Original Broadway production

Previews began on October 1, 1981
Opened November 16, 1981 at the Alvin Theatre
Closed November 28, 1981; Ran for 16 performances
Produced by Lord Grade, Martin Starger,
Robert Fryer, and Harold Prince
in association with Ruth Mitchell and Howard Haines
Directed by Harold Prince
Choreography by Larry Fuller
Set Designed by Eugene Lee
Costumes Designed by Judith Dolan
Lighting Designed by David Hersey
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Musical Direction by Paul Gemignani
Makeup and Hair by Richard Allen
Sound Design by Jack Mann
Casting by Joanna Merlin

Cast

Franklin Shepard - Jim Walton [replaced James Weissenbach during previews]
Mary Flynn - Ann Morrison
Charley Kringas - Lonny Price
Gussie - Terry Finn
Joe Josephson - Jason Alexander
Beth - Sally Klein
Franklin Shepard (age 43) - Geoffrey Horne
Jerome - David Cady
Terry - Donna Marie Elio
Ms. Gordon - Maryrose Wood
Alex / Talk Show Host - Marc Moritz
Gwen Wilson - Tonya Pinkins
Ted - David Loud
Les - David Shine
Mr. Spencer - Paul Hyams
Mrs. Spencer - Mary Johansen
Meg - Daisy Prince
Ru - Forrest D. Ray
Bartender - Tom Shea
Evelyn - Abby Pogrebin
Valedictorian - Giancarlo Esposito
George / The Headwaiter - James Bonkovsky
Girl Auditioning - Marianna Allen
Nightclub Waitress -Liz Callaway
Photographer - Stephen Jacob
Sound Man - Clark Sayre
Waiter - Gary Stevens
Swing - Janie Gleason

Musical Numbers

  • Overture - Orchestra

    • Act One

    • "The Hills of Tomorrow" - Company
    • "Merrily We Roll Along (1980)" - Company
    • "Rich and Happy" - Frank and Guests
    • "Merrily We Roll Along (1979-1975)" - Company
    • "Old Friends" - Mary, Charley
    • "Like It Was" - Mary
    • "Merrily We Roll Along (1974 -1973)" - Company
    • "Franklin Shepard, Inc." - Charley
    • "Old Friends" (reprise) - Mary, Frank, Charley
    • "Not a Day Goes By" - Frank
    • "Now You Know" - Mary and Company

    Act Two

    • + "It's a Hit!" - Joe, Frank, Mary, Charley
    • "Merrily We Roll Along (1964-1962)" - Company
    • "Good Thing Going" - Charley, Frank, and Company
    • "Merrily We Roll Along (1961-1960)" - Company
    • "Bobby and Jackie and Jack" - Charley, Beth, Frank, Ted
    • "Not a Day Goes By" (reprise) - Frank, Mary
    • "Opening Doors" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Joe, Girl Auditioning, Beth
    • "Our Time" - Frank, Charley, Mary, and Company
    • "The Hills of Tomorrow" (reprise) - Company

    + Song recorded but not included on the first release of the Original Cast Recording

    Drama Desk Awards

    • Outstanding Lyrics Stephen Sondheim

    Recording

    Merrily We Roll Along - Original Broadway Cast Recording
    Produced by Thomas Z. Shepard
    Engineer: Paul Goodman
    Recorded November 29, 1981
    at RCA's Studio A, New York City
    Liner notes and synopsis by Robert Kimball

    • LP (half-speed master audiophile recording}, 1981 [RCA CBL1-4197] (62:00)
    • Cassette, 1982 [RCA CBK1-4197]
    • Compact Disc, 1986 [RCA RCD1-5840] (includes It's a Hit!) (66:38)

    1985 La Jolla Playhouse Production

    Opened June 16, 1985 at the La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla California
    Ran for 24 performances
    Presented by La Jolla Playhouse [Des McAnuff, Artistic Director]
    through special arrangement with Music Theatre International
    Directed by James Lapine
    Choreography by Lynne Taylor-Corbett
    Set Design by Loren Sherman
    Costumes Designed by Ann Hould-Ward
    Lighting Designed by Beverly Emmons
    Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
    Musical Director: Michael Starobin
    Makeup and Hair by Peg Shierholz
    Sound Design by John Kilgore
    Projections by Wendall Harrington

