After being forced to shut down following its firsts previews in June due to increased COVID-19 lockdown measures in Sydney, Hayes Theatre Co has announced that Round 2 for Merrily We Roll Along will commence at their theatre starting 21 October 2021. The season will run for just over a month, with the final performance scheduled for 27 November 2021.
Tickets for the season are priced between $79.00 and $99.00. Tickets can be purchased either through the official Hayes Theatre Co website or contacting their box office team on (02) 8065 7337.
The lead cast will be resuming their roles, including Elise McCann (Matilda, Everybody Loves Lucy) as Mary Flynn, Ainsley Melham (Aladdin, Pippin) as Charley, and Andrew Coshan (Jersey Boys, MTC’s A View from the Bridge) as Franklin Shepard. Completing the cast are Georgina Hopson (Ragtime, West Side Story) as Gussie, Aaron Tsindos (Muriel’s Wedding, Shakespeare In Love) playing Joe, Tiarne Sue Yek as Beth, Evan Lever (Anything Goes, Muriel’s Wedding) playing Jerome, and Vidya Makan (Six, American Idiot) in the roles of KT and Meg.
The season is being presented by Luckiest Productions and Hayes Theatre Co, and features a creative team including director Dean Bryant, choreographer Andrew Hallsworth and musical director Andrew Worboys. They are joined by set designer Jeremy Allen, costume designer Mel Liertz, lighting designer Veronique Bennett and sound designer Dave Bergman.
Described by some as the “heartbreaker of Sondheim Musicals”, Merrily We Roll Along follows a trio of friends – composer Franklin Shepard, his writing partner lyricist Charley Kringas and upcoming novelist Mary Flynn. The three are primed to change the world through words and music, however success has a way of opening doors that take them further away from what – and who – they love. Famously told in reverse, Merrily We Roll Along is an emotional detective story that investigates how grown-up sellouts are forged from wide-eyed poets.
After the 2020 postponement, the Merrily team were exhilarated to finally be in rehearsal. To go into lockdown after a single preview was a devastating blow. That’s when every person working on the show stepped up and held onto each other, and the hope of returning to the Hayes stage. The bond between this team has grown so strong over the last 17 weeks of zoom rehearsals, trivia nights, birthday gifts and helping each other through this dark time. It is astonishing to be able to announce that the entire magnificent cast will return, 119 days later, to continue previews on Sondheim’s heartbreaking piece about friendship.
Dean Bryant – Director
We knew we had something special after the first preview of Merrily We Roll Along and we’re thrilled that audiences will finally get to experience one of the most moving and heartfelt musicals we’ve ever produced. We’ve all missed live performance so much, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate being back in theatres than being transported by the captivating score and electrifying performances of our exceptional cast.
Will Harvey – General Manager of Hayes Theatre Co
