Merrily We Roll Along Lyrics
The script for this was written by George Furth, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The basis of creation was the 1934 theatrical play, Merrily We Roll Along, by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The creators kept the main idea and plot of the original play but advanced the scenario to cover the time frame between 1957 and 1976. The story follows Franklin Shepard, a gifted songwriter, who abandons Broadway production to produce Hollywood movies.
In November 1981, the Alvin Theatre premiered this play. It was directed by Harold Prince and choreographed by Larry Fuller. The cast included Jim Walton, Lonny Price, Ann Morrison, Terry Finn, and Sally Klein. Among the secondary characters was Giancarlo Esposito, known to contemporary audiences for his role as Gustavo Fring in the drama series Breaking Bad. Despite its strong cast, the show had a brief run with only 16 performances and 52 previews, attributed to mixed reviews and weak ratings.
Since its debut, "Merrily We Roll Along" has garnered a cult following and experienced multiple revivals. Paul Kerryson directed a big revival in 1994 at the Leicester Haymarket Theatre, which had a rewritten script and won critical acclaim. In 2012, Maria Friedman's production at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London went to the West End and received the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.
In recent news, Richard Linklater's widely awaited film adaptation has been confirmed. This one-of-a-kind effort will be recorded over the course of two decades, reflecting the original play's reverse storytelling format. The cast, which includes Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein, and Blake Jenner, has piqued the interest of theatrical and film fans both.
Furthermore, the 2023 Off-Broadway revival at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Noah Brody, has received critical acclaim for its inventive staging and captivating performers. These developments illustrate Sondheim's continuing legacy and growing respect for "Merrily We Roll Along."
Release date: 1981
Last Update:August, 06th 2024