Merrily We Roll Along
West End Revival
July 2013
Mark Umbers (Franklin Shepard), Damian Humbley (Charley Kringas), Jenna Russell (Mary Flynn), Josefina Gabrielle (Gussie Carnegie), Clare Foster (Beth Spencer), Glyn Kerslake (Joe Josephson), Tommy Rodger (Frank Jr.), Noah Miller (Frank Jr.), Joseph West (Frank Jr.), Zizi Strallen (Meg Kincaid), Amy Ellen Richardson (K.T.), Robbie Scotcher (Jerome), Ashley Robinson (Tyler), Amanda Minihan (Mrs. Spencer / Scotty), Martin Callaghan (Terry / Mr. Spencer), Kirk Patterson (Bunker / Reverend / Newscaster), Samantha Mercer (Dory), Matthew Barrow (Ru), Joanna Woodward (Newscaster)
Trading notes: Pro shot. Web rip from digitaltheatre. Played July 25-27
The Wallis
November 23, 2016 (Evening)
Aaron Lazar (Franklin Shepard), Wayne Brady (Charley Kringas), Donna Vivino (Mary Flynn), Saycon Sengbloh (Gussie Carnegie), Whitney Bashor (Beth Spencer), Amir Talai (Joe Josephson), Maximus Brandon Verso (Frank Jr.)
Trading notes: First preview. A fantastic new production of this rarely performed Sondheim classic. Updated staging and direction, phenomenal performances all around, and a great energy from both the actors and the audience. Perfectly captured with no washout, no obstruction, and no blackouts. It’s filmed in 16:9, with a mix of wides, mediums, and close-ups. The sound is excellent. Includes curtain call and playbill scans. Two discs.
New York Theatre Workshop
November 2022
Jonathan Groff (Franklin Shepard), Daniel Radcliffe (Charley Kringas), Lindsay Mendez (Mary Flynn), Krystal Joy Brown (Gussie Carnegie), Katie Rose Clarke (Beth Spencer), Reg Rogers (Joe Josephson), Colin Keane (Frank Jr.), Talia Simone Robinson (Meg Kincaid), Natalie Wachen (K.T.), Vishal Vaidya (Jerome), Corey Mach (Tyler / Make-Up Artist), Sherz Aletaha (Mrs. Spencer / Scotty / Auditionee), Jacob Keith Watson (Terry / Mr. Spencer), Leana Rae Concepcion (Claudia / Newscaster / Waitress / Auditionee), Brian Sears (Bunker / Photographer / Newscaster), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Evelyn / Dory / Pianist), Christian Strange (Ru / Reverend), Maya Boyd (Mimi from Paramount / Make-Up Artist)
January 2023
Jonathan Groff (Franklin Shepard), Daniel Radcliffe (Charley Kringas), Lindsay Mendez (Mary Flynn), Krystal Joy Brown (Gussie Carnegie), Katie Rose Clarke (Beth Spencer), Reg Rogers (Joe Josephson), Carter Harris (Frank Jr.), Talia Simone Robinson (Meg Kincaid), Natalie Wachen (K.T.), Vishal Vaidya (Jerome), Corey Mach (Tyler / Make-Up Artist), Sherz Aletaha (Mrs. Spencer / Scotty / Auditionee), Jacob Keith Watson (Terry / Mr. Spencer), Brian Sears (Bunker / Photographer / Newscaster), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Evelyn / Dory), Christian Strange (Ru / Reverend), Leana Rae Concepcion (Newscaster / Waitress / Auditionee)
Trading notes: fancam of whatever i was able to see in that moment. 01:13:13
January 2023 (Evening)
Jonathan Groff (Franklin Shepard), Daniel Radcliffe (Charley Kringas), Lindsay Mendez (Mary Flynn), Krystal Joy Brown (Gussie Carnegie), Katie Rose Clarke (Beth Spencer), Reg Rogers (Joe Josephson), Colin Keane (Frank Jr.), Talia Simone Robinson (Meg Kincaid), Natalie Wachen (K.T.), Vishal Vaidya (Jerome), Corey Mach (Tyler / Make-Up Artist), Sherz Aletaha (Mrs. Spencer / Scotty / Auditionee), Jacob Keith Watson (Terry / Mr. Spencer), Brian Sears (Bunker / Photographer / Newscaster), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Evelyn / Dory), Christian Strange (Ru / Reverend), Leana Rae Concepcion (Newscaster / Waitress / Auditionee)
Master's notes: Stageshot. No obstructions. Some heavy washout in the first act, but almost none in the second act. Audio only for the last nine minutes missing from the first act (from Beth's entrance on), and the first five minutes of the second act (just before It's A Hit). Excellent audio. Shot from second row centre. [B-]
Trading notes: This is the best Merrily We Roll Along will ever be. Lindsay Mendez, Jonathan Groff, and Katie Rose Clarke are all cementing their performances as the defining interpretations of their characters. Jaw-droppingly directed, astoundingly well crafted, fantastic chemistry – only real disappointment is the orchestra. Please forgive any choking sobs that may have leaked into this recording. One of the most excellent nights of theatre I've ever experienced.
First Broadway Revival
November 22, 2023 (Matinee)
Jonathan Groff (Franklin Shepard), Daniel Radcliffe (Charley Kringas), Sherz Aletaha (u/s Mary Flynn), Krystal Joy Brown (Gussie Carnegie), Katie Rose Clarke (Beth Spencer), Reg Rogers (Joe Josephson), Max Rackenberg (Frank Jr.), Talia Simone Robinson (Meg Kincaid), Natalie Wachen (K.T.), Vishal Vaidya (Jerome), Corey Mach (Tyler), Amanda Rose (s/w Mrs. Spencer / s/w Scotty / s/w Auditionee), Jacob Keith Watson (Terry / Mr. Spencer), Leana Rae Concepcion (Claudia / Newscaster / Auditionee), Brian Sears (Bunker / Photographer / Newscaster), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Evelyn / Dory / Pianist), Christian Strange (Ru / Reverend), Maya Boyd (Mimi from Paramount / Make-Up Artist), Evan Alexander Smith (Greg from Paramount)
Trading notes: Excellent 4K capture of Sherz’s debut as Mary! Some wandering and unfocusing throughout. Some washout on the wider shots. Includes overture, curtain call, and the post-show BC/EFA speech, audio is fed from external source.