    Cast

    Franklin Shepard - John Rubenstein
    Charley Kringas - Chip Zien
    Mary Flynn - Heather MacRae
    Beth - Marin Mazzie
    Gussie - Mary Gordon Murray
    Joe Josephson - Merwin Goldsmith
    Scotty / TV Newsman - Ralph Bruneau
    Terry / Reporter / Audience Member - Joy Franz
    Kate / Mrs. Spencer - B. J. Ward
    Jerome / Minister - Lawrence Raiken
    Dory / Audience Member / Evelyn - Rosalyn Rahn
    Ruben / Photographer - Stephen McDonough
    Rich Party Guest / George / Mr. Spencer - Dick Decareau
    Meg / TV Newswoman - Kathleen Rowe McAllen
    Tyler Horton - Ray Gill

    Songs

    Act One

    • "Merrily We Roll Along"
    • "That Frank"
    • "Like It Was"
    • "Franklin Shepard, Inc."
    • "Old Friends"
    • "Growing Up"
    • "Not a Day Goes By"
    • "Now You Know"

    Act Two

    • "It's a Hit!"
    • "The Blob"
    • "Growing Up" (reprise)
    • "Good Thing Going"
    • "Bobby and Jackie and Jack"
    • "Not a Day Goes By" (reprise)
    • "Opening Doors"
    • "Our Time"

    1990 Arena Stage Production

    Opened January 30, 1990 at the Kreeger Theater, Washington DC
    Closed April 8. 1990
    Presented by Arena Stage
    [Zelda Fichandler, Producing Director; Douglas C. Wager, Associate Producing Director; Guy Bergquist, Associate Producer]
    Directed by Douglas C. Wager
    Choreography by Marcia Milgrom Dodge
    Musical Direction by Jeffrey Saver
    Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
    Settings by Douglas Stein
    Costumes by Ann Hould-Ward
    Lighting by Allen Lee Hughes
    Projections by Wendall K. Harrington

    Cast

    Franklin Shepard - Victor Garber
    Charley Kringas - David Garrison
    Mary Flynn - Becky Ann Baker
    Gussie - Mary Gordon Murray
    Beth Spencer - Marin Mazzie
    Joe Josephson - Richard Bauer
    Meg - Deanna Wells
    Scotty / Maitre D' - Tom Hewitt
    Terry / TV Newswoman / Mrs. Spencer / First Auditioner - Ruth Williamson
    Tyler - Erick Devine
    Jerome - Rufus Bonds, Jr.
    K. T. Lewix - Melodee Savage
    Dory - Dorothy Yanes
    Ruben / Photographer - Thom Sesma
    Bunker / TV Newsman / Mr. Spencer - John Deyle
    Frank Jr. - George Alexander & Leo Charles or Thomas Fox & Jeffrey Bizub
    Ensemble - Rufus Bonds, Jr., Erick Devine, John Deyle, Tom Hewitt,
    Melodee Savage, Thom Sesma, Deanna Wells, Ruth Williamson, Dorothy Yanes

    Musical Numbers

    Act One

    • "Merrily We Roll Along" - Ensemble
    • "That Frank" - Mary, Frank, Guests
    • "Old Friends / Like It Was" - Mary
    • "Franklin Shepard, Inc." - Charley
    • "Old Friends" - Mary, Frank, Charley
    • "Growing Up" - Frank
    • "Growing Up" (reprise) - Gussie
    • "Not a Day Goes By" - Beth
    • "Now You Know" - Mary, Charley, Frank, Ensemble

