Fremont Street Theater takes lighthearted look at corporate America
Fremont Street Theater Company is presenting the Tony-Award winning play "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" this weekend at Cutting Hall in Palatine.
"If you ever worked for a corporation, especially in an office, this show is for you," says Madeline Franklin, who is the director and the new owner of the theater company with her husband, Rusty, who serves as managing director.
And she just might be right. From the whining, conniving boss' nephew to the "company man" who will say and do just about anything to get ahead, to so many one-liners, quips and the quirky, spirited musical numbers, audience members will be reminded of people and circumstances they themselves have been through.
Says Franklin, who has directed all of Fremont's productions for the past four summers, "In many ways, it's the musical version and predecessor of contemporary comedies like 'The Office.'"
Written in 1961, the production leans heavily on 1950s values and ideas, but the inner workings of corporate America ring ever true. The raw humor mixed with the great musical score provide for an amazing blend of comedy, song and dance, she explains.
The play is a satire of big business and all it holds sacred. 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 in record time, and tackles the familiar but potent dangers of the company man, the office party, backstabbing co-workers, and, of course, office romances.
With an exhilarating score by Frank Loesser, including songs like "I Believe in You," "Brotherhood of Man," and "The Company Way," this tune-filled romp won seven Tony Awards in 1962, including Best Musical. It enjoyed two Broadway runs in the 1990s and one in 2011-12 featuring Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame as Finch.
Fremont veterans Dina DiCostanzo and Ken McMullen serve as choreographer and musical director; Rusty Franklin as producer and Rick Browne as co-producer.
Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, and Saturday, Aug. 15, and matinees are at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, and Sunday, Aug. 16.
The play is at the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center at the corner of Fremont and Wood streets in Palatine. Tickets cost $19 in advance, $21 at the door. Students and seniors get a $2 discount. Tickets can be purchased at (847) 202-5222, or 150 E. Wood St. during box office hours, or at www.fremontstreettheater.com.
For more information, go to the website, or contact Rusty Franklin at (847) 477-8102, or Rusty.Franklin@fremontstreettheater.com. The theater company is a nonprofit organization.