"Teenage Dream": Darren Criss Joins Broadway's How to Succeed...; Beau Bridges Takes Over Company, Too

By Adam Hetrick
03 Jan 2012

Darren Criss
Darren Criss
Photo by Mitchell Nguyen McCormack

Fresh-faced "Glee" actor Darren Criss trades in his red Warbler jacket for the bowtie and three-piece suit of J. Pierrepont Finch in the Broadway revival of How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. He is joined by Emmy, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Beau Bridges, who also begins performances Jan. 3 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Known for playing the role of Blaine Anderson on "Glee," not to mention helping to redefine Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" as a new gay love anthem on the hit series, Criss succeeds original revival star Daniel Radcliffe, who played his final performance Jan. 1. Criss plays a limited, three-week engagement through Jan. 22. Nick Jonas will take over the role Jan. 24.

The Worldwide Wicket Company also welcomes a new president in veteran actor Bridges (Who's Who in Hell, The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, "The Descendants," "The Fabulous Baker Boys"), who succeeds John Larroquette as J.B. Biggely.

Buy this Limited Collector's Edition

How to Succeed… opened on Broadway March 27, 2011, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The musical has a score by Frank Loesser, with a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert. Tony Award winner Rob Ashford directed and choreographed the production.

The principal cast also features Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Tammy Blanchard (Gypsy, "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows") as office bombshell Hedy La Rue, Christopher J. Hanke (In My Life, Cry-Baby) as Bud Frump, Rose Hemingway (Parade at the Mark Taper Forum) in her Broadway debut as Rosemary Pilkington, Rob Bartlett (Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors) as Twimble/Wally Womper, Mary Faber (American Idiot, Avenue Q) as Smitty, Ellen Harvey (Thou Shalt Not, The Music Man) as Miss Jones and Michael Park (Middletown) as Bert Bratt.

The ensemble includes Cameron Adams, Timothy J. Alex, Cleve Asbury, Tanya Birl, Holly Ann Butler, Kevin Covert, J. Austin Eyer, Paige Faure, David Hull, Justin Keyes, Marty Lawson, Shannon Lewis, Ian Liberto, Andrew Madsen, Nick Mayo, Sarah O'Gleby, Colt Prattes, Stephanie Rothenberg, Charlie Williams and Samantha Zack.

For tickets, priced $52-$132, phone (212) 239-6200 or visit Telecharge. The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is located at 302 West 45th Street.