This is the third and final part of my conversation with Ben Francis whose amazingly compelling new book is titled Careful the Spell You Cast — How Stephen Sondheim Extended the Range of the American Musical.
Merrily We Roll Along 2013
Ages: 12+
Opened: May 1, 2013Closing: July 07, 2013
Merrily We Roll Along - 2013 West End History , Info & More
Following a sell-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre for 12 weeks only.
Set over three decades in the entertainment business Merrily We Roll Along charts the turbulent relationship between three friends Franklin, Mary and Charley. Starting in 1980 and travelling backwards in time, this powerful and moving story features some of Sondheim's most beautiful songs including 'Good Thing Going', 'Not a Day Goes By' and 'Old Friends'.
The impressively talented cast includes Mark Umbers, Jenna Russell and Damian Humbley, as Franklin Shepard, Mary Flynn and Charley Kringas respectively. Mark Umbers has appeared in the Chocolate Factory's production of Sweet Charity, My Fair Lady, The Browning Version and
the BBC's The Scarlet Pimpernel. Jenna Russell won an Olivier Award and a Tony nomination for her role as Dot in the Chocolate Factory's production of Sunday in the Park with George. Her other notable credits include Guys and Dolls, Soho Cinders, Into the Woods and Season's Greetings. Damian Humbley starred in Lend Me A Tenor - the Musical, The Woman in White and the Chocolate Factory's production of The Last Five Years.
The production co-stars Josefina Gabrielle (Olivier nominated for Sweet Charity) as Gussie Carnegie, Clare Foster (Crazy for You, Regent's Park/West End) as Beth and Glyn Kerslake (Road Show, Chocolate Factory) as Joe Josephson. The ensemble features Matthew Barrow, Martin Callaghan, Amanda Minihan, Kirk Patterson, Amy Ellen Richardson, Ashley Robinson, Robbie Scotcher, Zizi Strallen and Joanna Woodward.
Set over three decades in the entertainment business Merrily We Roll Along charts the turbulent relationship between three friends Franklin, Mary and Charley. Starting in 1980 and travelling backwards in time, this powerful and moving story features some of Sondheim's most beautiful songs including 'Good Thing Going', 'Not a Day Goes By' and 'Old Friends'.
The impressively talented cast includes Mark Umbers, Jenna Russell and Damian Humbley, as Franklin Shepard, Mary Flynn and Charley Kringas respectively. Mark Umbers has appeared in the Chocolate Factory's production of Sweet Charity, My Fair Lady, The Browning Version and
the BBC's The Scarlet Pimpernel. Jenna Russell won an Olivier Award and a Tony nomination for her role as Dot in the Chocolate Factory's production of Sunday in the Park with George. Her other notable credits include Guys and Dolls, Soho Cinders, Into the Woods and Season's Greetings. Damian Humbley starred in Lend Me A Tenor - the Musical, The Woman in White and the Chocolate Factory's production of The Last Five Years.
The production co-stars Josefina Gabrielle (Olivier nominated for Sweet Charity) as Gussie Carnegie, Clare Foster (Crazy for You, Regent's Park/West End) as Beth and Glyn Kerslake (Road Show, Chocolate Factory) as Joe Josephson. The ensemble features Matthew Barrow, Martin Callaghan, Amanda Minihan, Kirk Patterson, Amy Ellen Richardson, Ashley Robinson, Robbie Scotcher, Zizi Strallen and Joanna Woodward.
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Merrily We Roll Along FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the songs in Merrily We Roll Along and what's the order?
The Hills of Tomorrow
Merrily We Roll Along
Rich and Happy
Old Friends
Like It Was
Franklin Shepard, Inc.
Not a Day Goes By
Now You Know
It's a Hit
The Blob
Good Thing Going
Bobby and Jackie and Jack
Opening Doors
Our Time
Honey
Darling!
Thank You for Coming
That Frank
Transition 1
Transition 2
Growing Up
Transition 3
Transition 4
Transition 5
Transition 6
Merrily We Roll Along
That Frank
Franklin Shepard, Inc.
Old Friends
Growing Up
Not A Day Goes By
Now You Know
Act Two Opening
It's A Hit!
