Merrily We Roll Along
Stephen Sondheim’s *Merrily We Roll Along* follows three longtime friends as their lives unfold in reverse chronological order across two decades. Franklin Shepard, Mary Flynn, and Charley Kringas move from the cynicism and disappointments of adulthood back toward the idealism of their youth, confronting the effects of ambition, loyalty, success, and compromise along the way. The musical features songs including “Our Time,” “Good Thing Going,” and “Not a Day Goes By.”
Directed and choreographed by Matthew Gardiner, Signature Theatre’s production marks the musical’s return to the Signature stage after 20 years. The score is by Stephen Sondheim, with a book by George Furth, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, and music direction by Jon Kalbfleisch.
When: August 25–November 1, 2026
Showtimes: October 17 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM; October 18 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; October 20 at 7:30 PM; October 21 at 7:30 PM; October 22 at 8:00 PM; October 23 at 8:00 PM; October 24 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM; October 25 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; October 27 at 7:30 PM; October 28 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; October 29 at 8:00 PM; October 30 at 8:00 PM; October 31 at 2:00 PM; November 1 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Tickets: Price not available
Venue: Signature Theatre, Arlington, Virginia
Run time: Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Age recommendation: Appropriate for mature teens and older. Children under 6 are not admitted.
Content warnings: The production includes adult themes, alcohol use, sexual content, and depictions of drug use.
Effects warnings: The production uses theatrical lighting effects, herbal cigarettes, and theatrical haze.
Special performances: Discussion Nights take place after the September 23 performance at 7:30 PM and the October 13 performance at 7:30 PM, with post-show conversations offering a behind-the-scenes look at the production. Pride Night is scheduled for September 18 at 8:00 PM and includes a post-show reception for members of the LGBTQ+ community, their families, and friends.
Accessibility: ASL-interpreted performances are scheduled for October 8 at 8:00 PM and November 1 at 2:00 PM. Masks are required for the September 15 performance at 7:30 PM. Closed captions are available through the GalaPro app at all performances. Signature Theatre also provides accessible seating and additional accessibility services.
Creative team: The musical was originally directed on Broadway by Harold Prince and originally produced by Lord Grade, Martin Starger, Robert Fryer, and Harold Prince, in association with Ruth Mitchell and Howard Haines. The production is based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.
Cast: Jason Gotay as Franklin Shepard, Melanie Field as Mary Flynn, Jake Loewenthal as Charley Kringas, Maria Rizzo as Gussie Carnegie, Neal Gaensehals as Frank Jr., Alondra Trinidad-Colon as Meg, Joel Ashur as Jerome, Ben Beckley as Terry and Mr. Spencer, Lindsay Nicole Chambers as Scotty and Mrs. Spencer, Eric Easter as Ru, Jonah Ho’okano as Tyler, Stephen Russell Murray as Bunker, Beatrice Owens as Dory, Sarah Anne Sillers as KT, and James Whalen as Joe Josephson. Kerstin Anderson plays Beth Spencer. Austin Anderson, Kimberly Camacho, Sophia Early, and Max von Kolnitz appear as swings, while Henry Hampton Bedford covers Frank Jr. as an understudy.