January 2024 (Matinee)
Jonathan Groff (Franklin Shepard), Daniel Radcliffe (Charley Kringas), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (u/s Mary Flynn), Krystal Joy Brown (Gussie Carnegie), Talia Simone Robinson (u/s Beth Spencer), Reg Rogers (Joe Josephson), Brady Wagner (Frank Jr.), Maya Boyd (s/w Meg Kincaid / s/w Mimi from Paramount), Natalie Wachen (K.T.), Vishal Vaidya (Jerome), Corey Mach (Tyler), Sherz Aletaha (Mrs. Spencer / Scotty / Auditionee), Jacob Keith Watson (Terry / Mr. Spencer), Leana Rae Concepcion (Claudia / Newscaster / Auditionee), Brian Sears (Bunker / Photographer / Newscaster), Amanda Rose (s/w Evelyn / s/w Dory / s/w Pianist), Christian Strange (Ru / Reverend), Koray Tarhan (s/w Make-Up Artist), Evan Alexander Smith (Greg from Paramount)
Master's notes: Camcorder video captured in 4K. Some head obstructions which mainly affect It's A Hit. No washout. Brief blackouts in the first half hour of the first act, and one very short one towards the end of Our Time (the ending of the production is captured by a back-up camera). Excellent audio. Shot from rear balcony, house right. [B+/A-]
Trading notes: A production which astounded me off-Broadway grew to unfathomable heights in the transfer. This beautiful gift of a production has single handedly restored the legacy of what was once one of the most ridiculed musicals in history. This score and this story given this kind of care and attention again is something that nobody could have seen coming, and is a massive boon to a magnificent show. The audience is thrillingly reactive (more than anything for the adorable Frank Jr.) and this video captures an utterly electric performance of this dazzling revival.
March 31, 2024 (Evening)
Jonathan Groff (Franklin Shepard), Daniel Radcliffe (Charley Kringas), Lindsay Mendez (Mary Flynn), Krystal Joy Brown (Gussie Carnegie), Katie Rose Clarke (Beth Spencer), Reg Rogers (Joe Josephson), Max Rackenberg (Frank Jr.), Talia Simone Robinson (Meg Kincaid), Natalie Wachen (K.T.), Vishal Vaidya (Jerome), Corey Mach (Tyler), Sherz Aletaha (Mrs. Spencer / Scotty / Auditionee), Jacob Keith Watson (Terry / Mr. Spencer), Leana Rae Concepcion (Claudia / Newscaster), Brian Sears (Bunker / Newscaster), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Evelyn / Dory / Pianist), Christian Strange (Ru / Reverend), Brianna Stoute (Mimi from Paramount / Make-Up Artist), Ken Krugman (s/w Greg from Paramount)
Master's notes: Excellent capture of Merrily’s 200th performance on Broadway, nice mix of wide shots and close-ups.
May 31, 2024 (Evening)
Jonathan Groff (Franklin Shepard), Koray Tarhan (u/s Charley Kringas), Lindsay Mendez (Mary Flynn), Krystal Joy Brown (Gussie Carnegie), Katie Rose Clarke (Beth Spencer), Reg Rogers (Joe Josephson), Max Rackenberg (Frank Jr.), Talia Simone Robinson (Meg Kincaid), Natalie Wachen (K.T.), Vishal Vaidya (Jerome), Corey Mach (Tyler), Sherz Aletaha (Mrs. Spencer / Scotty / Auditionee), Jacob Keith Watson (Terry / Mr. Spencer), Leana Rae Concepcion (Claudia / Newscaster / Auditionee), Coby Getzug (Bunker / Photographer / Newscaster), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Evelyn / Dory / Pianist), Evan Alexander Smith (u/s Ru / u/s Reverend), Brianna Stoute (Mimi from Paramount / Make-Up Artist), David Scott Purdy (s/w Greg from Paramount)
Master's notes: Excellent 4K capture of Koray as Charley! Increased moments of wandering and unfocusing, especially during transitions. Some washout on the wider shots. A head is visible on the bottom right, more so in Act Two, but doesn’t block off anything. Some action is cut off on the far right due to the angle. Overture and entr’acte are audio only. Includes curtain call, audio fed from external source.
June 2024
Jonathan Groff (Franklin Shepard), Daniel Radcliffe (Charley Kringas), Lindsay Mendez (Mary Flynn), Krystal Joy Brown (Gussie Carnegie), Katie Rose Clarke (Beth Spencer), Reg Rogers (Joe Josephson), Max Rackenberg (Frank Jr.), Talia Simone Robinson (Meg Kincaid), Natalie Wachen (K.T.), Vishal Vaidya (Jerome), Corey Mach (Tyler), Sherz Aletaha (Mrs. Spencer / Scotty / Auditionee), Jacob Keith Watson (Terry / Mr. Spencer), Leana Rae Concepcion (Claudia / Newscaster / Auditionee), Coby Getzug (Bunker / Photographer / Newscaster), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Evelyn / Dory / Pianist), Christian Strange (Ru / Reverend), Brianna Stoute (Mimi from Paramount / Make-Up Artist), Brian Sears (Greg from Paramount)