By Spencer Berman
On Thursday, Nov. 12, and Friday, Nov. 13, Great Neck North High School put on performances of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
In the show, a young man named J. Pierrepont Finch finds a book that outlines how to succeed in business, and hilarity ensues as he uses the book to rise up the ranks from a simple window washer to the chairman of the board. The casts’ experiences will not be soon forgotten. As Katie Tropp-Levy, who played Ms. Jones, said, “There has never been a show process more hectic or more rewarding. At the end of the day, everyone stepped up and enabled us to put our best foot forward and put on a truly unforgettable show.”
Although the rehearsals were long and arduous, the cast agreed that the show was fun to be a part of and well worth the work we put in. Justin Wooster, who played J. Pierrepont Finch, said, “It took a lot of hard work and focus in order to get everything together. But even so, we still managed to have a ton of fun.” Each person in the cast has his or her own reason for enjoying being in shows. For me, it’s acting and being able to change who I am and become my character.
For others, it’s connecting with an audience. Carla Moraly, who played Rosemary, said, “The experience of being able to make an audience who doesn’t even know
you smile is the most breathtaking aspect of theater life.” Julia Lesser, who played Hedy LaRue, agreed. “My favorite part of being in a show is the ability to affect an audience…It’s a feeling that cannot be described in words.”
theater company took a bow.
The show was a resounding success and Ilana Meredith, the new director at North High, could not be happier. “I had a wonderful experience with How to Succeed. The most thrilling aspect for me was seeing how the actors—both leads and chorus—developed their characters over time…This is what a director loves more than anything else—a cast who understands performances are not static, but can always be improved on.”
