Photo FeaturesLook Back on the Hit Merrily We Roll Along Revival With These Behind-the-Scenes Photos and Videos
The cast of the just-closed production prove that they had a good thing going.
By
Diep Tran, Logan Culwell-Block
July 10, 2024
Rocco Van Auken and Daniel Radcliffe backstage at Merrily We Roll AlongCourtesy of Rocco and Jace Van Auken
Yesterday may be done, but musical theatre fans are not done talking about the Tony Award-winning revival of Merrily We Roll Along. In honor of the show, which closed July 7 and turned Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's notoriously short-lived musical into one of the biggest money-makers on Broadway, the revival's cast provided Playbill with exclusive behind-the-scenes photos.
Brianna Stoute, Sherz Aletaha, Jonathan Groff, Maya Boyd, Jamila Sabares-Klemm, Morgan Kirner, and Talia Simone Robinson on stage at The Hudson Theatre
Courtesy of Sherz Aletaha
Sherz Aletaha and Talia Simone Robinson
Courtesy of Sherz Aletaha
Sherz Aletaha in the Merrily photo booth
Courtesy of Sherz Aletaha
Company of Merrily We Roll Along at rehearsal for The Tony Awards
Courtesy of Sherz Aletaha
Company of Merrily backstage at The Tony Awards watching Daniel Radcliffe's winning speech
Courtesy of Sherz Aletaha
Koray Tarhan backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Koray Tarhan
Evan Alexander Smith and Koray Tarhan outside of The Hudson Theatre
Courtesy of Koray Tarhan
Koray Tarhan, Daniel Radcliffe, and Coby Getzug in the Merrily photo booth
Courtesy of Koray Tarhan
Jacob Keith Watson and company of Merrily We Roll Along on opening night
Courtesy of Koray Tarhan, Photo by Andy Henderson
Amanda Rose, Koray Tarhan, and Morgan Kirner in the recording studio
Courtesy of Koray Tarhan
Morgan Kirner, Koray Tarhan, Josephine Yang, and Amanda Rose
Courtesy of Koray Tarhan
Company of Merrily We Roll Along at rehearsal for The Tony Awards
Courtesy of Koray Tarhan
Vishal Vaidya, Brian Sears, Leana Rae Concepcion, and Koray Tarhan backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Koray Tarhan
Christian Strange, Amanda Rose, Leana Rae Concepcion, Natalie Wachen, Sherz Aletaha, and Koray Tarhan on their way to The Tony Awards
Courtesy of Koray Tarhan
Talia Simone Robinson in the Merrily photo booth
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Jonathan Groff and Talia Simone Robinson on stage at The Hudson Theatre
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Talia Simone Robinson backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson, Photo by Andy Henderson
Natalie Wachen, Talia Simone Robinson, Brian Sears, and Leana Rae Concepcion in Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Company of Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Talia Simone Robinson, Brian Sears, and Sherz Aletaha in the recording studio
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Krystal Joy Brown, Maya Boyd, and Talia Simone Robinson backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Lindsay Mendez backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Talia Simone Robinson backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Talia Simone Robinson backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Talia Simone Robinson and Sherz Aletaha in the Merrily photo booth
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Company of Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Brianna Stoute, Natalie Wachen, Christian Strange, Audra McDonald, Krystal Joy Brown, and Talia Simone Robinson on stage at The Hudson Theatre
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Whoopi Goldberg and company of Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Ben Falcone, Talia Simone Robinson, Sherz Aletaha, Melissa McCarthy, and Vivian Falcone on stage at The Hudson Theatre
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Lindsay Mendez's baby shower backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Company of Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Maya Boyd and Talia Simone Robinson backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Talia Simone Robinson backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Talia Simone Robinson and company of Merrily in rehearsal of The Tony Awards
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Associate director Ryan Dobrin standing in for Jonathan Groff during tech rehearsal
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Talia Simone Robinson and Natalie Wachen
Courtesy of Talia Simone Robinson
Daniel Radcliffe, Sherz Aletaha, Corey Mach, Jonathan Groff, Vishal Vaidya, and Lindsay Mendez in rehearsal for Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Krystal Joy Brown and Jonathan Groff in rehearsal for Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Krystal Joy Brown and Natalie Wachen in rehearsal for Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Katie Rose Clarke backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Krystal Joy Brown backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Natalie Wachen, Krystal Joy Brown, Christian Strange, Maya Boyd, and Talia Simone Robinson backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Talia Simone Robinson, Christian Strange, Maya Boyd, Krystal Joy Brown, and Natalie Wachen backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Christian Strange backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Katie Rose Clarke backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Sherz Aletaha backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Daniel Radcliffe backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Krystal Joy Brown backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Vishal Vaidya and Krystal Joy Brown backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Krystal Joy Brown backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Merrily final show countdown