The Blob
Good Thing Going
Not A Day Goes By - Act 2
Opening Doors
Our Time
Merrily We Roll Along History
Other Productions of Merrily We Roll Along
| 1981 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 1985 | Regional (US) |
Regional Production Regional (US) |
| 1990 | Regional (US) |
Regional Production Regional (US) |
| 1992 | Regional (UK) |
Regional Production Regional (UK) |
| 1994 | Off-Broadway |
York Theatre Company Production Off-Broadway |
| 2000 | West End |
Donmar Warehouse Revival West End |
| 2002 | Regional (US) |
Sondheim Festival Production Regional (US) |
| 2012 | Off-Broadway |
Encores! Concert Off-Broadway |
| 2012 | West End |
Menier Chocolate Factory Production West End |
| 2016 | Los Angeles |
Wallis Annenberg Center Production Los Angeles |
| 2019 | Off-Broadway |
Roundabout Theatre Company Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
| 2022 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway Revival Production Off-Broadway |
| 2023 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Production Broadway |
Podcasts
CAREFUL THE SPELL YOU CAST, Part 2 with author BEN FRANCIS
BROADWAY NATION
Ep. 82: Exploring Empathy in "Merrily We Roll Along"
In this episode, Andrew talks to director and performer Maria Friedman about the filmed-for-cinema release of Merrily We Roll Along, which closed on Broadway in 2024. Friedman, whose journey with Merrily We Roll Along dates back to the early 90s, when she played Mary, directed revivals of the show in London and on Broadway.
#17-Steve is Love: Merrily We Play Along
Steve is Love: Merrily We Play Along. Celebrate the upcoming cinematic release of Broadway’s Merrily We Roll Along with this special episode, including an interview with Maria Friedman, the show’s innovative director.
#1 - French Sex Farces, Critiquing Critics, and Merrily We Roll Along with Sonia Friedman
The New York Times heralds her as “the most powerful producer working in theater.” Vogue dubbed her one of the 25 most influential women working today in 2025. SpotCo knows her as the woman who gave notes on the creative of this podcast before she signed off.
Super Swings Podcast was recorded as an immersive audio experience by Vrialto Productions. Please listen with headphones to get the full immersive audio experience. Canadian-born Broadway powerhouse Jeremy Kushnier has built a career defined by versatility, powerhouse vocals, and compelling performances.
#1 - Evan Alexander Smith: Merrily We Roll Along, Little Shop of Horrors
Super Swings Podcast was recorded as an immersive audio experience by Vrialto Productions. Please listen with headphones to get the full immersive audio experience. Evan is a classically trained, award-winning Canadian-American actor and voice-over artist.
#88 Clean Riffs Only with Vishal Vaidya
U Guys, Broadway performer Vishal Vaidya is here! This week's BroadwayWorld Recap has all the latest Bway casting announcements, brought to you by BroadwayWorld.com. Then I am joined by Broadway performer Vishal Vaidya!
Ep350 - Evan Alexander Smith: Cruise (Ship'ing) His Way to Broadway
We explore the remarkable journey of Evan Alexander Smith, whose path from Ontario to Broadway—and beyond—has been marked by diverse experiences and significant milestones.
Special Encore Episode: SONDHEIM AND ME
This special encore episode of Broadway Nation was first released in the fall of 2022. My guest is PAUL SALSINI, who many listeners will remember as the founder and original editor of The Sondheim Review, the first and only quarterly magazine ever devoted to a living musical theater composer.
Episode 99 | Leana Rae Concepcion : "Barista"
Your favorite podcast hosts Jason A. Coombs and Samantha Tuozzolo , are thrilled to announce the latest episode of the “Survival Jobs”, featuring the extraordinarily talented and thoughtful theater enthusiast, Leana Rae Concepcion who made her debut in the Tony-winning Best Musical Revival hit, Merrily We Roll Along, this past year.
Encore Episode: Everything Sondheim: Inside The Creation of the Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia
In this Encore Episode from 2021, author Rick Pender takes us inside the creation of The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia. Rick Pender is a longtime member and former chair of the American Theater Critics Association.
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