Ithaca College

The cutthroat corporate world of “Mad Men” gets the musical comedy treatment from Ithaca College Theatre as it presents the Tony Award–winning “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Performances will run in the Hoerner Theatre at 8 p.m. on Nov. 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 9.

Ticket prices range from $8 to $16. Tickets can be purchased online at ithaca.ticketforce.com and through the Ithaca College box office located in Dillingham Center. The box office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets may be reserved at the box office by calling (607) 274-3224.

“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” tells the story of young and ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch’s hilarious climb from window washer to board chairman of the World Wide Wicket Company, using tactics lifted from the satirical instruction book of the same name. Finch’s unconventional business practices put not only his career on the line, but also his romance with secretary Rosemary Pilkington.

The show — and its fictional hero — were both inspired by the 1952 book by Shepherd Mead, who drew upon his experiences at a New York City ad agency. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” opened on Broadway in 1961 and ran for over three years, winning seven Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

A successful film version of the musical was released in 1967 and Broadway revivals were mounted in 1995 and 2011. The popularity of television’s “Mad Men” series has provided a helpful context by which audiences in 2014 can appreciate the corporate world of the early 1960s. The role of senior company executive Bert Cooper in the series is played by Robert Morse, the original J. Pierrepont Finch.

“It is often said that it’s not what you know, but who you know, and ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ extends that adage a bit,” noted director Greg Bostwick. “It’s what J. Pierrepont Finch knows about who he knows that propels him to his stratospheric success.

“How is it possible that incompetent people sometimes succeed? The answer may lie in our definition of success,” Bostwick continued. “Finch certainly has no particular expertise in the Wicket business, but he does have a knack for understanding what motivates people and how to capitalize on it.”

Brian DeMaris is the musical director and Roy Lightner is the choreographer for “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” The student-led production team includes scenic designer Tyler Hampton ’15, costume designer Maxine Etchison ’15, lighting designer Kevin Aloi ’15 and sound designer Paul Radassao ’15. The technical director is Joe Kurzawa ’15 and the stage manager is Travis Coxson ’15.

A nationally recognized professional theatre-training program, the Department of Theatre Arts attracts students from across the globe. Throughout the school year, undergraduate students present all aspects of theatre in a professional model. Visit www.ithaca.edumainstage for further information. Follow Ithaca College Theatre on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ICTheatreArts and Twitter at@ICTheatreArts.

Dillingham Center accommodates all patrons. Individuals with special needs are asked to contact (607) 274-3224 to request accommodations as soon as possible.