The Secret of My Success, A New Musical

IS SUCCESS MONEY? A POWERFUL JOB? A HAPPY MARRIAGE? 

This brand-new laugh out loud musical comedy loosely based on the hit Michael J Fox Universal Pictures film follows Brantley Foster, a young ambitious Midwesterner who moves to New York City to start his dream job, only to be laid off on his first day.  In his relentless enthusiasm to succeed, he gets tangled up in a sidesplitting scheme in which he assumes the identity of a rising executive named Carlton Whitfield and has to frantically juggle being two separate people at once.

As he makes his way up the corporate ladder, tirelessly concealing his identity, Brantley falls in love with a beautiful co-worker but in the guise of the wrong person! Suddenly, something more than his career is at stake – his heart.  As he narrowly escapes being caught, struggles to hold onto his new girlfriend – and save the factory that supports his hometown in Minnesota, Brantley begins to realize that his definition of ‘success’ might be all wrong.   

Adapted from the smash 1987 Michael J. Fox movie that stayed at the top of the box office for 5 consecutive weeks, The Secret of My Success is a wild look at corporate culture, ambition and making your own way in life, all told with a sparkling pop rock score by Chicago favorites Mahler and Schmuckler (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Night at the Museum), big production numbers and a hilarious heartfelt book that will have you laughing all the way home, with songs stuck in your head and a new perspective on what truly matters in life.

Don’t take our word for it:

“The Secret of My Success musical breathes new life into movie plot with smart, much-needed updating. Composers/lyricists Alan Schmuckler and Michael Mahler did just that, along with book writers Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, and the result is a triumph over source material. They have taken the bones of a trash heap movie and phoenixed them into something entertaining and commercially viable. "The Secret of My Success" could be the lightning-strike new musical that actually has the potential for Broadway.

 The production turns the movie’s problems to its advantage by satirizing the clichés and blasting Brantley for his privileged cluelessness. The chirpy script takes pains to acknowledge the existential dread that engulfs us all. Lester’s got a meditation app on his phone that reminds him “You are going to die” five times daily. His work uniform is a dignity-sucking chartreuse T-shirt bearing the slogan “it’s only temporary.” Yes it is, Lester, yes it is. “Secret” understands that this is both the tragedy and the triumph of human existence.”
- Chicago Sun-Times

“They have delivered a whip-bang, fast-paced, old-school, we-love-New York kind of show, filled with appealing tunes, witty lyrics and very classy production values, all skillfully and entertainingly wrangled by the director Gordon Greenberg.

Steve Rosen and director Greenberg have penned a witty and very likable trajectory for this show. Schmuckler and Mahler's score really is a notable achievement. Not unlike their peers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Mahler and Schmuckler not only can make songs bounce and climb, but there's a sweetness to their work, an inherent understanding of the fears that lie in even the most ebullient expressions of love. And Rosen and Greenberg's work is a great match for them.”
- Chicago Tribune

“A spectacular musical. This play is a masterpiece of fun.”
- Chicago Now

“It seems a strange pick, but not so much when you see what they've done with it. And it is WELL worth seeing what they've done. This thing is a genuine world premiere and you have the chance to see it before it goes to Broadway. And you should, because it's a great night of theatre.”
-Splash Magazine

“I always thought the movie was cute and fairly star-studded, but could not imagine it as a musical meeting the needs of today's audiences. Well folks, get ready to hear this loud and clear. I was wrong!”
- Around The Town Chicago

See for yourself!

Photos below from the Paramount Aurora Theatre production
Directed by Gordon Greenberg
Choreographed by Amber Mak
Scenic Design by Jeff Kmiec
Projection Design by Mike Tutaj
Lighting Design by Greg Hoffman
Costume Design by Mara Blumenfeld