    Act Two

    • "It's a Hit!" - Joe, Frank, Charley, Mary, Beth
    • "The Blob" - Gussie, Ensemble
    • "Growing Up" (reprise) - Gussie
    • "Good Thing Going" - Charley, Frank
    • "Bobby and Jackie and Jack" - Charley, Beth, Frank, Pianist
    • "Not a Day Goes By" (reprise) - Beth, Mary Frank
    • "Opening Doors" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Joe, First Auditioner, Beth
    • "Our Time" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Ensemble
    • "The Hills of Tomorrow" - Company

    1992 Leicester Haymarket Theatre Production

    Previews began April 10, 1992 at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester UK
    Opened April 14, 1992; Closed May 9, 1992
    Directed by Paul Kerryson
    Set and Costume Design by Martin Johns
    Lighting Design by Chris Ellis
    Sound Design by Shaun Knowles
    Musical Director: Julian Kelly
    Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

    Cast

    Franklin - Michael Cantwell
    Mary - Maria Friedman
    Charlie - Evan Pappas
    Beth - Jacqueline Dankworth
    Gussie - Louise Gold
    Joe - Gareth Snook
    Waitress/Evelyn - Julie Armstrong
    Terry/Minister - Jon Clairmonte
    Meg - Lucy Dixon
    K.T. - Kate Copstick
    Ru - Philip Day
    Mrs. Spencer - Michelle Fine
    Bunker - Daniel Gillingwater
    Make-Up Artist/Reporter - Deirdre Forrest
    Scotty/Mr. Spencer - Matthew White
    Dory - Dwan Kastelle
    Jerome - Philip Wrigley
    Dresser/Secretary - Karen Skinns
    Tyler - Alan Mosley
    Frank, Jr. - Scott Bradley, Dominic Burr, Matthew Fraser

    Songs

    • Overture - Orchestra

    Act One

    • "Merrily We Roll Along" - Company
    • "That Frank" - Company
    • First Transition - Company
    • "Old Friends / Like It Was" - Mary, Charley
    • "Franklin Shepard, Inc." - Charley
    • Second Transition - Company
    • "Old Friends" - Frank, Charley, Mary
    • "Growing Up (Part One)" - Frank, Gussie
    • "Growing Up (Part Two)" - Gussie
    • Third Transition - Company
    • "Not a Day Goes By" - Frank, Beth
    • "Now You Know" - Scotty, Mary, Tyler, Frank, Company
    • Entr' acte - Orchestra

    Act Two

    • Act Two Opening - Gussie
    • "It's a Hit!" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Joe, Beth, Theatregoers
    • Fourth Transition - Company
    • "The Blob" - Gussie, Guests
    • "Growing Up" (reprise) - Gussie, Frank
    • "Good Thing Going" - Charley, Frank
    • "The Blob" (conclusion) - Company
    • Fifth Transition - Company
    • "Bobbie and Jackie and Jack" - Charley, Frank, Beth
    • "Not a Day Goes By" (reprise) - Frank, Beth, Mary
    • Sixth Transition - Company
    • "Opening Doors" - Charley, Frank, Mary, Joe
    • "Our Time" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Company

    Recording

    Merrily We Roll Along -
    Original Cast / Leicester Haymarket Theatre Production
    Produced by John Yap
    Recording Engineer: John Kurlander
    Digitally recorded April 28 - 30, 1993
    at Abbey Road Studios, London

    UK release:

    • Compact Disc, 1994 [TER / Jay Productions CDTER 1225]

    US release [with extended cuts and dialogue]:

    • Double Compact Disc, 1997 [JAY CDJAY2 1245] (88:19)

    1994 York Theatre Company Production

    Opened May 26, 1994 at the York Theatre at St. Peter's Church, NYC [off-Broadway]
    Closed July 17, 1994; Ran for 54 performances
    Produced by The York Theatre Company
    [Janet Hayes Walker, Producing Director
    and Molly Pickering Grose, Managing Director]
    and One World Arts Foundation
    [W. Scott McLucas, Executive Director
    and George Rondon, Artistic Director]
    Directed by Susan H. Schulman
    Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
    Orchestral Adaptation by G. Harrell
    Choreography by Michael Lichtefeld
    Musical Direction by Michael Rafter
    Scenic Design by James Morgan
    Costume Design by Beba Shamash
    Lighting Design by Mary Jo Dondlinger
    Projection Design by Wendall K. Harrington
    Sound by Jim van Bergen
    Casting by Jay Binder
    Press Representative: Keith Sherman & Associates
    Production Manager: Joseph V. De Michele
    Production Stage Manager: Perry Cline

