[NEohioPAL] Deconstructing Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along

[Bruce Hennes]

In February, Dr. Martin Friedman, well-known in Cleveland theater circles
for frequently directing Stephen Sondheim musicals, will direct
Sondheim’s *Merrily
We Roll Along* at Lakeland Civic Theater, a professional production
featuring some of Cleveland’s best-known actors.



But in January, *Merrily* comes to the Nighttown stage when Friedman,
adjunct theater professor at Lakeland Community College and Baldwin
Wallace, will deliver a “*Master Class*” on why this musical that so many
thought was destined for success flopped on Broadway after only 11
performances – and why over the last 30 years it’s become one of Sondheim’s
most beloved musicals.



The Nighttown “*Master Class*” includes music director Jordan Cooper and
Lakeland cast members performing several songs from *Merrily*.



Other *Master Class* programs at Nighttown, with similar formats and
different directors, will be announced soon.



*Master Class at Nighttown: “Deconstructing” Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll
Along* will be at Nighttown on Monday, January 22 at 7:00 pm.  Tickets are
$10 and can be reserved online at www.nighttowncleveland.com.  But for
special 2-for-1 ticketing, contact Bruce Hennes at
hennes at crisiscommunications.com.



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*About Merrily We Roll Along (from Wikipedia):*

*Merrily We Roll Along* is a musical with a book by George Furth and lyrics
and music by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on the 1934 play of the same
name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.  Furth and Sondheim retained the
basic structure and overall theme of the play but updated it to encompass
the period from 1957 to 1976. 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 movies. Like the play, the musical begins at the height of his
Hollywood fame and moves backwards in time, showing snapshots of the most
important moments in Frank's life that shaped the man that he is today. The
musical utilizes a chorus that sings reprises of the title song to
transition the scenes. The musical ran on Broadway for 52 previews and 16
performances in 1981.



*”Merrily” Highlights from City Center Encores*
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aF_WuZurPU>



Merrily We Roll Along will be on the boards at Lakeland Civic Theater,
February 2 thru February 16.  For more details, click here
<https://www.facebook.com/martin.friedman.58/posts/10155331239868175>.

-- 

*Hennes Communications*
Crisis Communications | Reputation Management | Litigation Communications |
Media Training

w 216-321-7774 ext. 101 | c 216-978-2047 <hennes at crisiscommunications.com>|
www.crisiscommunications.com
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