Crowds of teenage girls storming the stage door of Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theater is certainly an unusual sight. Broadway — it is often said — caters to an older crowd, and Frank Loesser's musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," which originally opened in 1961, should be no exception. So what could explain this young female phenomenon? That would be the arrival of "Glee" star Darren Criss.
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Prior to working on "Succeed," Criss — a self-proclaimed "bastardizer" of Radcliffe's roles — co-wrote and starred in the YouTube sensation, "A Very Potter Musical," parodying J.K. Rowling's beloved books. Criss' real claim to fame, however, is the overnight success he garnered playing Blaine Anderson on the hit musical comedy series "Glee."
So, does Criss' musical theater experience give him an advantage over Radcliffe, or does he suffer from the absence of the "Glee" auto-tune? Frankly, it may not matter. Criss, who studied acting but not musical theater, may sound pitchy, but he has such enthusiastic fans that ticket sales for his three-week turn have been astronomical. The theater has been filled to over 95 percent capacity every night — a rare accomplishment of late on Broadway.
Yet Criss' cult following is not the only key to his success. His huge personality and energy on stage have impressed fans as well as the producers of "Succeed," Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who have said they are thinking about building a show around the rising star. Criss' success story stems from the actor's work ethic, as unlike his character in "Succeed" J. Pierpont Finch, he tries very hard indeed. He spent his two-week winter vacation in rehearsals for the show and will immediately return to "Glee" following his final curtain call.
Criss represents the adage that hard work and dedication truly pays off, but that retaining a modest persona is also essential. Though his time onstage is brief, the charisma Criss portrays may make him the most successful Finch.
He will certainly be a tough act to follow for Nick Jonas, who steps into the role on Jan. 24. The Disney Channel star and tween pop-rock sensation has arguably the strongest musical background, having released five albums and starred as Marius in the 25th anniversary concert version of "Les Miserables." Like Criss, Jonas' acting and vocal chops may matter less than the number of parents willing to bring their daughters to see a Broadway show. He has managed to pack theaters and stadiums before, so there is little doubt he can command an audience. But it remains unclear if he can step into the charming shoes Criss has fleetingly but effectively filled.