    Cast

    Franklin Shepard - Malcolm Gets
    Charley Kringas - Adam Heller
    Mary Flynn - Amy Ryder
    Beth - Anne Bobby
    Gussie - Michele Pawk
    Joe Josephson - Paul Harman
    Jerome - Philip Hoffman
    Meg / TV Newswoman - Amy M. Young
    Bunker / TV Newsman / Minister - Ron Butler
    Ru / Floor Monitor / Pianist - Danny Burstein
    K.T. - Christine Toy
    Terry / Mr. Spencer - Rick Crom
    Scotty - Adriane Lenox
    Dory / Make-up Artist / Mrs. Spencer / Girl Auditioning - Cass Morgan
    Tyler / Stage Manager - James Hindman
    Frank, Jr. - Jonathan Flanagan

    Musical Numbers

    • Overture - Orchestra

    Act One

    • "Merrily We Roll Along" - Company
    • "That Frank" - Frank and Guests
    • First Transition - Company
    • "Old Friends" - Mary, Charley
    • "Like It Was" - Mary
    • "Franklin Shepard, Inc." - Charley
    • Second Transition - Company
    • "Old Friends" (reprise) - Mary, Frank, Charley
    • "Growing Up" - Frank, Gussie
    • Third Transition - Company
    • "Not a Day Goes By" - Beth
    • "Now You Know" - Mary and Company

    Act Two

    • Opening - Gussie
    • "It's a Hit!" - Joe, Frank, Charley, Mary, Beth
    • Fourth Transition - Company
    • "The Blob" - Gussie and Company
    • "Growing Up" (reprise) - Gussie
    • "Good Thing Going" - Charley, Frank
    • "The Blob" (reprise) - Company
    • Fifth Transition - Company
    • "Bobbie and Jackie and Jack" - Charley, Beth, Frank, Pianist
    • "Not a Day Goes By" (reprise) - Beth, Mary, Frank
    • Sixth Transition - Company
    • "Opening Doors" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Joe, Girl Auditioning, Beth
    • Seventh Transition - Frank, Jr., Beth, Mrs. Spencer
    • "Our Time" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Company

    Recording

    Merrily We Roll Along - The New Cast Recording
    Produced by Bruce Kimmel
    Associate album producer: Michael Rafter
    Engineer: Vincent Cirilli
    Recorded at Clinton Studios, NYC

    • Compact Disc, 1994 [Varèse Sarabande VSD-5548] (75:16)

    2000 Donmar Warehouse Production

    Previews began December 1, 2000 at the Donmar Warehouse, London
    Opened December 11, 2000
    Closed March 3, 2001; Ran for 79 performances, including 8 previews
    Directed by Michael Grandage
    Designed by Christopher Oram
    Lighting by Time Mitchell
    Musical Director: Gareth Valentine
    New Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
    Choreographed by Peter Darling
    Sound by Fergus O'Hare for Aura

    Cast

    Franklin Shepard (Younger) - Julian Ovenden
    Charley Kringas - Daniel Evans
    Mary Flynn - Samantha Spiro
    Beth Spencer - Mary Stockley
    Gussie Carnegie - Anna Francolini
    Joe Josephson - James Millard
    Franklin Shepard (Older) - Grant Russell
    With Matt Blair, Lucy Bradshaw, Neil Gordon, Dean Hussain, David Lucas, Zehra Naqvi, Emma Jay Thomas and Shona White

