Members of the Parkland High School Theatre Department will present their upcoming spring musical, “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” April 8-12.

The play was introduced in 1961 and won a Tony for Best Musical in 1962.

The story revolves around an ambitious window washer, J. Pierrepont Finch, played by Jordan Silver, who uses a variety of underhanded tactics to climb the corporate ladder to become chairman of the board of the “World Wide Wicket Company.”

He has a relationship with secretary Rosemary Pilkington portrayed by Madelyn Wascura, who is always one step ahead of others in her workplace.

The rehearsal focused on dance numbers choreographed by Patricia Bostick-Winn helping the actors to perfect their body movements for the musical.

This musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, is based on Shepherd Mead’s 1952 book of the same name.

Production staff include Director - Natalie Gabrie, Vocal Director - Alison Lagan, Pit Orchestra Director - Allison Figueroa, Producer - Andrea Roposh, Choreographer - Patricia Bostick-Winn, Set Designer and Scenic Painter - Katrina Miller, Technical Director - Jay Greth, Assistant Technical Director - Kevin Gallagher, Lighting Designer - Will Morris, Costume Designer - Laura Quaglio, Sound Technician - JT Moyer and Box Office Manager - Megan Halbert.

Gabrie said in 1997, she performed in the ensemble of her high school’s production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

“I have always felt that I wanted to revisit this musical in some capacity. When the opportunity to direct Parkland High School’s Spring Musical became available, I knew that this show would offer the appropriate set of new challenges for our students through its blend of comedy, dance, and drama,” she said. “However, I was unsure if a musical meant to satirize the 1960’s workplace would still feel relevant. Throughout the process of directing this show, it became clear that ’How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ achieves its relevance in many ways, but mostly in how the topics that arise in the musical are either more accessible or amplified today.”

She said the 1960s may feel like a distant time period, but this take on the musical strives to show how the past has laid a foundation for the hobbies, habits, and hopes of today.

“It has been great revisiting this show with this particular group of students,” Gabrie said. “It also provided an opportunity to bring the district’s superintendent, Dr. Mark Madson, into our theater department through his portrayal of the Book Voice, showing another way that theater builds connections in our community.”

She said without the support of Parkland School District’s community, staff, and the Visual and Performing Arts Department, the quality of work the theater program is able to produce would not be possible.

Stage and Technical Crew include Stage Manager - Joseph Legutko, Assistant Stage Managers - Christine Dauster and Madeline Ligas, Scenic Artist - Mia Hellwig, Props Master - Jessica Conrad, Fly Captain - Abigail Miller, Sound Board Operators - Zachary Bittner and Henry Kollar, Student Sound Designers - Gineet Kari and Henry Kollar, A2 Sound - Delaney Goslin and Gineet Kari, Student Lighting Designer - Quinn Goslin and Jefferson Petersen, Light Board Operator - Quinn Goslin and Jefferson Petersen, Master Electricians - Christine Dauster and Madeline Ligas, Spot Light Operators - Riley McCauley and Cassie Belletieri, House Manager - Grace Leon, Social Media Team - Kensi Christman, Lila McConnell and Kelly Wood.

Parkland theatre students will perform “How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” 7 p.m. April 8-11 and 3 p.m. April 12 in the auditorium, 2700 Cedar Crest Blvd., South Whitehall.

“How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” is presented through special arrangement with Music International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, www.mtishows.com.