‘Merrily We Roll Along’ predicted to match Tony Awards haul of ‘Company’ revival
At the beginning of Act Two of “Merrily We Roll Along,” Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, Lindsay Mendez and other ensemble members sing “It’s A Hit!,” celebrating the successful opening of characters Charlie and Frank’s first Broadway musical. Indeed, one could say the same about this revival of “Merrily,” not just because of its smash box office receipts, but also because of the seven Tony Awards nominations that it received on April 30. This recognition from New York theatre’s highest honor is a true redemption for the show, whose original production was a notorious flop for composer Stephen Sondheim and director Hal Prince that ran only 16 regular performances and earned only a single bid for Sondheim’s original score. But how does this production’s Tony success compare to other recent revivals of the late composer’s works?
The seven nominations “Merrily” received are for Best Musical Revival, three acting citations for lead Groff and featured performers Mendez and Radcliffe, director Maria Friedman, sound design Kai Harada and orchestrations for Sondheim’s longtime collaborator Jonathan Tunick, who has shockingly only ever won one Tony back in 1997 for “Titanic.”
2023 was truly the year of Sondheim at the Tonys in terms of nominations as two of the composer’s works were revived and recognized. The first full-scale remounting of his masterwork “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” complete with a 26-piece orchestra, scared up eight nominations. In addition to a bid for Best Musical Revival, three of its performers were recognized – Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford and Ruthie Ann Miles – plus its choreography and scenic design. It won two trophies for Natasha Katz’s lighting design and Nevin Steinberg’s sound design.
Sondheim’s other revival last year, “Into the Woods,” did nearly as well in terms of overall nominations with six, competing directly with “Sweeney” for the prize of Best Revival; they both lost to Jason Robert Brown’s “Parade.” Like “Sweeney,” the production netted three nominations for performers Brian d’Arcy James, Sara Bareilles and Julia Lester, plus two others for its direction for Lear deBessonet and for sound design.
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One year prior, Marianne Elliott’s reimagining of “Company” outpaced them all with nine nominations and bested the others in terms of wins, too, with five. It won Best Musical Revival, featured acting trophies for Patti LuPone and Matt Doyle, for Elliott’s direction and for scenic design for Bunny Christie. Its other nominations were for featured actress Jennifer Simard, orchestrations and lighting and sound designs.
Although “Merrily” trails both “Company” and “Sweeney” in terms of overall nominations, it will likely win more trophies than either “Sweeney” or “Into the Woods.” According to our earliest Tony Award odds, “Merrily” is out front to win trophies for Best Musical Revival, Groff, Mendez, Radcliffe and Friedman. That tally would tie it with the recent “Company” revival at five overall victories, a feat that would truly cement this show’s legendary comeback.
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