“How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,” the upcoming CHS spring musical, will be the second to last show directed by retiring drama teacher Michael Jacobs, and as the curtains start to close on his career, the performance looks at the ridiculously comical beginning of another’s.
Based off of the 1952 book of the same name, the musical follows young J. Pierrepont Finch, played by senior Kent Burns, as he attempts to rise from window washer to Chairman of the Board at the World Wide Wicket Company as easily and quickly as possible with the help of a book called “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying.”
Though the spring show is the penultimate performance for many seniors involved, this year is significant as Jacobs will also be leaving CHS at the end of this year. However, Jacobs doubts that his time with the stage is over.
“It’s just another show,” Jacobs says. “There’s always going to be another one on the horizon. You let one go and you move on to the next.”
With that mindset, he quickly moves on to describe the closest show on the horizon, summarizing it with only one word: fun.
Senior Justine Kitteringham, who is playing secretary Rosemary Pilkington, the love interest of Finch, shares a similar sentiment as Jacobs.
“It’s a really fun show with great music and stellar talent,” Kitteringham adds.
Although audiences can expect great acting and singing performances in addition to the live pit orchestra, the cast admits that the show is somewhat behind its very tight schedule, especially after having to move “Romeo and Juliet” from before winter break to after.
Burns explains that because of all the moving parts to a musical, including a particularly large ensemble, it was difficult to fit everything into such a small time period, but the cast has still managed to do so.
Beyond supporting their fellow Padres, students can look forward to some surprises as well, since the quirky production is known for its catchy songs and its riotous humor with jokes a high school audience may have never heard before, according to senior ensemble member Austin Aldrich.
“It’s a pretty unique comedy experience for today’s generation,” Aldrich notes.
The show premieres March 17 at 7 p.m. and runs through the following weekend. Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, cost $15 for adults and $10 for students.
-Delaney King
