Northview Production to Bring Back the Swinging 60s

On March 21-24, Northview High School brings back the swinging sixties with its presentation of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy about an ambitious young window-washer named J. Pierrepont Finch who uses a trusty how-to guide to rocket to the top of the corporate ladder.

The show features exciting dance numbers as well standards like “I Believe in You,” “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm,” “The Company Way,” “Been a Long Day,” “Rosemary” and “Brotherhood of Man.”  

"From the first bars on the overture, the music of 'How to Succeed' is fast-paced and transports the audience to the world of the J. Pierpont Finch and World Wide Wickets,” says the show’s musical director, Brian Clements, Northview’s Director of Choral Activities. “The iconic style of Frank Loesser’s sound bursts forth in every number, from the major numbers to the intermezzis played during scene changes. Nominated for 20 Tony awards over its lifetime, "How to Succeed" is a landmark show not only for its plot, but for every aspect of the show: book, music, choreography and staging.”

Junior Conor Korbisch stars in the lead role of J. Pierrepont Finch and junior Lauren Watkins is his determined love interest Rosemary Pilkington. Rounding out the cast is senior Alex Davis as CEO J.B. Bigley, junior Rachel Canouse as his va-va-va-voom girlfriend Hedy LaRue, junior Ryan Hopkinson as slimy corporate villain Bud Frump, and freshman Chloe Campbell as Rosemary’s outspoken friend Smitty.   

Featured female actors include seniors Carishma Chinoy, Katie Keel and Madeline Evans, junior Alyssa Paduano, sophomore Emily Kiker, and freshmen McKenzie Rivers and Jessica Ginsburg. Featured male actors include seniors Ian Gratton, Sean Smith, Clark Meng and Brian Yi, juniors Ben Canty, Griffin Wilkens, and King David, sophomore Cavan Miller, and freshmen Austin Hunter and Carson Matte. A talented ensemble of 13 singers and dancers rounds out this large cast.

The show is helmed by the creative team of Director B. Paul McClain, Musical Director Brian Clements, and Choreographers Elizabeth Lake and Lauren Watkins. The sets are designed by award-winning scenic designer B. Paul McClain and constructed by Technical Theatre classes at Northview.

There will be four performances of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying": Thursday-Saturday, March 21-23 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 24, at 2 p.m. All performances will be held in the Northview auditorium, and the doors will open a half hour before performance time. Tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $12 for adults.