Merrily We Roll Along
Stephen Sondheim’s *Merrily We Roll Along* returns to Signature Theatre after 20 years in a production directed and choreographed by Matthew Gardiner. Told backward across two decades, the musical follows longtime friends Franklin Shepard, Mary Flynn, and Charley Kringas as their youthful idealism gives way to adult success, compromise, loyalty, cynicism, and disappointment. The score includes “Our Time,” “Good Thing Going,” and “Not a Day Goes By,” and the production has been praised by *The Washington Post* for its sharp humor and bright, brassy music.
The musical features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by George Furth, based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Jonathan Tunick provides the orchestrations, with Jon Kalbfleisch as music director. Harold Prince originally directed the Broadway production, which was produced by Lord Grade, Martin Starger, Robert Fryer, and Harold Prince in association with Ruth Mitchell and Howard Haines.
When: August 25–November 1, 2026
Venue: Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia
Tickets: Price not available
Run time: Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission
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.; Kerstin Anderson as Beth Spencer; Joel Ashur as Jerome; Ben Beckley as Terry/Mr. Spencer; Lindsay Nicole Chambers as Scotty/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; Alondra Trinidad-Colon as Meg; and James Whalen as Joe Josephson. Austin Anderson, Kimberly Camacho, Sophia Early, and Max von Kolnitz appear as swings. Henry Hampton Bedford is the Frank Jr. understudy.
Discussion Nights: Post-show discussions are scheduled for September 23 at 7:30 p.m. and October 13 at 7:30 p.m., offering an opportunity to hear behind-the-scenes conversation after selected Tuesday and Wednesday performances.
Pride Night: September 18 at 8 p.m. This special performance is intended for members of the LGBTQ+ community, their families, and friends, and includes a post-show reception.
Accessible performances: ASL interpretation is scheduled for October 8 at 8 p.m. and November 1 at 2 p.m. Closed captions are available through the GalaPro app at all performances.
Masks-required performance: September 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Age recommendation: Appropriate for mature teens and older. Children under 6 are not admitted to Signature Theatre.
Content warnings: The production includes adult themes, alcohol use, sexual content, and depictions of drug use.
Effects warnings: The performance uses theatrical lighting effects, herbal cigarettes, and theatrical haze.
Sponsors: The production is sponsored by the Drutz Family Fund for Musical Theater and Dana A. Hearn and Kevin J. McCloskey. The orchestra is sponsored by David Briggs, and the costumes are sponsored by Arthur Warren in memory of James Pridgen.
Program: A digital program is available online.