Image Credit: Ari MintzCall it Black Swan-lite: Daniel Radcliffe spent the last year taking 17 hours of voice and dance lessons a week in order to shake his moneymaker as corporate ladder-climber J. Pierrepont Finch in the upcoming musical comedy revival How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which opens on Broadway March 27. But though his character may be as ambitious as Natalie Portman’s — in a matter of weeks, he goes from window washer to ad exec — his tale is much more fun and games, or, should we say, song and dance: “Finch is a symbol of drive without any kind of maliciousness,” says Radcliffe. “There’s an innocence to him, which is quite endearing. You forgive a lot of his actions that would otherwise be considered quite manipulative and unpleasant.”
Click the jump for a first look at Daniel/Finch being charmingly conniving with his boss (John Larroquette), his boss’ mistress (Tammy Blanchard), and the sweet secretary who falls for him (Rose Hemingway, in the pink dress). And be sure to check out the full story — and colorful glossies — in our new issue, on stands tomorrow.
Image Credit: Ari Mintz
Image Credit: Ari Mintz
Image Credit: Ari Mintz
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I think he’ll be good in something like this. He’s a charming guy from interviews I’ve read and seen with him. He and the rest of the trio have definitely grown so much as actors. Hopefully he has a career post-Potter.
Yay!
Seeing this on Saturday….can’t wait!!!
I’m going next week!
I already saw it and it was amazing
I like that he’s doing something different. Mixing it up, win or lose, is a good thing since we’ve only really ever seen him as Harry. He’s young enough that any slips won’t be fatal to his career. Go, Daniel!
My Boy Jack, December Boys, Extras, Equus, David Copperfield? We’ve seen him as MUCH more than Harry Potter.
He was hilarious in Extras. I think he’ll do well in a comedy.
I LOVED him on ‘Extras’!!
Daniel: C-c-can I have my johnny back?
Dianna Rigg: MAY I have my johnny back.
Daniel: M-may I have my johnny back?
Dianna Rigg: It’s not really called a johnny, is it.
Every time someone talks about that episode of Extras, I have to go watch it immediately. It’s SO funny. Definitely one of the best. That’s why it won the Emmy!
Daniel shows great comedy timing in this musical, I was very surprised. Where can I find that episode?
Does he whip out his p*nis in this one too?
lol no he does not
You’d like it, would you? That’s why you asked.
absolutely fantastic show! seeing it again in June.
Agree! Saw it in previews on Saturday, the entire cast was phenomenal. What a cute little actor he is!
I missed seeing him in Equus in London by like two weeks. He got terrific reviews for that, and this shows he can do comedy/musical theatre as well.
Of the three HP stars, I also pegged Dan to do better in theatre, Rupert to do better in film in the long run and Emma to focus more on modeling and fashion. We’ll see!
Emma ? modeling and fashion ! you’ve got to be joking – of course she is gorgeous now and very classy, but she is the brains of the trio. There is no way she would associate herself with the brainless buncch of fakers that make up the fashion world. It’s not like she needs the money.
Saw it. Loved it.
Radcliffe can really sing and dance and has great comic timing.
Good Show.
I saw this last week and he was AMAZING! He can seriously dance and hold his own on singing. It was a fabulous show, fun and entertaining.
Just curious, you say you saw this last week, but the article says it opens on Broadway March 27. Did you see a rehearsal, or do they have an unofficial opening and then later an official opening?
All shows run in previews to work out the kinks and get the word going before they actually really “open”
They are in preview performances right now. Official openings are generally scheduled into a run to work out kinks or get confident in front of an audience before the critics are invited to see the show the week before the official opening.
Danny they’re doing previews right now. It started previews Feb 26th and it offically opens March 27th
@Jenn yup they’re opening in march unlike Spiderman which got delayed…again
Seeing it in April..can’t wait. The 1995 production with Matthew Broderick and Megan Mulally was my first Broadway show.
Yes! I saw that one too in 1996; SPJ was in the cast too I believe. Great sow. Still have the CD.
In Daniel’s defense, I would hardly call this Black Swan lite. Singing and dancing 8 shows a week is a far cry more intense than being able to fake it for the camera. I’m hearing only good things about him and the show. Can’t wait to see it!
I believe the writer meant the musical’s story was Black Swan lite. I don’t think it was a reference to Daniel Radcliffe’s performance vs. Natalie Portman’s, although the sentence is confusing.
Clearly the reference was toi both Portman and Radcliffe having worked very hard all year to prepare for their roles, not to the plots which are nothing alike, and not to the quality of their performances – I do agree that Radcliffe is taking on a much more difficult task that just making a film.
Live musical theater is intensely demanding and exhilarating and rewarding. making a film is often boring, confusing and trivially simple by comparison.
I have to agree. I loved loved loved Black Swan, but theater is completely different.
And there are many so called good singers out there who can not really sing live, while all these musical actors do it live and dance and act at the same time.
Also, after seeing it, I can say he puts so much energy into it, he carries the whole show with so much strength. Fantastic leading man, I wish everyone will take Broadway with so much passion and respect.
He has won a fan here.
CAN’T WAIT to see Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette in this revival. I saw it many years ago with Matthew Broderick and his then girlfriend Sarah Jessica Parker. Also love the movie version with Robert Morse. It really is one of my favorite Broadway shows.
Is it just me or does he always look like he doesn’t get enough sleep?
He probably doesn’t. He’s constantly working. Even when he’s not working…he’s still working. He’s even said himself that he’s afraid to not work, because he doesn’t want to get stereotyped and he’s trying to make sure he can compete with all the young actors who are graduating from film school and know how to dance, sing, and act. Dan’s insane.
Not exactly, what I read once in one of his interviews (which I have to admit are very entertaining) is he gets bored if he has long vacation. Although I don’t really think he knows what long vacation is because with filming and his education he didn’t have more a free week of two.
I think he is the kind of person who will always find something to do, either acting, or writting, or his family…
The fact that he is not afraid of working hard is a great example for everyone.
he also blames it on his north-irish jewish pale complexion.LOL
I’m seriously thinking about going to New York just to see this show (and maybe War Horse too).
Seriously, see War Horse and this. I’ve seen them both (War Horse in London) and think a plane ticket to NYC and the cost of the Broadway ticket would be well worth it. Daniel is a real talent. I’ve never seen a Harry Potter movie (don’t go crazy on me) but I’ve seen him in My Boy Jack and Equus and I am truly impressed. I think he can grow up to be one of those classic British actors we all praise, like Olivier, Hopkins, Guinness, with a lot of range. It’s only a shame he’s so short 5′ 5″, which might hamper him as a romantic lead (unlike Tom Cruise, Daniel boldly and impressively doesn’t go through great pains to hide it). Jeez, after writing this I guess I better check out a Harry Potter movie.
I may just do that, thanks Kelly!
How’s his American accent?
It falters a bit during some of the songs, but he may fix that by the time it open. It’s perfect during the dialogue.
Did you see one of the first previews? Because I saw it this week and didn’t see anything to fix. about him, because I would fix some things about the rest.