Merrily We Roll Along Extends for Two Weeks at London's Menier Chocolate Factory

The Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Merrily We Roll Along will add another two weeks to its run. The Maria Friedman-directed musical will now run through March 9, 2013, instead of the originally scheduled end date of February 23.

The production stars Jenna Russell, Mark Umbers and Damian Humbley as Mary Flynn, Franklin Shepard and Charlie Kringas, respectively. The show co-stars Clare Foster as Beth, Josefina Gabrielle as Gussie Carnegie, Glyn Kerslake as Joe Josephson and Zizi Strallen as Meg. The ensemble features Matthew Barrow, Martin Callaghan, Amanda Minihan, Amy Ellen Richardson and Robbie Scotcher.

Merrily We Roll Along has grown in reputation since its 1981 Broadway debut production, which ran for only 16 performances. Moving backwards in time from 1980 to 1955, the show examines the lives of three writers whose friendship is tested by time, events, ambition and fate. Popular songs include “Not A Day Goes By,” “Good Thing Going,” and “Old Friends.” Merrily first premiered in the U.K. in 1992 at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester and starred Friedman as Mary Flynn. The production only ran three weeks. In 2000, Donmar Warehouse produced a revival directed by Michael Grandage which ran for 71 performances and won Olivier Awards for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best New Musical.

Merrily We Roll Along features choreography by Tim Jackson, musical supervision and direction by Catherine Jayes, set and costume design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting design by David Hersey and sound design by Gareth Owen. Long-time Sondheim collaborator Jonathan Tunick provides the orchestrations.