Merrily We Roll Along

Sondheim's semi-autobiographical musical turns back the clock on friendship and the high price of success.

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The authors of the landmark Company reunite to turn the traditional showbiz musical on its head in this thrilling and compelling Broadway fable about friendship, compromise and the high price of success. Stephen Sondheim and George Furth expertly blend the excitement and energy of a backstage musical with a poignant and emotional contemporary story about the importance of staying true to one's ideals.

Merrily We Roll Along begins in the present and moves backwards, tracing the lives of wealthy, jaded composer Franklin Shepard and his two estranged friends through each milestone of their personal and professional lives (good and bad). The show ends with a touch of rueful irony, as the three best friends at the start of their careers face a bright future: young, talented and enthusiastic about the worlds waiting to be conquered.

Merrily We Roll Along is a modest-sized show that crackles with the wit, humor and intensity that embody the spirit of New York City. With a brilliant "Broadway-style" score and that deep insight one expects from any Sondheim endeavor, Merrily We Roll Along is a spirited and moving cautionary tale for anyone who has ever pursued a dream.

Full Synopsis

Concert Selections for Merrily We Roll Along

Concert Selections are original Broadway orchestrations and exciting new symphonic arrangements of select songs for use in concert performances. Concert Selections are the perfect way to give audiences a taste of the musical theatre experience without the sets, props and costumes.

Pricing

Amateur
£60.00 per song for one month’s hire and one performance
Extra performances are £30.00 per performance per song
Extra months are £15.00 per month per song

Professional
£125.00 per song for one month’s hire and one performance
Extra performances are £62.50 per performance per song
Extra months are £31.25 per performance per song

Pricing is for individual songs only. Pricing for orchestral suites and other items is available by contacting us directly.

FRANKLIN SHEPARD, INC

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
1 MALE VOICE

Starting Key
E

Estimated duration
8 min 20 sec

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
TUNICK, JONATHAN

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1, 1 Reed 2, 1 Reed 3, 1 Reed 4, 1 Trumpet 1, 1 Trumpet 2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone, 5 Bass, 3 Drum(percussion), 1 Synthesizerm 1 Piano, 2 Piano Conductor

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NOT A DAY GOES BY

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
1 FEMALE VOICE

Starting Key
F

Estimated duration
4 min

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
TUNICK, JONATHAN

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1, 1 Reed 2, 1 Reed 3, 1 Bass Clarinet, 1 Reed 5, 1 Horn , 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 3 Percussion, 1 Guitar, 1 Keyboard 1, 1 Keyboard 2, 2 Piano/Conductor

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NOT A DAY GOES BY (SYMPHONIC SONDHEIM)

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
CONCERT/SYMPHONIC ARRANGEMENT (INSTRUMENTAL)

Arranged for
INSTRUMENTAL

Starting Key
Ab

Estimated duration
2 min 25 sec

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Arranged by
SEBESKY, DON

Instrumentation
1 Flute 1, 1 Flute 2, 1 Oboe, 1 English horn, 1 Clarinet 1, 1 Clarinet 2, 1 Bassoon 1, 1 Bassoon 2, 1 Horn 1, 1 Horn 2, 1 Horn 3, 1 Horn 4, 1 opt.Horn 5, 9 Violin 1, 8 Violin 2, 7 Viola, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 2 Percussion, 1 Harp, 1 Celete(Piano), 1 Conductor score

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OLD FRIENDS

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
1 FEMALE VOICE, 2 MALE VOICES

Starting Key
G

Estimated duration
10 min 25 sec

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
TUNICK, JONATHAN

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1(Clarinet), 2 Reed 2(Oboe), 1 Reed 3(Clarinet), 1 Reed 4(Bass Clarinet), 2 Reed 5(Bassoon), 1 Horn, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 2 Percussion, 1 Guitar, 1 Keyboard 1(Piano), 1 Keyboard 2, 2 Piano Conductor, 3 Chorus books

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OLD FRIENDS / LIKE IT WAS

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
1 FEMALE VOICE, 1 MALE VOICE

Starting Key
D

Estimated duration
5 min 25 sec

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
TUNICK, JONATHAN

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1(flute), 1 Reed 2(english horn), 1 Reed 3(Clarinet), 1 Reed 4(bass clarinet), 1 Reed 5(clarinet), 1 Horn, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, Percussion, 1 Guitar, 1 Keyboard 1(piano), 2 Piano Conductor, 2 Chorus books

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OPENING DOORS

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
1 FEMALE VOICE, 2 MALE VOICES, CHORUS

Starting Key
G

Estimated duration
10 min 52 sec

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
TUNICK, JONATHAN

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1, 1 Reed 2, 1 Reed 3, 1 Reed 4, 1 Trumpet 1, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trumpet 2, 1 Trombone, 5 Bass, 3 Drum(percussion), 1 Synthesizer, 25 Chorus books, 1 Full Score

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OUR TIME

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
1 FEMALE VOICE, 2 MALE VOICES, CHORUS

Starting Key
Db

Estimated duration
9 min 15 sec

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
TUNICK, JONATHAN

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1(Flute), 1 Reed 2(Oboe), 1 Reed 3(Clarinet 1), 1 Reed 4(Clarinet 2), 1 Reed 5(Bassoon), 1 Horn, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone, 1 Tuba, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 2 Percussion 1&2, 1 Guitar, 1 Keyboard 1, 1 Keyboard 2, 2 Piano Conductor, 25 Chorus books

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OVERTURE ("MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG")

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Estimated duration
8 min 42 sec

Music by
Stephen Sondheim

Orchestrated by
Jonathan Tunick

Instrumentation
(3) Reed 1 (Piccolo, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet); (1) Reed 2 (Oboe); (3) Reed 3 (Piccolo, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet); (2) Reed 4 (Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet); (2) Reed 5 (Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet); (1) Horn; (1) Trumpet 1; (1) Trumpet 2; (1) Trumpet 3; (1) Trombone; (1) Tuba; (1) Timpani; (3) Percussion (Xylophone, Tambourine, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, "Latin Stuff"); (1) Guitar (Electric); (1) Piano; (6) Cello; (1) Bass (Electric)

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OVERTURE ("MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG")

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Estimated duration
8 min 42 sec

Music by
Stephen Sondheim

Orchestrated by
Jonathan Tunick

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RICH AND HAPPY

From
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
CHORUS (Featured Solos)

Starting Key
C

Estimated duration
13 min 40 sec

Music by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Lyrics by
SONDHEIM, STEPHEN

Orchestrated by
TUNICK, JONATHAN

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1, 1 Reed 2, 1 Reed 3, 1 Reed 4, 1 Reed 5, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone, 1 Tuba, 1 Horn, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 1 Guitar, 3 Percussion 1&2, 2 Piano Conductor, 1 Piano, 1 Keyboard 1, 1 Keyboard 2, 25 Chorus books

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