In 1952, Stephen Mead wrote the satirical "instruction" book "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." The book, a silly list of ways to lazily trick your way up the corporate ladder, was a big hit.
Frank Loesser made it into a musical in 1961, following the skyrocketing career of Finch and his relationship with his love interest, Rosemary. It was a smash with audiences, and won a pile of Tonys and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama!
Tony Awards (1962):
Best Musical (Frank Loesser)
Best Author (Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert)
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Robert Morse)
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Charles Nelson Reilly)
Best Direction of a Musical (Abe Burrows)
Best Producer (Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin)
Best Conductor and Musical Director (Elliot Lawrence)
Biggest Hit:
Brotherhood of Man
Honorable Mentions:
Coffee Break
Company Way
Eyebrow-Raising Alert (It Was the Times! It's satire, though, we promise.):
Cinderella Darling
A Secretary is Not a Toy
Musical Numbers:
- Overture
- How to Succeed
- Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm
- Coffee Break
- Company Way
- A Secretary is Not a Toy
- Been a Long Day
- Grand Old Ivy
- Paris Original
- Rosemary
- Cinderella Darling
- Love From a Heart of Gold
- I Believe In You
- The Brotherhood of Man
- Finale
Bonus - look at this! It's a menu from Stouffer's restaurant from around the time Finch and Rosemary would have gone on their dinner date:
