"From its rousing overture until the evangelical 'Brotherhood of Man,' which brings the evening to a foot-stomping end, 'How to Succeed' is very nearly a nonstop delight."

-NY Times
 

 

 

 

Opening Night Sponsor 

 

 

 


ED ASNER (Book Voice)

Ed originated the role of Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and continued in the newspaper-set drama Lou Grant which earned him five Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards. He has received seven Emmy Awards and 16 nominations, five Golden Globe Awards, and served as National President of the Screen Actors Guild for two terms. He was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in 1996 and received the Ralph Morgan Award from S.A.G. in 2000. Other honors: The Life Achievement Award from S.A.G., The Anne Frank Human Rights Award, ACLU's Worker's Right's Committee Award and the National Emergency Civil Liberties Award. Over 100 TV credits include: Off the Rack, The Bronx Zoo and Thunder Alley. Guest appearances include: Curb Your Enthusiasm, ER, Arliss, The Practice, and Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. Voiceover: The Simpsons, Spiderman, Boondocks, and commercials and numerous books on tape. Films include: They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, Fort Apache the Bronx, JFK, Elf with Will Farrell and James Caan,and the European production of Giovanni XXIII - the highest rated television mini-series in the history of Italian TV. He was nominated for another Emmy for The Christmas Card and for a guest appearance on CSI/NY. He was the lead voice of Carl Fredricksen in Pixar's 2009 award-winning and box office hit UP!

MATT BAUER (Ensemble)

Matt is a recent NY transplant and is excited to be a part of this production at Reprise. Broadway: “Yonkers” and covered “Tulsa” in the 2003 Gypsy revival with Bernadette Peters (directed by Sam Mendes) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with John Lithgow. Off-Broadway: Nathan Leopold in the premiere of Thrill Me at the York Theater. Matt was also the Patsy/Herbert cover in the Vegas production of Spamalot (starring John O'Hurley). LA credits: Fred Astaire in Backwards in High Heels at ICT Long Beach and Ken Roht's Nutcracker workshop at Center Theater Group. Matt has a BFA from the Boston Conservatory. Thanks to his all his family, friends, deuce, BB, and the ladies at KSR. Special thanks to the most wonderful, supportive parents in the world. Matt is also the owner and creator of Matt's Muffookies - www.Muffookies.com.

E.E. BELL (Gatch/Womper)

Ed is proud to be making his first appearance at Reprise and overjoyed to be working again with director Marcia Milgrom Dodge, with whom he had a grand romp last summer as Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls at Sacramento Music Circus. That production marked Ed’s 25th year on the professional stage. Favorite roles include: Pseudolus in A Funny Thing…Forum, the Top Banana in Sugar Babies, and the very merry Mr. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol. Television audiences may recognize Ed from his guest-starring roles on such shows as How I Met Your Mother, My Name Is Earl, and from his recurring role as Bob Rooney in Fox’s Married… with Children. Younger audiences have seen Ed on Drake and Josh, The Amanda Show, and most recently in Disney’s Sonny with a Chance. Feature film appearances include Air Force One, Forget Paris, HBO’s 61* and as the bumbling henchman Beeman in Disney’s Herbie: Fully Loaded. This Cable Ace Award Nominated, Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award watching actor is Married without Children, and dedicates this performance to his loving wife, Royce. Baby, I have already succeeded, I found you!

BRADLEY BENJAMIN (Pirate/Secretary/Ensemble)

"Succeed" marks Bradley's 6th show with Reprise having previously appeared in productions of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Carousel, My One & Only, On the Town, and Brigadoon. Bradley has appeared on Broadway in the 2002 revival of Oklahoma! as well as in the 1st National Tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other credits include: The 75th Annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular at RCMH, Brigadoon (Broadway workshop)along with the Las Vegas productions of Hairspray and Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular. Regional credits include: West Side Story, Hello Dolly!, and Kiss Me Kate at Sacramento Music Circus, The 50th anniversary of The Music Man as Zaneeta Shin at The Bushnell Center, The Merry Widow at Los Angeles Opera, Grease at South Bay Civic Light Opera, and My Fair Lady at La Mirada Theater.  Bradley would like to thank Ms. Dodge and the entire Reprise family for the many amazing opportunities! www.bradleyquinnbenjamin.com

MATT CRABTREE (Ensemble)

Matt is thrilled to be a part Reprise for the first time! His recent stage work includes the Disney Legacy Concert - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs under the direction of Jeff Lee and conducted by John Mauceri at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Other credits include: world premieres of Who Lives? at the Pico Playhouse, Frank Zappa’s rock opera Joe’s Garage with the Open Fist Theatre Company, the new musical The Cuban and The Redhead, the period dramedy The Boarding House with Interact Theatre Company, Twelfth Night with the Los Angeles Shakespeare Company, and the long running David Sedaris’ and Amy Sedaris’ The Book of Liz (172 performances) with the Blank Theatre Company. He has appeared on Bones, N.C.I.S., HawthoRNe, Grey’s Anatomy, Nip/Tuck, Will & Grace (2 eps.),and in the films The 40 Year Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It, Signal, Corpse Run, Day 21, Nine Lives, and Knockout. Proud member of Actors Equity Association. www.mattcrabtree.com.

MELISSA FAHN (Hedy Larue)

Melissa is thrilled to be back with Reprise having performed in their productions of Finian’s Rainbow, Wonderful Town, Of Thee I sing, and Bells are Ringing. Broadway: Wicked (u/s Glinda - original cast). Regional credits: Wicked (u/s Glinda - Pantages), Singin’ In The Rain (Ovation nominee as Lina Lamont – Cabrillo Music Theatre), Sondheim’s 75 (Hollywood Bowl), Hal Prince’s 3hree (Ahmanson) Anything Goes (Hope Harcourt - Musical Theatre West), Li’l Abner (Daisy Mae – MTG), The Sunshine Boys (The Nurse - opposite Ed Asner and Harold Gould) and Milk And Honey (Zipporah) both at The Gindi Auditorium, Grease (Marty – CLO South Bay), Sweeney Todd (Johanna) and Gilligan’s Island: The Musical (Mary Ann) both at the Scherr Forum, West Side Story (Maria - Denver Critic’s Circle Nominee for Best Actress) and Singin’ In The Rain (Kathy Selden) both at Denver’s Arvada Center. She is the voice of “Betty Boop”, “Hello Kitty”, “Edward” on Cowboy Bebop, “Gaz” on Nickelodeon’s Invader Zim, and more in the voice-over/studio singer world. Coloratura soloist for Vox Lumiere (Avignon Opera, Cinematheque Paris, Philadelphia’s Prince Theatre, Ford Ampitheatre). Fans know her as “Young Esmerelda” on the soap Passions. Member of Musical Theatre Guild. Her debut album, “Avignon,” is available on CD Baby and iTunes. Mille baci Joel and sweet baby Jude! www.melissafahn.com

 
JOSH GRISETTI (J. Pierrepont Finch)

Broadway: Neil Simon’s ill-fated Broadway Bound. Off-Broadway: Enter Laughing (York Theatre – Theatre World Award winner; Drama Desk, OCC, Drama League and Lucille Lortel nominations), Candida (Irish Rep), After the Ball (Irish Rep). Regional: Monty Python’s Spamalot (Las Vegas), Lucky Guy (Goodspeed), Camelot (North Shore), Where’s Charley? (Caldwell), Follies (Overture), Cosi fan Tutte (Operafestival di Roma), etc. TV: The Knights of ProsperityThe Superagent. Film: Revolutionary Road, The NamesakePublic Interest and The Sandpiperwww.joshgrisetti.com

SIMON HELBERG (Bud Frump)

Simon continues to take the comedy scene by storm after garnering success in movies, television and internet. Currently, he stars in CBS’ smash hit (and People’s Choice Winner for Best TV Comedy) The Big Bang Theory as Howard Wolowitz, engineering genius who prides himself on being the group’s Casanova…with all the wrong moves. Prior to his success on The Big Bang Theory, Simon was a regular on the sketch comedy show MADtv. He was also featured in numerous critically-acclaimed series including: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Arrested Development, and Reno 911! On the big screen he has been seen in such Academy Award-nominated films as the Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man and Good Night and Good Luck, as well as Old School, Christopher Guest’s For Your Consideration and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. He also played the role of ‘Moist’ in the internet cult sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog alongside fellow CBS star, Neil Patrick Harris. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Simon attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where he trained at the Atlantic Theater Company. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jocelyn.

MICHAEL KOSTROFF (Twimble)
Michael returns to Reprise having just appeared here as Marcus Lycus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Other stage credits include national tours of The Producers (Max Bialystock understudy) and Les Misérables (Thenardier), Li’l Abner (Marryin’ Sam) for Reprise, Guys and Dolls (Benny Southstreet) for Sacramento Music Circus (directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Milt) for San Jose Rep and Laguna Playhouse, and The Producers (Max Bialystock) for Long Island’s Gateway Playhouse, Music Theatre of Wichita, and Musical Theatre West in Long Beach (Garland Award; LA Drama Critics Circle Award Nomination), opposite Larry Raben. On TV, he’s best known for his five seasons as unscrupulous gang attorney Maury Levy on HBO’s highly acclaimed series, The Wire and his current role on Disney’s Sonny with a Chance. Other TV appearances include Studio 60, The Closer, Without a Trace, The Middle, Brothers and Sisters, ER, West Wing, Boston Legal, Life, Cold Case, Party Down, Eli Stone and Sons of Tucson. Kostroff is a proud member of LA’s Musical Theatre Guild and the author of the popular book Letters from Backstage, a funny, behind-the-scenes chronicle of life on the road, available in the courtyard.
VICKI LEWIS (Smitty)

Vicki is best known to television audiences as Beth on NBC’s Newsradio. She also starred as Nora on Three Sisters. Recurring and guest-starring roles include: Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Middle , Bones, Grey’s Anatomy, Dirt, Til Death, Survivng Sububria, Sonny With A Chance, Seinfeld, Caroline In The City, The Norm Show, Murphy Brown, Grace Under Fire, Phenom, The Five Mrs. Buchanans and Home Improvement. Films include: The Ugly Truth, Den Brother (2011), The Last Day of Summer, Out of Omaha, Godzilla, Mousehunt, Pushing Tin, Bye Bye Birdie, The Huntress and Breakfast of Champions. Voiceovers include: Alpha and Omega, Finding Nemo, Wonder Woman, Justice League – A New Frontier, Ben 10, Betsy’s Kindergarden Adventures, Phineas and Ferb, King of the Hill, Doctor Doolittle, Rugrats, and An Extremely Goofy Movie. She starred as Velma in the Broadway production of Chicago and in the Tony-nominated Damn Yankees. She performed as a soloist with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, played opposite Patti Lupone and Peter Gallagher in Pal Joey for Encores, and she received an Ovation Award for her performance in the world premiere of Michael John Lachuisa’s Hotel C’est L’amoure at The Blank. This is Vicki’s fourth production for Reprise Theatre Company; she also starred in City Of Angels, My One and Only, and I Love My Wife. Her debut album, “East of Midnight,” is available on iTunes or through www.vickilewis.com

MELISSA LYONS (Treasure Girl/Secretary/Ensemble)

Melissa is thrilled to be performing with Reprise! A native of Southern California, Melissa holds a B.A. in music from UCLA and is a proud member of Musical Theatre Guild. Most notably, Melissa was the final Eponine in the Broadway Touring Company of Les Miserables. She has recorded numerous voice-overs for Mattel and is the singing voice of Barbie for several films, albums and toys, including the animated features Barbie and the Diamond Castle, Barbie as the Island Princess and Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper. Regional: Cats (Grizabella; Cabrillo Music Theatre), Peter Pan (Peter Pan; Cabrillo), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Drood; MTG), A Connecticut Yankee (Alisande; MTG), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Suzy; El Portal), Annie (Star-to-be; Music Circus and McCoy/Rigby). Concerts: Rated RSO: The Music and Lyrics of Ryan Scott Oliver (Boston Court); Scott Alan’s Monday Nights, New Voices (Duplex, NYC). TV: Passions. www.melissalyons.com Always, for my husband Ken.

JEFF MARLOW (Ensemble/Frump u/s)

Theatre credits include: Moonlight and Magnolias (Laguna Playhouse and McCoy Rigby Entertainment); Franz Schubert: His Letters and Music (opposite Julia Migenes at the Odyssey Theatre); Hamlet and Nothing Sacred (South Coast Repertory); You Can’t Take It With You (Geffen Playhouse); An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf, The Sleeper,and And the Winner Is (Laguna Playhouse); Sheldon & Mrs. Levine, Where’s Poppa and Surviving Sex (Falcon Theatre); Indoor/Outdoor and Around the World in 80 Days (Colony Theatre – LA Ovation Award nomination, Best Featured Actor); Medea (Theatre @ Boston Court – LA Drama Critics Circle Award nomination, Best Featured Performance); and The Adding Machine (Sacred Fools Theater – LA Weekly Award nomination, Best Supporting Performance). Jeff is a proud member of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, with whom he recently toured the U.S. in The Complete History of America (abridged). Jeff’s television credits include Pushing Daisies, NCIS, Grey’s Anatomy, Without a Trace, The Bernie Mac Show, Strong Medicine, Judging Amy, and Passions. Film credits include Akeelah and the Bee and The Hebrew Hammer.

ELISA NIXON (Scrubwoman/Ensemble)

Elisa is thrilled to be back performing again with Reprise after the births of her two sons, Aidan and Jack! Favorite credits include Jean McClaren in Brigadoon with the fabulous Reprise, Kristine in A Chorus Line (AMT San Jose & McCoy/Rigby), and Liza in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (AMT, Music Circus). Originally from San Francisco, she now lives in Los Angeles with her beautiful family. She sends her love and thanks to her wonderful agents at Stage 9 and to Tommy for making this possible!!!

JOHN O'HURLEY (Biggley)

One of People Magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive,” John O'Hurley has become one of television’s busiest and most versatile actors, show hosts, advertising heroes, and feature film stars. The award-winning actor is best known as "J. Peterman" on Seinfeld, which is now the #1 syndicated series in the world in 85 countries. He danced his way into the hearts of America as the ultimate champion of the highly-rated ABC show Dancing with the Stars and then starred on Broadway in Chicago as the male lead “Billy Flynn.” After a two-year stint as the head of the Round Table in Eric Idle’s hilarious musical comedy Monty Python’s Spamalot in Las Vegas, he wrapped a cross-country sell-out tour of the show. He is the face of the popular syndicated show Family Feud. He has written two books including the New York Times Bestseller It’s OK to Miss the Bed on the First Jump: And Other Life Lessons Learned from Dogs and Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have To Do It.O'Hurley enjoys spending his free time with his wife Lisa and their young son William Dylan. Together they love to play golf, travel, play with their dogs, cheer for the Boston Red Sox, and entertain friends at their Beverly Hills home.

NICOLE PARKER (Rosemary)

Nicole appeared on Broadway last year as Elphaba in Wicked. Her Broadway debut was Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. Other theater credits include: Juliet in The Second City's Romeo and Juliet Musical at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Jeff Nomination), and Pamina in The Magic Flute at the Falcon Theater in Los Angeles. For six seasons, Nicole was an actress and contributing writer on Fox's MADtv. She recently appeared in Judd Apatow's third film, Funny People. This summer, she won a Best Actress award for her work in the short film Weathered at the Damah Film Festival in Washington. Before joining MADtv, she spent two years in Amsterdam as a writer and performer at Boom Chicago, an American-based sketch and improv theater. During her time there she created two new revues, both of which were featured at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She made her Birdland debut in New York this winter with her one-woman show, Suitcase Full of Lies. Nicole is a founding member of the Waterwell Theater, a non-profit company in New York City. With Waterwell, she performed as Laurencia in their adaptation of Fuenteovejuna and directed an original piece, Stuck. Thanks to Seth and my family!  www.waterwell.org

LARRY RABEN (Ovington/Jenkins/Ensemble)

Larry returns to Reprise after previously appearing as Hysterium in Forum, Francis in Bells Are Ringing, and directing and creating Rodgers & Hart & Hammerstein for them at the El Portal. He played the role of Leo Bloom in The Producers on Broadway and in the entire run in Las Vegas. Recent LA productions include: Patrick in The Andrews Brothers (LA Ovation Award) and Forbidden Broadway (Ovation nomination).Off-Broadway, he was in the original company of Forever Plaid and can be seen as Sparky in Forever Plaid – The Movie which will be released on DVD in the spring. Favorites: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Off Broadway and LA Canon Theatre); Ensign Pulver in Mr. Roberts (Old Globe Theatre); Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly (Pittsburgh CLO); Ross in Bright Ideas (Laguna Playhouse); Finch in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Josh in Big. Films & TV guest spots & commercials & recordings. Thanks Reprise family.

ANNIE V. RAMSEY (Miss Krumholtz/Scrubwoman/Ensemble)

Annie is delighted to be making her Reprise debut! Favorite theatre credits include: Seussical (Gertrude McFuzz), Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), and Cinderella (Portia) at the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities; The Boyfriend (Nancy) at the Bay Street Theatre directed by Julie Andrews; Cinderella (Joy) and Good News! (Babe O’Day) at the Music Theatre of Wichita; Annie (Lily St. Regis) and Grease (Frenchy) at the Sacramento Music Circus; Grease (Frenchy) at the Fulton Opera Theatre and Carousel Dinner Theatre; Annie Get Your Gun (Dolly Tate) at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; and A Christmas Carol (Charlotte Fezziwig) at the McCarter Theatre. New York City new works: But I’m A Cheerleader (Hilary Vandermullen)and They All Knew (Barbara).  Annie just finished recording 26 episodes of the new cartoon Vipo The Flying Dog (Betty). Annie proudly graduated with a BFA in musical theatre from the University of Michigan. She thanks her parents for their unconditional love and support, and thanks God for all the blessings!

JUSTIN MICHAEL WILCOX (Ensemble)

Justin is so happy to be back here at Reprise where he last played the Protean (the short one) in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He recently finished Bark! at CLOSBC where he played Sam the Mutt. He was blessed with the experience of working with Choreographer Tyce Diorio of SYTYCD in the Fulton Opera House production of Oklahoma as Ali Hakim. You also may have seen him romping the stage in the Welks production of A Christmas Carol this past holiday season. Justin has toured the world with many productions and the last one took him all the way to China for Guys and Dolls where the show took Best Production in American Theater Magazine. National tour credits include: A Chorus Line (Mike), Cameron Mac’s Oliver! (Noah Claypole) and A Christmas Carol (Marley & Fred). Regional Credits: The Apple Tree (Adam, best actor nom for New Hampshire Theater Award), The Return to the Forbidden Planet (Capt. Tempest), NYC Premier of A Kiss From Alexander and many more. Film/TV: Saturday Night Live, Guiding Light, General Hospital, Melrose Place and several short films. He recently finished working on the film Love Star...look for it this year at Comic-Con. Justin would like to thank his friends and family for all of their love and support! AND most of all...you! For supporting live theater!

RUTH WILLIAMSON (Miss Jones)

This is Ruth’s sixth show with Reprise, having appeared in A Funny Thing Happened…, Strike Up The Band, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, No Strings, and a staged reading of Working.Broadway: White Christmas, La Cage Aux Folles, The Music Man (Outer Critics Nomination), Epic Proportions, Little Me (with Martin Short), Guys & Dolls (with Nathan Lane), Smile, Musical Comedy Murders, and Annie. Off-Broadway: The Green Heart (Drama Desk Nomination), The Good Times Are Killing Me, Queen Amarantha, and Preppies. Regional: The Hollywood Bowl(The Music Man, Les Miserables, and Guys and Dolls), Sacramento Music Circus (Mame and Thoroughly Modern Millie), Music Theatre West (Mame)Arena Stage (Merrily We Roll Along), Old Globe (The Women), Long Wharf (Let’s Do It!), Goodspeed, Barter Theatre, and the MUNY, among others. Film: Evan Almighty, The Producers, Legally Blonde II, Family Man, Malcolm X, Foreign Student, Double Parked, Easy Six, Psycho Beach Party and as Charles Busch’s singing voice in Die Mommie, Die! TV: Monk, Medium, The O.C., The Practice, ER, Star Trek: Enterprise, Law & Order, What I Like About You, Hannah Montana, and the recurring role of Mrs. Grubman on Nip/Tuck.           

RAY WILLS (Bratt)

Broadway: The Producers, Wonderful Town, Big, Anna Karenina. Off –Broadway: All in the Timing, A Class Act, Wise Guys. Television: Ugly Betty, The Unusuals, Law and Order, Criminal Intent, SVU, The Guiding Light, and Candide with The New York Philharmonic. Film: Nixon, The Producers, Pootie Tang.  As a member of the original cast of The Producers, Ray also understudied and performed the role of Max Bialystock, covering Nathan Lane in New York and Jason Alexander in the Los Angeles company.