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Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along Hits Theaters in Cinematic Capture of Tony-Winning Revival

Critics praise Maria Friedman’s film for treating the live production as a true movie that spotlights the principal performances.

Overview

  • Sony Pictures Classics releases the filmed Broadway revival nationwide beginning Dec. 5, with more than 1,000 theaters participating and select Fathom screenings starting Dec. 4.
  • Director Maria Friedman shot the production at New York’s Hudson Theatre over multiple nights in June 2024, using a close-up, multi-camera approach that minimizes visible audience presence.
  • The original revival leads—Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez—recreate their roles, drawing widespread acclaim for intimate, camera-ready performances.
  • The stage-to-screen presentation is rated PG-13 and runs about 2 hours 25–30 minutes, with reviewers noting it plays as a cinematic event rather than an archival record.
  • The release caps a broader reappraisal of the once-flopped 1981 musical, whose revival won four Tonys including acting honors for Groff and Radcliffe, while a separate long-term film by Richard Linklater remains in production.