    Musical Numbers

    • Overture - Orchestra

    Act One

    • "The Hills of Tomorrow" - Company
    • "Merrily We Roll Along" - Company
    • "Rich and Happy" -Frank and Guests
    • "Old Friends" - Mary, Charley
    • "Like It Was" - Mary
    • "Franklin Shepard, Inc." - Charley
    • "Old Friends" (reprise) - Mary, Frank, Charley
    • "Growing Up" (Part 1) - Frank, Gussie
    • "Growing Up" (Part 2) - Gussie
    • "Not a Day Goes By" - Beth
    • "Now You Know" - Mary and Company

    Act Two

    • "It's a Hit!" - Joe, Frank, Charley, Mary, Beth
    • "The Blob" - Gussie and Company
    • "Good Thing Going" - Charley, Frank
    • "Bobbie and Jackie and Jack" - Charley, Beth, Frank, Pianist
    • "Not a Day Goes By" (reprise) - Beth, Mary, Frank
    • "Opening Doors" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Joe, Girl Auditioning, Beth
    • "Our Time" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Company
    • "The Hills of Tomorrow" (reprise) - Company

    Lawrence Olivier Awards

    • Best Musical
    • Best Actor in a Musical (Daniel Evans)
    • Best Actress in a Musical (Samantha Spiro)

    2002 Kennedy Center Production

    Ran from July 12-August 24 2002 at the Eisenhower Theater, The Kennedy Center, Washington DC
    Produced for The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by Max Woodward
    [James A. Johnson, Chairman; Michael M. Kaiser, President;
    Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director; Kay Cameron, Music Supervisor]

    Directed by Christopher Ashley
    Choreography by Karma Camp
    Music Direction by Eric Stern
    Scenic Design by Derek McLane
    Costume Design by David C. Woolard
    Lighting Design by Howell Binkley
    Sound Design by Tom Morse
    Projection Design by Michael Clark
    Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
    Technical Director: Neil Fleitell

    Cast

    Franklin Shepard - Michael Hayden
    Mary Flynn - Miriam Shor
    Charley Kringas - Raúl Esparza
    Gussie - Emily Skinner
    Beth - Anastasia Barzee
    Joe - Adam Heller
    Jerome / Minister - Keith Byron Kirk
    Terry / Mr. Spencer - John Jellison
    Bunker / Pianist - Edgar Godineaux
    Sound Technician / Mrs. Spencer - Peggy Yates
    K.T. - Thursday Farrar
    Meg / Valedictorian - Tracy Lynn Olivera
    Ru - Sean MacLaughlin
    Evelyn / Scotty - Sherri L. Edelen
    First Girl / TV Newswoman - Amy McWilliams
    Makeup Artist / Tyler - Jason Gilbert
    Photographer / TV Newsman - Ty Hreben
    Stage Manager / Dory - Mary Jayne Raleigh
    Frank, Jr. - Justin Pereira

    Musical Numbers

    • Overture - Orchestra

    Act One

    • "Merrily We Roll Along" - Company
    • "That Frank" - Company
    • First Transition - Company
    • "Old Friends" / "Like It Was" - Mary, Charley
    • "Franklin Shepard, Inc." - Charley
    • Second Transition - Company
    • "Old Friends" - Mary, Frank, Charley
    • "Growing Up" - Frank, Gussie
    • Third Transition - Company
    • "Not a Day Goes By" - Beth
    • "Now You Know" - Scotty, Mary, Tyler, Charley, Frank, Joe, Jerome, K.T. and Company

    Act Two

    • Entr'acte - Orchestra
    • Opening - Gussie
    • "It's a Hit!" - Joe, Frank, Mary, Beth, Charley
    • Fourth Transition - Company
    • "The Blob" - Gussie and Company
    • "Growing Up" (reprise) - Gussie
    • "Good Thing Going" - Charley, Frank
    • "The Blob" (reprise) - Company
    • Fifth Transition - Company
    • "Bobbie and Jackie and Jack" - Charley, Frank, Beth
    • "Not a Day Goes By" (reprise) - Beth, Mary, Frank
    • Sixth Transition - Company
    • "Opening Doors" - Charley, Frank, Mary, Joe, First Girl, Beth
    • Seventh Transition - Frank, Jr.
    • "Our Time" - Frank, Charley, Mary, Company

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