HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING follows one J. Pierrepont Finch as he rises from window washer to chairman of the board of World Wide Wicket Company aided by a book. (Oddly enough, the book has the same name as this musical.) Along the way, we meet the secretaries, executives, mail room workers, a toady named Bud Frump, the head of the company, J.B. Biggley, his mistress, Hedy LaRue, and the Chairman of the board, Wally Womper. Confused yet? Well, add in a rivalry football game, some love interests, and a treasure hunt and a happy ending. All of this is the setup of one of the best musical comedies to come out of the 1960's!
Premium Plot Service:
Click the button below to request a free plot for this production painstakingly created by our professional costumers.
Additional Contact Information:
For any other questions you might have, please feel free to contact us via phone or email.
Email: info@mardigrascostumeshop.com
Phone: (480) 948-4030
Why choose US for theater costume rental?
- - A history of producing shows since 1974
- - Attention to detail
- - High quality fabrics and construction
- - Experienced design and build staff
- - Custom designs for your show
- - shipped anywhere in the USA
Please note
Photos are from a specific production. Your costumes may vary due to size and availability.
J. Pierrepont Finch
About the Costume
Finch is wearing a grey pinstripe suit with vest.
About the Character
Finch is a window washer who aspires to be the head of a large corporation. He also intends to do this in record time. If not outright lying, he is stretching the truth till it squeals and keeping everyone off balance with his fast talking. In the end he is proof of the Peter Principle which says that everyone progresses to the level of their incompetency.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
For the opening, Finch has a pair of industrial coveralls over his suit while he is washing windows He may also have changes of suits for various scenes.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Rosemary Pilkington
About the Costume
Rosemary is seen here in a simple 60's style shift.
About the Character
Rosemary is one of the many secretaries at the World Wide Wicket Company. She is immediately "taken" with Finch, and spends a lot of her time dreaming of a married life with him.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Rosemary may have several changes of costume over the course of the show. She also usually has a coat and hat.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
J.B. Biggley
About the Costume
Biggley is wearing a dark 3 piece suit. Exactly what any executive for a large corporation wore in the 1960's.
About the Character
J.B. Biggley is the head of World Wide Wicket Company. He is beset by a harrying wife...a mistress who wants to be a part of the business...his wife's nephew who definitely believes in nepotism...the board of directors and chairman of that board...AND a scheming J.Pierrepont Finch! He is a closet knitter, a golfing enthusiast, and a proud alumnus of Old Ivy.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Biggley may have several changes of suits over the course of the show. He also has a golfing outfit and a trenchcoat and hat.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Bud Frump
About the Costume
In order to make him look "out of step" with the executives and other workers, Bud is the only one dressed in shades of brown. All other suits in the show are Blacks, blues, and greys. Bud is wearing a three piece tweed suit here.
About the Character
Bud is the nephew of J.B. Biggley's wife. Anytime anything happens that he does not feel is in his favor, he calls his mother who calls her sister, J.B. Biggley's wife who gives J.B. an earful. A toady for sure!
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Bud may have a change of suit. He also has a matching trenchcoat, hat, and bow tie to J.B. Biggley.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Hedy LaRue
About the Costume
Hedy is wearing a tight fitting garishly bright dress with matching hat and a mink wrap. She is totally out of touch with what might be appropriate to wear for a job in a big corporation.
About the Character
Hedy is J.B. Biggley's mistress who wants to be a business woman and give up her job at the "club". She is completely clueless about what is inappropriate behavior in the workplace.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Hedy would have a change of dress for the second act. She also has a "presentation" pirate costume as well as her game show pirate costume. She might also have a different dress for the finale.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Mrs. Jones
About the Costume
Mrs. Jones is wearing a knitted jacket and skirt with white blouse.
About the Character
Mrs. Jones is a rather dowdy and severe person. She is J.B. Biggley's personal secretary. Finch manages to soften her up with his charm.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Mrs. Jones may have a change of outfit. She also has one of the Paris Original gowns.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Bert Bratt
About the Costume
Mr. Bratt is wearing a dark three piece suit.
About the Character
Mr. Bratt is head of the personnel department at World Wide Wicket Company. He is a bit of a womanizer.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Mr. Bratt might have a change of suit.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Mr. Trimble
About the Costume
Mr. Trimble is wearing his mail room uniform ... grey-blue apron over his dark pants, shirt with black sleeve guards, vest and bow tie.
