Daniel Radcliffe Set For 'HOW TO SUCCEED' Reading, Ashford to Direct, Zadan & Meron Produce

Variety reports that 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe will lead the cast of an upcoming New York reading of 1961 musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," marking the first musical turn for the "Harry Potter" star. Producers Broadway Across America, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will guide the reading, seen as a set up for a potential Broadway revival.

Rob Ashford is on board as director and choreographer, directly off much acclaim for his Donmar Warehouse production of Jason Robert Brown-Alfred Uhry musical "Parade," which opened Oct. 4th at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. 

No other casting has been announced at this time for the reading.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is written by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, "How to Succeed" follows the speedy rise of a crafty window cleaner as he follows the advice of a self-help manual to connive his way up through the ranks of the World Wide Wickets Co. and get the girl in the process. Robert Morse created the role on Broadway and in the 1967 screen adaptation. The original production won seven Tonys, including musical, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1962, running for a healthy 1,417 performances. Matthew Broderick won a Tony for playing the leading role in a 1995 Broadway revival.

Daniel Radcliffe is best known for playing the title role in all five of the "Harry Potter" films to date, and will star again in the remaining titles. He recently made his Broadway debut, to much acclaim, in EQUUS. EQUUS also starred Richard Griffiths, with whom Daniel appeared in the highly successful production of the play in London's West End and in the Harry Potter films as well. Radcliffe won BroadwayWorld.com 's 2009 Theatre Fans' Choice Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his role in EQUUS. 

Together, Zadan and Meron produced the blockbuster "Hairspray" and the critically acclaimed "Chicago," which was the first musical in 34 years to win the top honor of Best Picture Oscar at the 2002 Academy Awards. They also produced the made for television "A Raisin in the Sun", and had a recent collaboration with Lifetime on the film "Living Proof" featuring Rene Zellweger, Harry Connick, Jr. and Bernadette Peters. Last winter they released "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. In 2007 they were honored with the Hollywood Film Festival's producers of the year award. Last year the talented producing duo were honored by the The casting Society of America with career achievement awards at the 24th Annual Artios Awards. They are currently guiding the upcoming big screen remake of the 80's hit "Footloose" back to the silver screen with Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford in the lead. Craig Zadan was a producer of the original "Footloose" in 1984.

Lifetime's hit comedic drama "Drop Dead Diva" has been renewed for a second season. Lifetime has ordered 13 new episodes of the freshman series, from Sony TV, creator Josh Berman and exec producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, to air in 2010.

 

Photo Credit: Henry/Dzeiken/Retna Ltd.