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Krystal Joy Brown backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Krystal Joy Brown
Leana Rae Concepcion and Jacob Keith Watson in rehearsal for Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Leana Rae Concepcion
Daniel Radcliffe, Lindsay Mendez, Jonathan Groff, and Katie Rose Clarke
Courtesy of Leana Rae Concepcion
Company of Merrily in rehearsal
Courtesy of Leana Rae Concepcion
Leana Rae Concepcion and Brian Sears in rehearsal for Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Leana Rae Concepcion
Michael Medina and Leana Rae Concepcion backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Leana Rae Concepcion
Daniel Radcliffe, Lindsay Mendez, and Jonathan Groff at Sardi's for Jonathan Groff's portrait unveiling
Courtesy of Leana Rae Concepcion
Leana Rae Concepcion and Daniel Radcliffe outside of The Tony Awards
Courtesy of Leana Rae Concepcion
Company of Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Leana Rae Concepcion
Leana Rae Concepcion on stage at rehearsal for The Tony Awards
Courtesy of Leana Rae Concepcion
Rocco Van Auken and Daniel Radcliffe backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Rocco and Jace Van Auken
Max Rackenberg and Rocco Van Auken backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Rocco and Jace Van Auken
Brady Wagner, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, Rocco Van Auken, and Daniel Radcliffe backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Rocco and Jace Van Auken
Rocco Van Auken and Brady Wagner backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Rocco and Jace Van Auken
Brady Wagner and Rocco Van Auken backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Rocco and Jace Van Auken
Brady Wagner and company of Merrily during sitzprobe
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Rocco Van Auken, Jacob Keith Watson, and Brady Wagner on opening night of Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Max Rackenberg and Brady Wagner backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Jonathan Groff, Max Rackenberg, Brady Wagner, and Felicia Shulman on stage at The Hudson Theatre
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Brady Wagner, Evan Alexander Smith, and Rocco Van Auken backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Brady Wagner in the wings at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Brady Wagner, Rocco Van Auken, Jonathan Groff, and Max Rackenberg at Sardi's for Jonathan Groff's portait unveiling
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Rocco Van Auken, Felicia Shulman, and Brady Wagner
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner, Photo by Andy Henderson
Max Rackenberg and Brady Wagner backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Jacob Keith Watson, Katie Rose Clarke, Sherz Aletaha, Brady Wagner, and Felicia Shulman backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Katie Rose Clarke and Brady Wagner backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Brady and Eileen Wagner
Jonathan Groff holding Max Rackenberg in rehearsal for Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Max and Meggie Rackenberg
Max Rackenberg and Rocco Van Auken
Courtesy of Max and Meggie Rackenberg
Rocco Van Auken and Max Rackenberg
Courtesy of Max and Meggie Rackenberg
Brady Wagner, Maria Friedman, and Max Rackenberg
Courtesy of Max and Meggie Rackenberg
Felicia Shulman, Brady Wagner, and Max Rackenberg
Courtesy of Max and Meggie Rackenberg
Jonathan Groff and Max Rackenberg backstage at Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Max and Meggie Rackenberg
Meryl Streep, Martin Short, and company of Merrily We Roll Along
Courtesy of Max and Meggie Rackenberg
Daniel Radcliffe, Brady Wagner, Max Rackenberg, and Rocco Van Auken at Sardi's for Jonathan Groff's portait unveiling
Courtesy of Max and Meggie Rackenberg
Rocco Van Auken, Max Rackenberg, and Brady Wagner at The Tony Awards
The cast also provided videos of pivotal moments in the show's run. Below is a video of Max Rackenberg and Brady Wagner rehearsing the show's title song August 29, 2023 (video provided by Meggie Rackenberg).
Below is a video of the show's Legacy Robe ceremony, captured on opening night October 10, 2023—where Jacob Keith Watson was chosen to don the legendary garment. Video provided by Talia Simone Robinson.
Below is a video taken after the show was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including for its stars Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez (the production went on to win four Tonys: Best Orchestrations for Jonathan Tunick, Featured Actor in a Musical for Radcliffe, Leading Actor in a Musical for Groff, and Revival of a Musical). Star Groff was very proud of his nomination. Video provided by Talia Simone Robinson.
Based on the George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart play of the same name, Merrily We Roll Along tracks the lives of three friends navigating the entertainment industry over three decades in reverse chronological order. Sondheim's score includes such songs as "Old Friends," "Now You Know," "Franklin Shepard, Inc.," "Good Thing Going," and "Not a Day Goes By." A revival cast recording was released January 12.
The revival of Merrily We Roll Along closed June 7 after playing 20 previews and 312 regular performances at the Hudson Theatre. This is a marked contrast to its original 1981 production which ran for just 16 performances. Led by a trio of popular film and stage stars, the revival was a consistently high grosser on Broadway. Maria Friedman helmed the production. Several performances were professionally filmed in June, but details of a commercial release have not yet been revealed.
