Based on George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's 1934 play of the same name, Merrily We Roll Along traces the lives of wealthy, jaded composer, Franklin Shepard, and his two estranged friends - lyricist Charley and writer Mary.
Throughout the course of the show, during which time regresses from 1976 to 1957, we learn how Frank accomplishes his dreams - all the while losing and alienating his beloved friends and family along the way. As the audience travels back through time, we see firsthand the cost of his fame and fortune, and how our trio of friends abandon their original dreams. Those who began the journey with Franklin become collateral damage along the way, and though he has fame, fortune, and success, he realizes that he is left alone.
As we follow the trio through each rocky and triumphant milestone of their personal and professional lives, the show concludes with a touch of rueful irony. The talented best friends are at the start of their careers, facing a bright future: idealistic and enthusiastic about the worlds waiting to be conquered.
The authors of the landmark Company reunite to turn the traditional showbiz musical on its head in this compelling Broadway fable about friendship, compromise, and the high price of success. Stephen Sondheim and George Furth expertly blend the excitement of a backstage musical with a poignant and emotional story about the importance of staying true to one's ideals.
With a brilliant Tony Award winning "Broadway-style" score, and a deep insight into the human condition, Merrily We Roll Along crackles with the wit, pathos and humor Dry Cold audiences have come to expect from a Sondheim show. Merrily We Roll Along is a gift - a spirited, poignant, and moving cautionary tale for anyone who has ever pursued a dream.
