Theatre News

Tracie Bennett to star in ”How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” revival

| London |

21 March 2023

Double WhatsOnStage and Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee Tracie Bennett has been announced to star in the upcoming production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the Southwark Playhouse Borough in London.

Bennett, who recently played Alice in Hangmen on Broadway and starred as Mame in Mame at Hope Mill Theatre, will be playing the role of J B Biggley, the big boss in the musical.

Watch Bennett announce the news from across the Atlantic here:

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying took Broadway by storm in 1961, winning both the Tony Award for Best Musical and a Pulitzer Prize. It was revived twice on Broadway in hit productions starring Matthew Broderick and Daniel Radcliffe.

It follows the rise of J Pierrepont Finch, who uses a little handbook called How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying to climb the corporate ladder from lowly window washer to high-powered executive. Michelle Visage (RuPaul’s Drag Race) will lend her voice to the production as “The Book”, guiding Finch through various business conundrums.

The show boasts a score by Frank Loesser – also responsible for Guys and Dolls, which recently also opened in London.

Director Georgie Rankcom said of the production: “Our approach to this wonderful show is to trust the brilliant original and let the satire shine. When you’re looking for someone with the charisma and power to be the high powered boss with a flare for the occasional musical number, Tracie Bennett quickly becomes the top choice. I’m honoured and excited to be working with her on bringing this new version of How to Succeed to the stage.”

The creative team behind the production also includes choreographer Alexzandra Sarmiento, musical director Natalie Pound, set and costume designer Sophia Pardon, lighting designer Lucía Sánchez Roldán, sound designer Joshua Robins, orchestrator Stuart Morley, stage manager Waverley Moran, casting director Peter Noden, and producer/general manager Jodee Conrad.

The production will run from Friday 12 May to Saturday 17 June 2023, with press night taking place on Tuesday 16 May at 7.30pm. Tickets are available now, with prices starting from £16 for previews, £28 for concessions, and £35 for standard tickets. More cast members are set to be announced soon.