOST: Jo Sullivan Loesser (The Most Happy Fella)
Josh Grisetti (It Shoulda Been You)
Nick Wyman (Catch Me If You Can)
George Salazar (Be More Chill)
Eddie Korbich (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder)
Ginna Claire Mason (Wicked)
Luba Mason (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)
Allison Guinn (On the Town)
Bryonha Marie Parham (After Midnight)
Timothy Jerome (Me and My Girl)
WITH: Allison Griffith, Kristen Kane, Cori Solbun, Deirdre Donohue, Erin Rice, Jennifer Reed, Jeremy Konokpa, Matthew McFarland, Michael Hajjar, Roger Dawley, Sean Switser, Sean White
And Featuring the Voice of Robert Morse!!!
Plus a full band! That's a LOT of people on the 54 Below stage. But it was a huge amount of fun. Ginna Claire Mason was a terrific Rosemary with her clear and perfect voice, while Allison Guinn always steals the show with her never-ending antics (She's great!). Josh Grisetti brings great charm to the role of J. Pierrepont Finch, a cross between musical theater and TV sitcom (not a bad combo). It was also great to see George Salazar as the nephew and Eddie Korbich in a dual role. Nick Wyman & Luba Mason where also very charming as the 'older' couple, while Timothy Jerome did a fun "A Secretary is Not a Toy".
The other showstopper was Bryonha Marie Parham who blew everyones socks off with her incredible belting voice. I need to see this woman perform again! - Kudos also goes out the the rest of the ensemble and band who all did a great job, as well as Producer/Director Robert W. Schneider for putting on such a fun and entertaining show.
Ok, and now a bonus. I have to share one of my favorite YouTube videos with you. It's "Coffee Break" performed in Japan:
