The Stephen Sondheim Society

Broadway Production (1981)

Alvin Theatre (now Neil Simon Theatre), 250 W. 52nd St., New York, NY​​

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Previews: 8 October 1981 (52 preview performances)

Opens: 16 November 1981

Closes: 28 November 1981 (16 performances)

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Director: Harold Prince

Producers: Lord Grade, Martin Starger, Robert Fryer and Harold Prince, in association with Ruth Mitchell and Howard Haines

Choreography: Larry Fuller
Set Design: Eugene Lee
Costume Design: Judith Dolan
Lighting Design: David Hersey
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
Musical Direction: Paul Gemignani
Makeup and Hair: Richard Allen
Sound Design: Jack Mann
Casting: Joanna Merlin

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Cast:

Franklin Shepard: Jim Walton [replaced James Weissenbach during previews on 19 October]
Mary Flynn: Ann Morrison
Charley Kringas: Lonny Price
Gussie: Terry Finn
Joe Josephson: Jason Alexander
Beth: Sally Klein
Franklin Shepard (age 43): Geoffrey Horne [introduced during previews on 10 November]
Jerome: David Cady
Terry: Donna Marie Elio
Ms. Gordon: Maryrose Wood
Alex / Talk Show Host: Marc Moritz
Gwen Wilson: Tonya Pinkins
Ted: David Loud
Les: David Shine
Mr. Spencer: Paul Hyams
Mrs. Spencer: Mary Johansen
Meg: Daisy Prince
Ru: Forrest D. Ray
Bartender: Tom Shea
Evelyn: Abby Pogrebin
Valedictorian: Giancarlo Esposito
George / The Headwaiter: James Bonkovsky
Girl Auditioning: Marianna Allen
Nightclub Waitress: Liz Callaway
Photographer: Stephen Jacob
Sound Man: Clark Sayre
Waiter: Gary Stevens
Swing / Dance Captain: Janie Gleason​

Understudies: David Cady (Frank), Liz Callaway (Mary), David Loud (Charley), James Bonkovsky (Joe), Daisy Prince (Beth), Marianna Allen (Gussie)

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​​Musical Numbers:

Overture – Orchestra

Act One

“The Hills of Tomorrow” – Company
“Merrily We Roll Along (1980)” – Company
“Rich and Happy” – Frank and Guests
“Merrily We Roll Along (1979-1975)” – Company

"Darling!" – Gussie, Mary, Kate [cut during previews]
“Old Friends” – Mary, Charley
“Like It Was” – Mary
“Merrily We Roll Along (1974 -1973)” – Company
“Franklin Shepard, Inc.” – Charley
“Old Friends” (reprise) – Mary, Frank, Charley
“Not a Day Goes By” – Frank
“Now You Know” – Mary and Company [included a long dance sequence that was cut in previews; no credit is given to the arranger]

Act Two

“It’s a Hit!” – Joe, Frank, Mary, Charley
“Merrily We Roll Along (1964-1962)” – Company
“Good Thing Going” – Charley, Frank, and Company
“Merrily We Roll Along (1961-1960)” – Company
“Bobby and Jackie and Jack” – Charley, Beth, Frank, Ted

"Thank You for Coming" – Charley, Beth, Frank, Ted [cut during previews]

"Honey" – Beth, Frank [cut during run, after approximately three weeks]
“Not a Day Goes By” (reprise) – Frank, Mary
“Opening Doors” – Frank, Charley, Mary, Joe, Girl Auditioning, Beth
“Our Time” – Frank, Charley, Mary, and Company
“The Hills of Tomorrow” (reprise) – Company

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Awards

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Drama Desk: Outstanding Lyrics (Stephen Sondheim)

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Recording

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Merrily We Roll Along - Original Broadway Cast Recording

• LP (half-speed master audiophile recording}, 1981 [RCA CBL1-4197] (62:00)

• Cassette, 1982 [RCA CBK1-4197]

• Compact Disc, 1986 [RCA RCD1-5840] (includes It's a Hit!) (66:38)

Producer: Thomas Z. Shepard
Engineer: Paul Goodman
Recorded: RCA's Studio A, New York City, on 29 November 1981
Liner notes and synopsis: Robert Kimball
Lyrics included​

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Selections: Overture (3:55), "The Hills of Tomorrow" / "Merrily We Roll Along (1980)" / "Rich and Happy" (10:21), Merrily We Roll Along (1979-1975)" / "Old Friends" / "Like It Was" (3:58), "Merrily We Roll Along (1974-1973)" / "Franklin Shepard, Inc." (5:35), "Old Friends" (4:40), "Not a Day Goes By" (2:24), "Now You Know" (4:11), "It's a Hit!" (4:37), "Merrily We Roll Along (1964-1962)" / "Good Thing Going" (5:40), "Merrily We Roll Along (1961-1960)" / "Bobby and Jackie and Jack" (5:12), "Not a Day Goes By" (2:22), "Opening Doors" (6:54), "Our Time" (4:23), "The Hills of Tomorrow" (2:19)

NB: "It's a Hit" was recorded but not presented on the original release of the album; the first issue of the original cast's recording of the song was in A Collector's Sondheim (1986), which also featured the first appearance of Lee Remick's cut "There Won't be Trumpets", among others previously unreleased or cut songs.

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