Upper School Winter Musical Brings Satire, Song, and Ambition to the Stage
A troupe of upper school thespians filled the Performing Arts Center with sharp comedic timing last weekend in a lively production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” a classic musical that pokes fun at the absurdities of corporate life.
Set in a bustling mid-century office world, the show follows the rise of J. Pierrepont Finch, an ambitious window washer who uses a self-help handbook to climb the corporate ladder. Played by Steven Blanco ’25, Finch navigates office politics, overzealous coworkers, caffeine-fueled ambition, and unexpected romance. Beneath the humor, the musical offers a clever satire of success itself, suggesting that strategy often matters more than merit in the race to the top.
The role served as Steven’s final performance on the King stage.
“It felt like the perfect way to round out my time in Performing Arts because it combined contrasting characteristics of roles I’ve played in the past,” he said. “Typically, in past productions, I've played more ‘serious’ romantic types. Finch was a complex character because he required comedic timing, romanticism, quick wit, and ambition. Harnessing all of these traits at once was necessary to bring the role to life.”
Performing arts teacher Andrew Wildman-Foster selects productions with the theater program's broader vision in mind, balancing current students' talents with opportunities to explore a wide range of genres and theatrical styles. That thoughtful approach often extends to creative production choices; in this case, it meant casting Head of School Carol Maoz as the show’s narrator.
Continuing a tradition seen in past Broadway revivals, the narrator served as the authoritative “voice of the book,” guiding Finch’s rise through the corporate ranks. Maoz’s recorded voice delivered perfect satirical commentary, lending both credibility and humor.
“We felt Carol’s voice would lend that trust, and in turn, the satire,” Wildman-Foster said. “I think we were right, she did an excellent job!”
Technical Director Jamie LaJoie recorded Maoz and integrated her voice seamlessly into the show, adding a playful layer to the storytelling.
LaJoie also designed the set, which included sliding panels, elevator doors, and rotating walls, all of which required careful coordination and training for the student crew operating them backstage.
Students learned to manage ropes, pulleys, and precise stage cues as they navigated the complexities of the moving set. The rotating walls in particular required careful attention, as they needed to be turned back into position to prevent electrical cables from twisting around the pivot points.
“They really did a great job and met the challenge,” LaJoie said of the student crew. “Once everything was installed, it became about training the students and helping them understand how all the pieces worked together.”
Wildman-Foster is looking forward to building on the successes of this year’s performances.
“My goal is that King becomes the destination for any student interested in the performing arts in the broader Stamford area,” he said. “Throughout the year, students have been experiencing masterclasses from incredible Broadway professionals, including the associate choreographer of the ‘Ragtime’ revival at Lincoln Center, the dance captain of ‘Hamilton,’ and a vocal coach of Tony-nominated performers. Our productions will, in turn, scale to match the growing talents and ambitions of the students.”
As for Steven, who has played prominent roles in several productions, his time on the King stage may be ending, but he will join his classmates in Scotland this summer to revive the comedic role of Bottom in “A Midsummer Night's Dream” at the Fringe Festival.