Merrily We Roll Along premiere in Regensburg, Germany
Sondheim’s musical will premiere on 2nd May at the Theater Regensburg
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG tells the story of Franklin Shepard, a rich, famous and influential songwriter and film producer. In retrospect, his career took place: it began in 1976 and ended in 1955. Even at school, composing shows was Franklin's great wish. Together with his classmates Charly and Mary, he writes hits for Broadway. Mary falls in love with Franklin, who, in turn, falls in love with the singer Beth, whom he later marries. In the course of his career, Franklin loses not only his wife but also his friends. We experience Franklin's professional rise, but looking behind the glittering show façade shows his personal and private fall.
Stephen Sondheim's (1930–2021) semi-autobiographical musical MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG puts back the time of friendship at the high price of success and tells a poignant story about the transience of the ideals of our youth. The brilliant score combines melancholic songs and glittering numbers in Broadway style. In the form of a backstage musical full of wit and irony, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG tells a moving warning story for each of us who has ever pursued a dream.
This is a German-language premiere
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth based on the play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, orchestration by Jonathan Tunick, German by Sabine Ruflair and Jana Mischke (2024), musical direction Andreas Kowalewitz, production Sebastian Ritschel, equipment Barbara Blaschke / Sebastian Ritschel, choreography Gabriel Pitoni, dramaturgy Ronny Scholz, assistant director and evening director Tomas Stitilis
The cast led by Andreas Bieber as Franklin Shepard joined by Felix Rabas as Charley Kringas, Fabiana Locke as Gussie Carnegie | Ensemble, Nina Weiß as Beth Spencer | Ensemble, Alejandro Nicolás Firlei Fernández as Joe Josephson | Terry | Ensemble, Masengu Kanyinda as Meg Kincade | Dory | Ensemble, Konstantin Igl as Jerome, Lawyer | Ensemble, Teodor Pop as Tyler | Ensemble, Sophie Bareis as Scotty, Agent | Ensemble, Julia-Elena Heinrich as Ru, Girlfriend | Ensemble, Ehab Eissa as Bunker | Pastor | Ensemble, Scarlett Pulwey as Evelyn | Audition-Girl | Ensemble, Mr Spencer, Benedikt Eder as Father Beth | TV Announcer | Ensemble and Paolo Troian / Ben Weishaupt as Pianst
