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Mira Costa Presents 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying''

Apr 17, 2018 10:09PM ● By Jeanne Fratello

The cast of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" - Front row: Ella Dabney, Kavita Sarathy, Isabella Oliveira-Pazzia, Kaitlin Sanders, Olivia Stanley, Charlie Lusky, Natalie Rebenkoff, Brinn Borowsky, Ariana Derambakhsh, Ava Alexiades, Madeline Weissenberg, Gabriella Papera Middle row: Bailey Borowsky, Sofia Aguirre, Emma Gray, Hannah Ryan, Mary Clare Powell, Maggie Cubillos, Olivia Morgan, Natalie Dreger, Noah Geller, Carson Billingsley, Wade Hendrickson, Toby Kamish, Tiffany Smith, Kyra Dates, Molly DeSimone, Lilly Fuller Back row: Tucker St. Ivany, Sam Lamkin, Scott Baxter, Shelby Friedman, Sabrina Harris, Owen Price-Hughes, Rachel Langetieg, Jack Drinker, Cole Konis, Griffin Moore, Will Martens, Jack Gebele

Get ready for music, dance, and laughter, as "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" comes to Mira Costa High School on April 20-28.

The highly acclaimed show - it is one of only nine musicals to win a Pulitzer Prize - tells the story of a young window washer who follows the advice of a book titled "How to Succeed in Business" to climb the corporate ladder from mail room to high-powered executive.

It is a piercing satire of 1960s-era big business that tackles such familiar workplace themes as the aggressively compliant “company man,” the office party, and backstabbing coworkers.

Getting today's students to understand the context and significance of the show's satire was an important part of the learning process, said director Cary Jordahl, who is also executive director of Mira Costa's Drama/Tech Department.

"The book itself is so smart, and done with such great humor," said Jordahl. "There's no 'updating' this show - You have to understand the context that it was written, and the reason that it was was so impactful."

Jordahl adds, "We're going to make it fun - it's going to be sparkly and bright - but we're going to lay the message on you. That's the point."

Counting cast, crew, orchestra, and front-of-house staff, more than 100 students are involved in the production. The team members, who are coming off a high-profile victory at the Fullerton College High School Theatre Festival, have been putting in long hours and late nights perfecting the show. "They've been working so hard - I'm really proud of them," said Jordahl.

The performance dates and times are:
Friday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 28 at 2 pm & 7:30 p.m.

Discount pre-sale tickets will be available online through April 20 at Mira Costa Drama Boosters
. Pre-sale tickets cost $15 for adults; $10 for students/seniors, with a $1 additional fee for online orders. Tickets at the box office will be $18 for adults and $12 for students/seniors.

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