Merrily We Roll Along Tickets

About the Show:

Merrily We Roll Along is a musical based on the 1934 play of the same name by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. The show's book is by George Furth and music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim. It follows Franklin Shepard, once a talented composer but in the end a money-hungry movie producer who alienates himself from his old friends for the sake of commercial success. The show tells the story of his career, family, and friends in reverse, showing scenes beginning in 1976 and ending in 1957.

Merrily We Roll Along premiered on Broadway in 1981, but was not well-recieved and ran for only 52 previews and 16 regular performances. Critics praised the score but thought the book was too confused and the themes were unappealing. Subsequent productions have been performed with revisions sanctioned by the original creative team, including some that tell the story in chronological order, but the show is still seldom produced. A limited, two-week engagement at New York City Center in February 2012 starred Colin Donnell (Anything Goes), Celia Keenan-Bolger (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights). Pick up your Merrily We Roll Along tickets now to see this hidden gem!

Plot Synopsis:

In the present, Franklin Shepard is a successful (but somewhat egotistical) composer and producer.

Back in 1976, Frank celebrates the release of his latest film with a party. Though his artificial Hollywood friends are there lavishing him with praise, his old friend and theatre critic Mary Flynn, now an alcoholic, berates him for his choice of company and his abandonment of songwriting, his true gift. Mary is asked to leave after drunkenly insulting everyone. Her comments hit Frank hard, though; he realizes he has sold out. At the end of the night, his marriage ends when his wife, Gussie, confronts Meg, his mistress.

Back in 1973, Frank is waiting to be interviewed with his longtime friend and collaborator, Charley Kringas. Mary arrives and Charley tells her that Frank never has time to write anymore. Mary longs for the earlier days of the trio's friendship. During the interview, Charley nervously attacks Frank and Frank subsequently ends their friendship.

In 1968, Mary, Charley, and Frank are in Frank's apartment at Central Park West. Frank wants to make one of their shows, Musical Husbands into a movie to make money, but Charley doesn't want to waste valuable writing time on the project. Producer Joe Josephson arrives with his wife, Gussie, with whom Frank has been having an affair. When the rest leave, Gussie surprises Frank by telling him she intends to leave Joe for him.

Back in 1966, Frank's wife, Beth, is divorcing him because of his cheating ways, and they fight over custody of their son. Charley and Mary console Frank and advise him to get a fresh start.

At the opening of Musical Husbands, Gussie, the star of the show, ponders what could happen between her and Frank. As the audience goes wild at the end of the show, Charley and Frank, backstage with Beth, Mary, and Joe, realize they have a hit on their hands.

Back in 1962, Frank and Charley attend a party at Joe's and Gussie's apartment to meet influential people in the business. At the party, Gussie urges the boys to perform a song from the show they are writing for Joe to produce; they do, and it goes over well. But when Frank goes on to do an encore against Charley's will, Charley storms out.

In 1960, Charley, Frank, and Beth are just beginning their careers, playing in a small nightclub. Joe and Gussie (who is immediately attracted to Frank) are impressed. After the show, Frank announces his engagement to Beth; Mary is disappointed because she has been harboring feelings for him too.

Back in 1959, Frank, Charley, and Mary are trying to jumpstart their careers. The men audition for Joe, but he is not blown away. They resolve to create their own show, and end up hiring Beth for their cabaret act.

In 1957, Frank, Charley, and Mary are on the roof of a New York City apartment building waiting to see the first Earth-orbiting satellite. They see Sputnik and it inspires them to believe that anything is possible.

Order your Merrily We Roll Along tickets right away to experience this rich, reversed story live!

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