Nick Jonas and the cast of How to Succeed - Pictures

Nick Jonas, one of the lead singers of the pop/rock group Jonas Brothers, headlines Broadway’s hit show How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and he’s obviously amazing. I met some of the cast by the stage door and got to see the show for the fourth time, which still doesn’t get old. Nick Jonas is so talented!

The tickets were very affordable, and it was my fourth time seeing the show (once with Daniel Radcliffe and Darren Criss; once with Nick), but it didn’t lessen my anticipation in any way. After purchasing rush tickets with my friend Nicole, we decided to wait around to see Nick going into the building and hopefully get a picture or an autograph. Almost every time I meet him, he seems to remember me and it really makes me blush. For some reason, no matter how many times I meet him, it still remains difficult to form a halfway coherent sentence.

As usual, Nick was very nice but laid back. He didn’t take pictures on the way in, but he stopped to chat with people and signed autographs for everyone in the front. He was wearing an absolutely adorable button-down top and he had some ultra-snazzy shoes on. He signed my Camp Rock 2 DVD, which is depressingly one of the few items with his face on it that I don’t already have signed. He seemed to be in good spirits despite the overwhelming crowd of people. After the excitement died down a little and Nick headed inside, the majority of people waiting dispersed.

Minutes later, Michael Urie rode up on his cute fold-up bike and some friends and I met him on the way in. Not gonna lie, I kinda wanted to steal those sunglasses! I told him I loved his bike. A couple minutes later, Taylor Frey (one of the dancers and business associates in the show) came down the street wearing a tank top and telling us he probably didn’t smell good because he just came from the gym. I don’t think anyone was complaining. Beau Bridges waved on the way in, but wasn’t about to stop for anyone. Lastly, we were able to chat with Rob Bartlett for quite awhile. He’s always friendly and makes the most hilarious face in pictures.

Then it came time for the 2PM matinee show, and it was really marvelous. Nick was impeccable as always, and added quite a few little quirks and tweaks since last time I saw him in the show. His voice for theater is so drastically different from his singing voice in the Jonas Brothers and Nick Jonas and the Administration, and I love it in a totally different way. Michael Urie was so adorably over-the-top as Bud Frump; he was born to be on Broadway. His voice, his look, his acting… it was all completely spot-on. I’ve seen three incarnations of Bud Frump from the other times I saw the show, and he was without a doubt the most perfect. I still prefer John Laroquette over Beau Bridges, who noticeably fudged a couple of his lines. He managed to recover quickly in almost any comedic scene. Stephanie Rosenberg is also quite good, taking over for Rose Hemmingway (who comes back April 29th.) Her performance is very sweet and naive and I thought it was kind of adorable.

The show is just fun and hysterical fluff; susceptible to small flaws the more you see it, but nevertheless retains the same magical feelings in big numbers like “Grand Old Ivy” and “Brotherhood of Man”. Even the love story, which isn’t quite as well-developed as it should be, is quite spectacular. Nick Jonas commands the stage in a powerhouse performance, and when he and Michael Urie are together, it’s comic gold. Nick’s quick-speak and dancing especially shine here when you compare them to his other acting trials. Rumor has it, he could be headed to Jersey Boys soon. The idea of Nick crooning out some oldies is definitely cause for alarm.

After the show, Nick gave us a little speech about helping donate some money toward a good cause, fighting against AIDS. It’s incredible how much he stands behind charities and really pushes for what he believes in, and even though all Broadway shows do this often, it felt legitimate coming from his mouth. I would have totally bought a $60 signed Playbill if I had the money! Obviously, my friend Nicole and I gave both Michael Urie and Nick standing ovations. Well deserved, if you ask me. Those boys are talented! After the show, it was off for another adventure: Godspell stage door.

Check out the How to Succeed EP (which features vocals from Nick Jonas) when it hits iTunes later this month. Also, be sure not to miss Nick Jonas in the show on Broadway through July 1st. The tickets are cheap, the cast is amazing, and the songs are brilliant. What more could you want from a Broadway show!