(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Pioneer Productions presents Merrily We Roll Along, the groundbreaking musical by Stephen Sondheim with a book by George Furth. Based on the 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, the musical premiered in 1981 and has since become one of Sondheim's most daring and emotionally resonant works. The show will run weekends from June 19-June 28, 2026 at The Stage at Fellowship Hall, located inside the Morristown United Methodist Church.
Told in reverse chronological order, Merrily We Roll Along traces the rise and unraveling of a lifelong friendship between three young artists—composer Franklin Shepard (Lou Steele), playwright Charley Kringas (Connor McDowell), and writer Mary Flynn (Shanna Levine Phelps)—over the course of 20 years. Beginning with their fractured relationships and moving backward to their idealistic beginnings, the show offers a poignant and often bittersweet look at ambition, compromise, friendship, and the price of success.
With an acclaimed score featuring beloved songs such as "Not a Day Goes By" and "Old Friends," Merrily We Roll Along is a deeply human exploration of how dreams evolve, relationships change, and time shapes who we become.
The production is directed by Doug McLaughlin, with Hannah Comia serving as Musical Director and Erica Stuppler as Choreographer. The creative team also includes Jennifer Elizabeth Cooper, Stage Manager; Jade Delos Santos, Assistant Director; and Sadie Phelps, Assistant Stage Manager.
The cast features Annika Helgeson in the role of Gussie, Michael Barthel in the role of Joe, Morgan Sherlock as Beth, and Hudson Schamach as Frank Junior. Tim White, Sean Coyle, Kelly Wenz, Peter Downing, Jessica Murray, Ben Cruz, Cristy Miller, Tiffany Bizub, Hannah Verbeke, and Margaret Summer round out the cast with a variety of roles and characters that wind their way through Frank's life over the years.
Performances take place Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm; Sundays at 3:00pm. Tickets start at $30 and are available for purchase online. The Morristown United Methodist Church is located at 50 South Park Place in Morristown, New Jersey.
Don't miss the opportunity to experience one of Stephen Sondheim's most heartfelt and inventive musicals, brought to life by Pioneer Productions.
Pioneer Productions is dedicated to illuminating the human experience through compelling storytelling, innovative performances, and inclusive community engagement. They strive to provoke thought, evoke emotion, and inspire change that celebrates diversity, empathy, and the transformative power of the arts.
