What happened to the musical Merrily We Roll Along?

The musical Merrily We Roll Along, which was based on a 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, flopped in its 1981 New York premiere but later became a Tony award-winning hit, with a 2023-24 Broadway production running for a year and earning four Tony awards.

How did the creators of Merrily We Roll Along transform the musical after its initial failure?

After the 1981 flop, the show's creators, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, made various structural changes, including altering the opening and the approach to casting, which helped the musical become the acclaimed production it is today.

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Merrily We Roll Along: From Flop to Tony-Winning Hit in 40 Years

Q: Who starred in the acclaimed film adaptation of Merrily We Roll Along?

The film adaptation of the 2023-24 Broadway production of Merrily We Roll Along featured standout performances from Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez, and has been praised by critics as a "tear-jerking joy."

17 Nov

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Summary

Merrily We Roll Along flopped in 1981 but became a hit in 2023-24
The musical won 4 Tony awards and was praised by critics
Daniel Radcliffe gave an acclaimed performance in the film adaptation

Merrily We Roll Along: From Flop to Tony-Winning Hit in 40 Years

In 2025, the musical Merrily We Roll Along is enjoying a new lease on life. The show, which flopped in its 1981 New York premiere, has since become a Tony award-winning hit, with a recent Broadway production running for a year and earning four Tony awards.

The musical, based on a 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, tells the story of a success-worshipping composer and movie producer, Franklin Shepard, who looks back on his life and sees how time has eroded his creative partnership and friendship. After the initial 1981 failure, the show's creators, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, made structural changes that helped transform it into the acclaimed production audiences are now seeing.

The 2023-24 Broadway revival, directed by Maria Friedman, featured standout performances from Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez, who brought the story's emotional heft to life. The film version of this production, which is set to be released in cinemas next month, has been praised as a "tear-jerking joy" by critics.

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