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.
Sharon Playhouse, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Simpkins and Managing Director Justin Ball, presents a rare staging of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along from July 15 through 19.
Sharon Playhouse, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Simpkins and Managing Director Justin Ball, has announced initial casting and creative teams for its 2015 Season with the musicals My Fair Lady, Merrily We Roll Along, and Little Shop of Horrors on the Mainstage; Ed Dixon's new play Georgie: The Life and Death of George Rose and True Love on Stage 2 in the Bok Gallery. The Youth Theatre will present the Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher.
Temple Theaters continues its 47th Season with Merrily We Roll Along, Directed by Brandon McShaffrey, with musical direction by Bryan DeSilva. Featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, the show runs tonight, March 12-22.
Temple Theaters continues its 47th Season with Merrily We Roll Along, Directed by Brandon McShaffrey, with musical direction by Bryan DeSilva. Featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, the show runs March 12-22. Based on a 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, in which a playwright sacrifices his principles for popularity, Merrily We Roll Along examines artistic integrity and ambition against the backdrop of the 60s and 70s. Staged simply in the intimate Randall Theater with two pianos, this production allows the Sondheim's moving score to take center stage.
Sharon Playhouse, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Simpkins and Managing Director Justin Ball, announces the 2015 summer season of musicals and plays My Fair Lady, Merrily We Roll Along, Little Shop of Horrors, Georgie: The Life and Death of George Rose, Peter and the Starcatcher, and the new musical, True Love.
After seeing the new INTO THE WOODS movie twice over the holidays, I posted on Twitter about how two of the songs had stuck with me. After a tweet conversation, my BWW colleague Jeff Walker and I decided to put our heads together to try and come up with a list of Sondheim's most hummable tunes. Despite not discussing it beforehand, Jeff ended up picking songs from the 1960s and 70s, and I filled in the gaps with numbers from the 80s and 90s.
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.
Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Patti LuPone: Far Away Places Part Two, If It Only Even Runs A Minute: 13th Edition, Vanishing Point, Assassins in the Park with George, and T. Oliver Reid.
This season's revival of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's Pulitzer Prize-winning play YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU opens on Broadway tonight, and in honor of the playwriting pair's long list of contributions to the theatre, we've rounded up some of their most notable works. Scroll down to learn more about the duo's canon!
Producers of the upcoming Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's Pulitzer Prize winning play You Can't Take It With You announce that tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, and will be available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting Telecharge.com.
According to the New York Times, James Earl Jones will return to Broadway later this year- this time in the Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy You Can't Take It With You. The play will open at a Shubert theatre on September 28, 2014, with previews beginning in August. Scott Ellis is set to direct the revival.
Performance-only tickets are now on sale to the general public for ACT TWO: A SWELL PARTY WITH MOSS HART AND FRIENDS, An Evening of Songs Sketches, Scenes and More Celebrating the Genius of Moss Hart, Monday April 21 at 8pm at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Performers scheduled to appear in the entertainment, which will serve as the centerpiece of Lincoln Center Theater's Annual Benefit and which will be directed by Bartlett Sher, are Victoria Clark, Stephen Colbert, David Garrison, Malcolm Gets, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Byron Jennings, Kelli O'Hara, Steven Pasquale, and Lewis J. Stadlen.
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.
Bay Street Theatre begins the 2013 Mainstage Season with Lend Me a Tenor (May 28 - June 23). This hilarious Ken Ludwig comedy, under the direction of Don Stephenson, includes Judy Blazer, Scott Cote, Betsy DiLellio, Donna English, Nancy Johnston, Noah Plomgren, Steve Rosen and Roland Rusinek as its hilarious cast.
Bay Street Theatre begins the 2013 Mainstage Season with Lend Me a Tenor (May 28 - June 23). This hilarious Ken Ludwig comedy, under the direction of Don Stephenson, includes Judy Blazer, Scott Cote, Betsy DiLellio, Donna English, Nancy Johnston, Noah Plomgren, Steve Rosen and Roland Rusinek as its hilarious cast.
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.
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