Kevin McGuire, the Founding Artistic Director of the award winning Theatre Company at Hubbard Hall (TCHH), returns to the area to direct the upcoming TCHH production of Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical, Merrily We Roll Along, which will be performed May 12 through June 4.
Merrily We Roll Along, with a book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Sondheim, is based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The story revolves around Franklin Shepard who, having once been a talented composer of Broadway musicals, has now abandoned his friends and his songwriting career to become a producer of Hollywood flicks. The musical begins at the height of his Hollywood fame and moves backwards in time, showing snapshots of the most important moments in Shepard’s life that shaped the man that he is today.
Merrily, which debuted on Broadway thirty years ago, was revised eleven years later in a production that ultimately played in the West End of London and won Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor and Best Actress. The TCHH Merrily marks the regional premiere of this revised production, widely considered the definitive version of the musical.
McGuire will direct a cast that includes Josh Gray as Franklin Shepard, Frankie Kraft as Charley, Megan Ward as Mary, Amy Northup as Gussie and Kara Cornell as Beth. The Musical Director is Richard Cherry and Assistant Director is Janet Scurria, with sets and costumes by Karen Koziol.
There will be 13 performances of Merrily We Roll Along, May 12 (Pay What You Will / Open Rehearsal) at 8 pm, May 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 28 and June 3 and 4 at 8 pm, May 15, 22 and 29 at 3 pm and June 4 at 2 pm. Tickets cost $22 for Hubbard Hall members, $25 for non-members and $15 for students and children. Tickets are available at www.hubbardhall.org or by calling 518-677-2495.
An Opening Night Dinner, A Spring Community Bread Oven Feast!, will take place Friday, May 13, at 6 pm outside the Freight Depot (rain site, inside the Freight Depot). The menu will feature local cheese, fruit and cucumber with smoked salmon appetizers, a main course of grilled marinated chicken breast, fresh herb focaccia, lightly roasted fresh asparagus, roasted new potatoes and local baby green salad and strawberry rhubarb pie with homemade vanilla ice cream for dessert. Coffee, tea, seltzer and wine are included. Reservations are requested by Tuesday, May 10, at 5 pm. Visit www.hubbardhall.org or call 518-677-2495 for tickets. Hubbard Hall is located at 25 E. Main St. in Cambridge, NY.