by JIM CULLEN

Hays High School senior Keeley Hooker, as Rosemary Pilkington, draws the attention of her co-workers in rehearsals of a scene from “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Hooker stars opposite Hays junior Ely Allen, playing J. Pierrepont Finch in the hilarious parody of the American corporate world. (Photo by Jim Cullen)

The annual Hays CISD musical has become a treasured local event. Continuing that rich tradition is the 2010 production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” set for its Thursday—Saturday, Feb. 4-6, run. It represents the fifth consecutive year of the highly popular, locally-produced musicals.

Hays High School junior Ely Allen stars as J. Pierrepont Finch alongside Hays senior Keeley Hooker as Rosemary Pilkington. And, as usual, students from both Lehman and Hays High fill out an enthusiastic cast, directed once again by Malcolm Nelson. Choreography is provided by Caroline Roberts of Caroline’s Dance and Fuentes Elementary’s Holly Gandy is Vocal Director.

The cast includes a number of veteran school musical performers. Seniors with four years of acting experience include Jarrod Hehr as Bud Frump, Bonnika Ashley as Hedy La Rue, Seth Hixon as Wally Womper and Jayme Foulkrod as Typewriter Girl.

Three-year veteran senior Bridgett Garraway is Miss Krumholtz. Lehman sophomore Ethan Becker, playing Mack the Coffee Server, is in his fourth production. Hays High teacher David Bowe, always a crowd favorite, plays J.B. Biggley and is another district musical vet.

Play-goers can additionally expect to enjoy “special guest appearances” by Scrubwomen Terrie Castille, Jodie Wymore and Holly Gandy, all of Fuentes Elementary.

For the first time, the musical will feature a professional orchestra, directed by David Blackburn. As always, Performing Arts Center Director Don Riecss is serving as Technical Director, overseeing students’ set production and generally putting all of the pieces together for a fun-filled show.

And for longtime district musical fans, the answer is “yes, there will be a surprise” built into the show, as in past years, but Riecss cautions “it’s going to be at the beginning of the show, instead of the end.” Officially the show opens at 7 p.m. each of its three evenings, but Riecss advises audience members bet in their seats by 6:45 to catch the full effect of the “surprise.”

Program notes describe the story as “the triumph of the common man.” Window-washer J. Pierrepont Finch reads the book “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and decides to follow its advice for climbing the corporate ladder. He lands a mailroom job at New York’s World Wide Wicket Company and starts grabbing promotions, outsmarting rival Bud Frump (the boss’s nephew). Along the way, Finch gains the love of Rosemary, a company secretary. But his big ad campaign fails, the book’s no longer any help, and he must rely on his own wits.

The play’s roots twist back to 1952, when Shepherd Mead’s best-selling satire, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” caught the attention of playwrights Willie Gilbert and Jack Weinstock. Their drama wasn’t produced, but by 1960 the work was brought to the successful producers of “Guys and Dolls,” Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin, and they enlisted that show’s creative team of Abe Burrow and Frank Loesser to re-tool it as a musical.

The musical, even more satirical than the book, opened at the 46th Street Theatre on Broadway October 14, 1961 and ran for 1,417 performances. Robert Morse starred as Finch, Bonnie Scott played Rosemary, Charles Nelson Reilly was Bud Frump and Rudy Vallee was company president. In 1967, the musical was brought to film in the movie of the same name, featuring many of the stage production’s cast. A Broadway revival was staged at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in 1995, starring Matthew Broderick as Finch and Megan Mullally as Bonnie.

“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” performances are set for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening, Feb. 4-6, at 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center.