About the Character
Mr. Trimble has been in the mail room for 25 years and has just received a probotion to the shipping department.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Smitty
About the Costume
Smitty is wearing a white blouse with a red plaid skirt, matching scarf and red belt.
About the Character
Smitty is Rosemary's best friend and also a secretary at World Wide Wicket Company
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Smitty may have one or two changes of costume in the show and also has one of the Paris Original gowns.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Executives & Board of Directors
About the Costume
All executives and members of the board of directors wear business suits.
About the Character
The executives and members of the board are a diverse group of men...no women in these positions. This was still the 1960's and women's rights were just emerging.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Secretaries
About the Costume
The secretaries are dressed in a variety of 1960's outfits. One determining factor in the style that each has was the dance moves they would have to perform. Fuller skirts were necessary for many of the dancers.
About the Character
The hard working women of the secretarial pool at World Wide Wicket Company.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
There are many outfits of these types available.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Treasure Hunt
About the Costume
Hedy LaRue is the Treasure Girl in her sexy pirate outfit with lace dress, velvet corset/skirt, boot tops, and oversize pirate hat. Each of the other pirate cuties has a short pirate dress. The two hosts of the Treasure Hunt game show have loud plaid jackets, bright shirts and pants.
About the Character
This is Finch's big advertizing idea...one he borrowed from Bud Frump...it is an unqualified disaster!
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Pirate Tappers
About the Costume
These tap dancing pirates are wearing white peasant blouses, black bloused pants, red satin sashes, and skull/crossbone headwraps.
About the Character
For extra fun this production added a dance line of pirate girls to the Treasure Hunt Game Show. There were 12 girls in the full tap line.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Cleaning Ladies
About the Costume
Institutional blue dresses with white aprons and blue mop caps.
About the Character
These three characters were added to the show to help cover scene changes.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
Paris Original
About the Costume
Matching leopard print dresses with black belted bows and matching headpieces.
About the Character
Rosemary buys a new dress for a big corporate cocktail party which she has been told is a one of a kind "Paris Original" gown by the sales clerk. As it turns out, he told the same story to all of the women attending the party.
Pricing
Click 'Get a free Costume Plot' for pricing
Options
We have 14 of these matching dresses from XS - Large.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
"Paris Original"
About the Costume
see above
About the Character
see above
Pricing
see above
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
"How To Succeed..." reprise
About the Costume
Secretaries in a variety of 1960's fashions.
About the Character
Here the Secretaries are singing a reprise of the title song of the show with lyrics that reflect how they feel about men.
Pricing
Price determined by particular costume.
Options
Items such as sweaters and jackets were added or taken away to change look of costumes.
Get a Free Costume Plot!
"Grand Old Ivy"
About the Costume
J.B. Biggley is dressed for a round of golf...wearing a sweater that he has knitted himself.
About the Character
J.B. Biggley is head of WWW and a graduate of Old Ivy. Here he and Finch sing the School song as Finch pretends to also be an alumnus of Old Ivy.
Pricing
Sweaters rent from $10 - $25. Knickers rent for $10 - $15. Shirts rent for $10. Hats rent for $10.
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
"A Secretary Is Not A Toy"
About the Costume
A variety of outfits for the secretaries and suits on all the executives.
About the Character
The Executives and secretaries sing about what is appropriate behavior toward secretaries.
Pricing
Determined by particular costumes chosen.
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
"Been A Long Day"
About the Costume
Smitty and Rosemary add coats and hats to their outfits as they prepare to leave work at the end of the day.
About the Character
Smitty is attempting to put Rosemary and Finch into the position of makfing a date with each other.
Pricing
Coats rent from $20 - $50. Hats range from $10 - $20.
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
"Company Way"
About the Costume
The mail room outfits for the females consist of white blouse, black skirt, and scarf with a grey-blue apron. For the males, the apron is worn over the shirt and pants from their suits.
About the Character
Finch and the mail room workers sing "Company Way", a song about the "rightness" of everything the company stands for.
Pricing
These blouses, skirts, and aprons each rent for $10.
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!
"Brotherhood Of Man"
About the Costume
Secretaries, executives, board members..,
About the Character
Everyone gets into the final big song and dance number...
Pricing
Determined by individual costume...
Options
Options coming soon!
Get a Free Costume Plot!