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Overview

Synopsis

Based on George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s 1934 play of the same name, Merrily We Roll Along follows the successful career of Broadway composer turned Hollywood producer Franklin Shepard backward in time. Throughout the course of the show, during which time regresses from 1976 to 1957, we learn how Frank accomplished this - with the help of his best friends Charley (who writes the books and lyrics) and Mary (who is a writer in her own right and is always around for support and guidance). The trio of friends are inspired to become big players in American musical theatre and book writing and to “change the world” after witnessing the Russian Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, orbiting the earth on a cold October night. However, over time, Franklin learns what the cost of fame and fortune is, losing and alienating his beloved friends and family along the way and giving up his original dreams for ones with more financial and fewer emotional benefits. Those who began the journey with him do not end up at the end of it with him, and though Franklin has fame, fortune, and success, he ultimately realizes that he has left himself with nothing of any value.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's 1934 play, Merrily We Roll Along
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1981
Genres
Comedy, Dark Comedy, Historical/Biographical
Time & Place
Various locations in Los Angeles & New York, 1976-1957
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Musical Staging
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child Characters, Large Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Franklin Shepard

Lead

Male

Tenor

Charley Kringas

Lead

Male

Tenor

Mary Flynn

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Joe Josephson

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Beth Spencer

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Gussie Carnegie

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Ru

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Franklin Shepard, Jr.

Featured

Male

Treble/Boy Soprano

Mr. Spencer

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mrs. Spencer

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

K.T.

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano

Tyler

Featured

Male

Baritone

Scotty

Featured

Male

Baritone

Jerome

Featured

Male

Baritone

Terry

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Dory

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Bunker

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Meg Kincaid

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

TV Newsman

Ensemble

Male

Spoken

TV Newswoman

Ensemble

Female

Spoken

Make-Up Artist

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken

Stage Manager

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken

Judge

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken

Photographer

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken

1st Girl

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Pianist

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

Act I

  • "Merrily We Roll Along" – Company
  • "That Frank" – Company
  • "Transition 1" – Company
  • "Old Friends/Like It Was" - Mary, Charley
  • "Franklin Shepard, Inc." – Charley
  • "Transition 2" – Company
  • "Old Friends" – Mary, Frank, Charley
  • "Growing Up" – Frank, Gussie
  • "Transition 3" – Company
  • "Not a Day Goes By" – Beth
  • "Now You Know" – Scotty, Mary, Tyler, Charley, Frank, Joe, Jerome, K.T., Company

Act II

  • "Act 2 Opening" – Gussie
  • "It's a Hit" – Joe, Frank, Mary, Beth, Charley
  • "Transition 4" – Company
  • "The Blob" – Gussie, Charley, Frank, Dory, Joe, Company
  • "Growing Up" (Reprise) – Gussie
  • "Good Thing Going" – Charley, Frank
  • "Transition 5" – Company
  • "Bobby and Jackie and Jack" – Charley, Beth, Frank, Pianist
  • "Not a Day Goes By" (Reprise) – Beth, Mary, Frank
  • "Transition 6" – Tyler, Dory
  • "Opening Doors" – Charley, Frank, Mary, Joe, 1st Girl, Beth
  • "Transition 7" – Beth, Frank Jr., Mrs. Spencer
  • "Our Time" – Frank, Charley, Company

There are two songs from the original 1981 Broadway production that do not exist in the current licensed version: “Rich and Happy” (which has been replaced by “That Frank”), and “The Hills of Tomorrow” (which bookended the show in a high school graduation sequence). Additionally, instead of each of the transitions, reprises of “Merrily We Roll Along” marked the transitions from one scene to the next.

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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