Merrily We Roll Along isn't your typical musical. With a unique backward chronology, it tells the story of Franklin Shepard, a once-promising composer, and his two lifelong friends, lyricist Charley Kringas and writer Mary Flynn. The show starts with a jaded Franklin in 1976, surrounded by superficiality and disillusionment.
We then embark on a poignant journey backwards in time. Each scene peels back a layer, revealing a key moment in their friendship and careers. We witness their youthful idealism, their struggles and triumphs as they chase their dreams in the vibrant world of New York theater. The songs, filled with Stephen Sondheim's signature wit and emotional depth, capture the joys and heartbreaks of their journey. Merrily We Roll Along is a bittersweet exploration of friendship, ambition, and the price of success, leaving a lasting impression with its unconventional storytelling and powerful music.
Bay Street Theatre begins the 2013 Mainstage Season with Lend Me a Tenor (May 28 - June 23). This hilarious Ken Ludwig comedy started rehearsals this week in New York City under the direction of Don Stephenson. The cast includes Judy Blazer, Scott Cote, Betsy DiLellio, Donna English, Nancy Johnston, Noah Plomgren, Steve Rosen and Roland Rusinek. Ticket prices are $59.50 and $69.50. For more information call the Box Office at 631-725-9500 or buy online at www.baystreet.org.
Before the well-loved musical that is Merrily We Roll Along by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, there was the original play, written in 1934 by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart. Although rarely revived, the play was the inspiration for Sondheim and Furth's piece. Focusing on the lifelong friendship of three characters, the play tells their story in reverse time, from 1934 to 1916, and is a poignant and bittersweet reflection of life, love and loss.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Menier Chocolate Factory's current production of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along will transfer to the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre in April.
Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory announced today that it will now be booking through the 9th March 2013.
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG began performances 16 November 2012 - 23 February 2013.
Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, with triple Olivier award winner Maria Friedman are making her professional directorial debut at the Chocolate Factory.
Today in 1981, Merrily We Roll Along closed at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre), where it ran for 16 performances. Merrily We Roll Along is a musical with a book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Furth and Sondheim retained the basic structure and overall theme of the play but updated it to encompass the period from 1957 to 1976. The story revolves around Franklin Shepard who, having once been a talented composer of Broadway musicals, has now abandoned his friends and his songwriting career to become a producer of Hollywood flicks. Like the play, the musical begins at the height of his Hollywood fame and moves backwards in time, showing snapshots of the most important moments in Frank's life that shaped the man that he is today.
Following its past sold-out Christmas musicals (Sunday in the Park with George, Little Shop of Horrors, La Cage aux Folles, A Little Night Music, Sweet Charity and Pippin), Menier Chocolate Factory announces the casting for its hugely anticipated revival of the Sondheim / Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along as its Christmas 2012 show.
PS Classics releases the Encores! cast recording of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG today, July 10th! The 2-disc album, originally set to be released June 19th but postponed due to technical issues, features a 52-page full-color booklet, with essay, synopsis, lyrics, and more than two dozen photos.
Due to a manufacturing issue, PS Classics has postponed the release of the Encores! cast recording of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG to July 10th. The 2-disc album, originally set to be released June 19th, features a 52-page full-color booklet, with essay, synopsis, lyrics, and over two dozen photos.
PS Classics is now taking preorders for a new two-disc cast recording of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, performed by the cast of New York City Center's Encores! 2012 production. The album is set for general release on June 19.
Tony Award-winning director John Doyle, who has previously staged Broadway revivals of Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD and COMPANY, directs the composer-lyricist's musical MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park which runs through March 31.
Check out just-released performance highlights below!
Tony Award-winning director John Doyle, who has previously staged Broadway revivals of Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD and COMPANY directs the composer-lyricist's musical MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park which runS through March 31.
Check out just-released production shots below!
