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Boardman High School Drama Club knows how to succeed
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The cast of Boardman High School’s production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” including Matthew Albani as J. Pierrepont Finch (top), showed excitement for their upcoming production on March 28.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .At the World Wide Wicket Company, Bud Frump (Cody McCormick, left) and Smitty (Sarah Filipovich) gripe about their inability to work without coffee during the production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .J. Pierrepont Finch’s love interest, Rosemary Plinkington (Alicia Lawson, right) tells her friend Smitty (Sarah Filipovich) about her big dreams of marrying Finch after meeting him for the first time in the production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .J. Pierrepont Finch (Matthew Albani), starts at the bottom of the World Wide Wicket Company delivering mail, but manages to go all the way to upper management in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
By SARAH FOOR
The Boardman High School Drama Guild promises to “bring Broadway to Boardman.”
This was especially true with the March 30, 31 and April 1 performances of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” The 1961 play was re-imagined in a widely-publicized 2011 revival on Broadway, starring actor Daniel Radcliffe.
The play tells the tale of enterprising careerist J. Pierrepont Finch, who works himself up from the mailroom of the World Wide Wicket Company with the advice of the book “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
Director Anne Bott said the choice to tackle “How to Succeed” fit perfectly with the motto of the drama guild.
“We’re always trying to do what is hot and of the moment, and this year, it was definitely ‘How to Succeed.’ For those who might not have the money to see an expensive Broadway show and stay in New York City, we’re working very hard to create the experience here,” Bott said.
The directing staff made a trip to New York last fall to see the show in hopes of creating complete authenticity in the Boardman production. Props were even rented from a Nevada company that were exactly like those featured in the Broadway show.
Bott said ‘How to Succeed’ was also a good choice to fit with the many talents of the students at Boardman High School.
“Our star, Matt Albani, has a very Daniel Radcliffe-like quality and he really brought the role to life, as did all of the cast. It’s also a great to have the fantastic Boardman orchestra at our disposal. Having the live music really brings the audience a Broadway-like experience,” she added.