COLLEYVILLE - A self-help book takes a young window washer on a whirlwind trip up the corporate ladder in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which opened last weekend at the Colleyville Heritage High School Theatre.
The final performances are Feb. 2-4 at the CHHS theater, 5401 Heritage Ave. in Colleyville. For tickets and show times, visit chhspanthertheater.org.The main character, J.Pierpont Finch, played by junior Jared Cobb, gets one promotion after another but the end result may not be what he intended. Along the way, he meets a love interest, a bubbly, energetic secretary named Rosemary played by Kylie Smith, he pretends to know a college fight song to butter up the company president, J.B. Biggley, played by Jacob Johnson, and outmaneuvers Biggley's self-serving nephew, Bud Frump, played by Nick O'Keefe.Playing J.P. Finch allows Jared to show off his singing skills while exploring the duality of his character, who is doing whatever it takes to get ahead while also trying to be sincere in his love life."It eventually catches up with me in the end and I have to take what's coming to me," Jared said.The musical is based on the Broadway show that recently featured Daniel Ratcliffe, of Harry Potter fame, and Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers.Finch isn't the only one getting promoted in this retro 1960s musical. For many of the actors, including Jared, this is their first shot at a lead role in a high school show."Nerves has never really been an issue with me," Jared said. "I'm as cool as a cucumber, one might say. I don't let it get to me."Seniors Jacob and Kylie have been in CHHS theater since their freshman year. This will be their last high school musical.Kylie has embraced the opportunity, playing someone who is so much like herself opposite her best friend, Jared."I love playing Rosemary because I feel she is a lot of Kylie Smith. I've been told anyway," said Kylie, who will attend Texas A&M in the fall. "It's so much fun coming from a chorus role to now being one of the leads. There's so much more responsibility and there's also so much payoff."The cast spent the Martin Luther King holiday weekend preparing and have worked after school, too."Every minute of it is worth it. I love being out there and I can't wait to share it with the audience," Kylie said. "When it comes time for the show you get to hear the applause. It's such a great feeling."Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
