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ihs_succeedA whirlwind spoof of ambition, love and the company way, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is just the musical comedy to lift recession-era blues. Ithaca High School’s production, April 19-21 at Kulp Auditorium, is a laugh-filled show the whole family will enjoy.

The acclaimed show won seven Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and has been staged numerous times on Broadway—most recently with Daniel Radcliffe in the lead. Seeing that production inspired co-director Robert Winans to bring “How to Succeed” to Ithaca. “I knew our students would do a fabulous job conveying the show’s humor,” he says. “I can’t wait for the audience to see what these kids can do.”

The show’s plot follows young, ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch (Honor Meyerhoff), who with the aid of a self-help book manages to climb over company president Biggely (Matt Avery) and co-worker Frump (St. John Faulkner), soaring from window washer to World Wide Wicket Company executive in less than a week. Along the way Finch finds love among the secretaries with Rosemary (Lena Kornreich), despite Hedy’s (Jewell Payne) attempts at blackmail.

The Los Angeles Times described the songs in How to Succeed as a “glorious parade” and the IHS students don’t miss a beat of that parade. Under the music direction of Nathan Parker, they wring every bit of possible fun from the satirical lyrics and peppy music (composed by Frank Loesser).

The stylized minimal set is designed to keep the non-stop action moving, says co-director Lauren McKown. The dance numbers, choreographed by Gina Amici, feature enough twirls and high jinks to satisfy any Broadway musical fan.

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