Everyone needs a vacation, including stars. Starting next month, a few of Merrily We Roll Along's understudies will be stepping onto the main track as two of the show's stars, Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff, take a break.
Radcliffe will be out of the show April 2 and 3. For those three performances—a Tuesday show and two Wednesday performances—Koray Tarhan will go on as Charley Kringas (according to the Tarhan's Instagram). Then, Corey Mach will step in as Franklin Shepard for the April 16 show and the April 17 matinee. Evan Alexander Smith will play Franklin for the April 17 evening performance. Both actors announced their dates on Instagram.
"It’s happening! I make my Broadway principal debut as 'Charley' in @merrilyonbway next Tuesday, April 2nd. I’m worried that if I really think about how I feel, I’ll blackout. I am so so excited to put on those converse and share the stage with some of the best in the biz," wrote Tarhan on Instagram.
It's rare for understudies to be announced in advance, so now's a great time for any theatre fan to see the hit revival with a new actor in the lead role.
The revival of Merrily We Roll Along opened October 10, 2023, at the Hudson Theatre, where it will continue through July 7. Directed by Olivier winner Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by George Furth.
The revival stars Radcliffe as Charley Kringas, Groff as Franklin Shepard, and Lindsay Mendez as Mary Flynn. The trio are all reprising their performances from the production's 2022 Off-Broadway run at New York Theatre Workshop, along with Krystal Joy Brown as Gussie Carnegie, Katie Rose Clarke as Beth Shepard, and Reg Rogers as Joe Josephson. Max Rackenberg, Rocco Van Auken, and Brady Wagner share the role of Frank Jr.
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The company also includes Sherz Aletaha, Maya Boyd, Leana Rae Concepcion, Ken Krugman, Corey Mach, Talia Simone Robinson, Jamila Sabares-Klemm, Brian Sears, Evan Alexander Smith, Christian Strange, Vishal Vaidya, Natalie Wachen and Jacob Keith Watson. Rounding out the company as swings are Morgan Kirner, Amanda Rose, and Koray Tarhan. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger.
Based on the George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart play of the same name, Merrily We Roll Along tracks the lives of three friends navigating the entertainment industry over three decades in reverse chronological order. Sondheim's score includes such songs as "Old Friends," "Now You Know," "Franklin Shepard, Inc.," "Good Thing Going," and "Not a Day Goes By." A revival cast recording was released January 12.
The production features choreography by Tim Jackson and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Scenic and costume design are by Soutra Gilmour, with lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker, sound design by Kai Harada, hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan, music supervision by Catherine Jayes, music direction by Joel Fram, associate music supervision by Alvin Hough, Jr., and music coordination by Kristy Norter.
Sonia Friedman Productions, David Babani, Patrick Catullo, and Jeff Romley lead the revival's producing team.
Visit MerrilyOnBroadway.com.
Krystal Joy Brown, Reg Rogers, Natalie Wachen, and company of Merrily We Roll Along
Katie Rose Clarke and Jonathan Groff in Merrily We Roll Along
Lindsay Mendez, Jonathan Groff, and Daniel Radcliffe in Merrily We Roll Along
Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Reg Rogers, and Krystal Joy Brown in Merrily We Roll Along
Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez in Merrily We Roll Along
Krystal Joy Brown and Jonathan Groff in Merrily We Roll Along
Company of Merrily We Roll Along
Reg Rogers, Katie Rose Clarke, Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez in Merrily We Roll Along
Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Natalie Wachen in Merrily We Roll Along
Lindsay Mendez, Jonathan Groff, and Daniel Radcliffe in Merrily We Roll Along
