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'How to Succeed in Business' at South Elgin High School

If you like the AMC series “Mad Men,” you'll want to check out South Elgin High School's spring musical.

“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 1-3, at the school auditorium, 760 E. Main St. Tickets are $10 and $8, available in advance by calling (847) 289-3760, ext. 3486 or at the door.

Director Carrie Crowe, an English teacher at South Elgin High School, describes the show as a musical-comedy that brings to life the experiences of a man trying to climb the corporate ladder in the early 1960s.

Secretaries, coffee breaks, and office politics of 50 years ago are brought to life through humor and song.

“Audiences will enjoy the colorful costumes and sets and fun choreography,” Crowe said.

Numbers performed include “The Company Way,” “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm,” “A Secretary is Not a Toy,” “Coffee Break,” “Been a Long Day” and “Paris Original.”

Crowe said she and co-director Karen Brhel chose the play because it was funny and lively, as well as suitable to the abilities of the performers.

“We knew we had a really strong group of guys (this year),” Crowe said.

Although the show involves a lot of quick changes of scenery and costume, and plenty of lines and songs to learn, Crowe said the cast of 60 has risen to the challenge.

“It's all come together surprisingly easily,” she said, adding that a professional choreographer was hired to help students learn some of the dance moves.

In addition to the cast, “How to Succeed in Business” boasts a pit crew of 20 and a production crew of 15, for a total of 95 students involved with the show.

Actors in the lead roles include Tommy Larsen as J. Pierrepont Finch, Brittany Blue as Rosemary, Vince Blando as Bratt, Danny Granzow as Bud Frump, John Hipolito as Gatch, Caleb Noffsinger as Mr. Twimble, Rebecca Bersani as Hedy LaRue, Jacqueline Cotton as Smitty and Chris Bermas as “The Book.”

The musical, based on a book written in 1952, was first performed on Broadway in 1961 and won seven Tony awards.

South Elgin High School senior John Hipolito plays Mr. Gatch, while Rebecca Bersani, a sophomore, plays Hedy LaRue in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” The musical offers a comedic look at corporate life in the 1960s. Courtesy of Douglas Little
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