Merrily We Roll Along Live Stage Film Will Be Released by Sony Pictures Classics

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the live stage filming of the Tony-winning Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along. A release date has not yet been set.

The production—which starred Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez—was filmed towards the end of its run last year at the Hudson Theatre. Fans noticed signs outside the theatre revealing the filming, but the production was somewhat coy in confirming at the time. "The show producers are filming their production of Merrily for posterity," said a production spokesperson in a statement to �뵺��. "That doesn’t happen very often. We’ll see what happens." Today's news is the first official confirmation of a forthcoming commercial release.

The capture will become the latest in a long line of Sondheim musicals to receive official stage films. It's also the second time this version of Merrily has been filmed and commercially released. A film of the production's 2013 West End run was preserved with the London cast and released for on demand streaming by Digital Theatre. That film is currently unavailable officially (intrepid visitors to a certain pipe-related streamer might be able to find it, but you didn't hear that from us).

It also will be released as a separate feature film version is in the works. Director Richard Linklater, riffing on his success with 2014 film Boyhood, is in the midst of filming a movie musical adaptation of the musical over decades, with the cast doing each scene when they reach the actual age of the characters. That version stars Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein, Paul Mescal, and Hannah Cruz, and is not scheduled to wrap until 2039 at the earliest.

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“As a film history maven, Steve would be overjoyed that Sony Pictures Classics, the home of countless brilliant, auteur-driven independent films, is our partner in bringing this production of Merrily We Roll Along to the world," says the Sondheim Trust's Rick Pappas. "The success of Maria’s film derives in large measure from her lifelong friendship and collaboration with Steve on so many of his shows, not least playing Mary in a 1992 production of Merrily that Sondheim and Furth rebuilt on her, which led to her stage directing debut of this revival in London with him by her side in 2012. The Sondheim Trust could not be more thrilled, knowing this musical masterwork will now be accessible to Steve’s fans and new audiences all over the world."

“Sony Pictures Classics is the perfect home for our film," adds stage director Maria Friedman. "From the very beginning, they felt what we felt—that Merrily We Roll Along is, at its core, a universal story about friendship: how it changes, how it lasts, and how it shapes who we become. This isn’t just a stage production captured on film—it’s something more intimate. The camera lets us see every flicker of feeling, every quiet shift, in a way that brings audiences closer than ever. Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's work has never felt so personal. Steve was a dear and lifelong friend and bringing Merrily to the screen has been a deeply personal journey. When I first directed the show, I wanted to find its emotional truth—and that stayed with us all the way through to this film. Sony Pictures Classics understands how to share something this tender and meaningful with the world. Their care and passion will ensure this version of Merrily honors Steve and George in the way they deserve.

The revival starred Radcliffe as Charley Kringas, Groff as Franklin Shepard, and Mendez as Mary Flynn. The trio all reprised their performances from the production's sold-out 2022 Off-Broadway run at New York Theatre Workshop, along with Krystal Joy Brown as Gussie Carnegie, Katie Rose Clarke as Beth Shepard, and Reg Rogers as Joe Josephson. Max Rackenberg, Rocco Van Auken, and Brady Wagner shared the role of Frank Jr.

This film and last year's Tony win marks the culmination of the musical's remarkable comeback story, from an infamously short-lived original production to a revival that was the hottest ticket in town. While the original Broadway production of Merrily only ran for 16 performances and 44 previews, this revival was regularly among the highest-grossing shows on Broadway. This revival won four 2024 Tony Awards, also including Best Orchestrations for Jonathan Tunick, Leading Actor in a Musical for Groff, and Featured Actor in a Musical for Radcliffe.

Watch: An Oral History of Merrily We Roll Along's Journey From Flop to Tony-Nominated Hit

This revival of Merrily We Roll Along opened October 10, 2023, at the Hudson Theatre, and completed its run July 7, 2024. Directed by Olivier winner Maria Friedman, the work features music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Furth.

The company also included Sherz Aletaha, Maya Boyd, Leana Rae Concepcion, Coby Getzug, Ken Krugman, Corey Mach, Talia Simone Robinson, Jamila Sabares-Klemm, Brian Sears, Evan Alexander Smith, Christian Strange, Brianna Stoute, Vishal Vaidya, Natalie Wachen, and Jacob Keith Watson. Casting was by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger.

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 last year.

READ: Hey, Old Friend: Lindsay Mendez Returns to Broadway With Merrily We Roll Along

The production features choreography by Tim Jackson and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Scenic and costume design are by Soutra Gilmour, with lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker, sound design by Kai Harada, hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan, music supervision by Catherine Jayes, music direction by Joel Fram, associate music supervision by Alvin Hough, Jr., and music coordination by Kristy Norter.

The film is being produced by Sonia Friedman, David Babani, Patrick Catullo, F. Richard Pappas, RadicalMedia’s Jon Kamen, and Dave Sirulnick. Executive producers include Meredith Bennett, No Guarantees Productions, Scott Abrams, Jonathan Corr, Mary Maggio, Jeff Romley, Tony Yurgaitis, Andrew Cohen, Amanda Lipitz, and Henry Tisch alongside co-executive producer Stephanie P. McClelland. Karla Zambrano and Alec Sash serve as supervising producers. Friedman, Babani, Catullo, and Romley led the revival's stage producing team.