New York Theatre Workshop's upcoming Off-Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along has found its Franklin Shepard and Mary Flynn in Tony nominee Jonathan Groff and Tony winner Lindsay Mendez, respectively, joining the previously announced Daniel Radcliffe as Charley Kringas.
The production has also set dates, with previews scheduled to begin November 21 ahead of a December 12 opening night. The limited engagement will continue through January 8, 2023.
Olivier winner Maria Friedman is back at the helm after staging this production at London's Menier Chocolate Factory in 2013 prior to its transfer to the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre, where it won the Olivier for Best Musical. Following its London success, the production had a 2017 run at Boston's Huntington Theatre.
Tim Jackson is also back to choreograph, with the production also set to feature music supervision by Catherine Jayes, music direction by Alvin Hough, Jr., scenic and costume design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker, and sound design by Kai Harada. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger, with additional casting by Taylor Williams. Dave Anzuelo is fight and intimacy director, and Jhanaë K-C Bonnick is stage manager.
Told in reverse chronological order, the musical explores the relationships between composer Franklin Shepard and his lifelong friends—Charley, a lyricist and playwright, and Mary, a writer—across three decades. With a book by Furth, adapted from the George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart play of the same name, and a score by Sondheim, the musical features such favorites as "Old Friends," "Now You Know," "Franklin Shepard, Inc.," "Good Thing Going," and "Not a Day Goes By."
Merrily We Roll Along marks Radcliffe's first return to Off-Broadway theatre since performing in Privacy at The Public in 2016. His last role on the New York stage was as Jim Fingal in the world premiere of The Lifespan of a Fact on Broadway in 2018.
The revival is presented by special arrangement with Sonia Friedman Productions, the Menier Chocolate Factory, and Patrick Catullo.
Also planned for NYTW's upcoming season: Victor I. Cazares' american (tele)visions, beginning September 9; Clare Barron's adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters, directed by Sam Gold; Liliana Padilla's How to Defend Yourself, co-directed by Padilla, Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown) and Steph Paul (The Last Match); and Inua Ellams' The Half-God of Rainfall. Performance dates for the remainder of the season are to be announced.