Tony Award-winning director John Doyle, who has previously staged Broadway revivals of Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD and COMPANY directs the composer-lyricist's musical MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park which opens tonight. The production will run through March 31.
Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, the first New York City Center Encores! production of the season, plays its final performance today at New York City Center, and features Colin Donnell, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elizabeth Stanley, Betsy Wolfe and Adam Grupper. Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, is directed by James Lapine with music direction by Rob Berman and musical staging by Dan Knechtges. Check out performance highlights from the production below!
19 cast members of the original 1981 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, including leading actors Lonny Price, Ann Morrison and Jim Walton, were reunited at New York City Center for a reception and performance of the City Center Encores! production on Tuesday, February 14. It was an event we would not have missed and BroadwayWorld has been bringing you photos and video highlights of the event throughout the week. This morning, we take you inside the opening night reception and joyful curtain call, during which both companies joined in for a chorus of 'Old Friends' along with Stephen Sondheim himself.
19 cast members of the original 1981 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, including leading actors Lonny Price, Ann Morrison and Jim Walton, were reunited at New York City Center for a reception and performance of the City Center Encores! production last night, February 14. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the special show and brings you exclusive footage of both casts performing 'Old Friends', featuring a special cameo by Stephen Sondheim! Stay tuned for complete video coverage of the evening.
19 cast members of the original 1981 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, including leading actors Lonny Price, Ann Morrison and Jim Walton, were reunited at New York City Center for a reception and performance of the City Center Encores! production last night, February 14. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the emotional curtain call and brings you photo coverage below!
19 cast members of the original 1981 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, including leading actors Lonny Price, Ann Morrison and Jim Walton, were reunited at New York City Center for a reception and performance of the City Center Encores! production of Merrily We Roll Along yesterday. Check out our exclusive photos of the evening.
Stephen Sondheim joined original and Encores! cast onstage for the reception and during the curtain call.
The original Broadway cast album of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along is one of those handful of recordings - like Mack and Mabel and Candide - that a musical theatre lover can listen to hundreds of times without hearing a clue as to why the show flopped. The quick answer, and usually the most unfair one, is 'the book.' More often, though, the more complete answer is ambition.
19 cast members of the original 1981 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, including leading actors Lonny Price, Ann Morrison and Jim Walton, were reunited at New York City Center for a reception and performance of the City Center Encores! production of Merrily We Roll Along yesterday. Check out our exclusive photos of the evening.
19 cast members of the original 1981 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, including leading actors Lonny Price, Ann Morrison and Jim Walton, will be reunited at New York City Center for a reception and performance of the City Center Encores! production of Merrily We Roll Along on Tuesday, February 14.
Twenty one cast members of the original 1981 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, including leading actors Lonny Price, Ann Morrison and Jim Walton, will reunite at City Center on February 14, to attend the current Encores! production of "Merrily" and will join the current cast onstage for the finale. Both casts will join together for a verse of the heartwarming "Old Friends."
Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, the first New York City Center Encores! production of the season, opens tonight, February 8 at New York City Center, and features Colin Donnell, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elizabeth Stanley, Betsy Wolfe and Adam Grupper. Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, is directed by James Lapine with music direction by Rob Berman and musical staging by Dan Knechtges. Merrily just opened, and will play a two-week run through February 19, 2012.
19 cast members of the original 1981 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, including leading actors Lonny Price, Ann Morrison and Jim Walton, will be reunited at New York City Center for a reception and performance of the City Center Encores! production of Merrily We Roll Along on Tuesday, February 14.
Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, the first New York City Center Encores! production of the season, opens tonight, February 8 at New York City Center, and features Colin Donnell, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elizabeth Stanley, Betsy Wolfe and Adam Grupper. Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, is directed by James Lapine with music direction by Rob Berman and musical staging by Dan Knechtges. Merrily has been extended for a two-week run and will play for 15 performances, February 8-19, 2012.
Check out performance highlights from the production below!
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