Darren Criss, the heartthrob of TV's "Glee," is expected to realize a longtime dream of starring on Broadway. Playbill.com got independent confirmation that Criss is in talks with the producers of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying to take over for star Daniel Radcliffe when the latter's contract ends in January.
Criss — who plays Blaine Anderson, the head of the prep-school glee group The Warblers on Fox's "Glee" — would play at least a three-week run as corporate climber J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed and return to his TV and film obligations. Producers are seeking a third permanent-replacement Finch to carry on in late winter and spring.
A combination of summer tourists, Tony Awards exposure and the recent release of Radcliffe's final "Harry Potter" film have helped How to Succeed blossom at the box office at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre. For the week ending July 17, the production grossed a whopping $1,177,086, with an average ticket price of $107.
Insiders told Playbill.com Radcliffe is having such a good time in the show that he's not interested in a vacation before the end of the year.
Rob Ashford was 2011 Tony-nominated for his direction and choreography for the Frank Loesser-scored How to Succeed. It was also nominated as Best Musical Revival. John Larroquette won the Tony as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for playing the windy corporate chief who promotes the seemingly guileless Finch up the ladder.
