FERNDALE — The Ringwald Theatre's Sondheim Spring begins with a five-week run of Merrily We Roll Along on Feb. 16, playing through March 19.
Merrily—aka the show they were doing in Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird — marked the reunion of legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim with librettist George Furth, who had previously teamed for the Broadway landmark company. Sondheim and Furth turn the traditional showbiz musical on its head in this thrilling and compelling tale of friendship, compromise, and the high price of success.
The Ringwald will present a fresh take on this new classic, directed by Joe Bailey. Told in reverse, Merrily We Roll Along expertly blends the excitement and energy of a backstage musical with a poignant and emotional contemporary story about the importance of staying true to one's ideals. With a brilliant "Broadway-style" score and that deep insight one expects from any Sondheim endeavor, Merrily We Roll Along is a spirited and moving cautionary tale for anyone who has ever pursued a dream.
The cast of this production includes Ashlee Armstrong, Jordan Gagnon, Jerry Haines, Kyle Mitchell Johnson, Kevin Kaminski, Ashley M. Lyle, Anna Morreale, Nicole Pascaretta, Brandy Joe Plambeck, Donny Riedel, Liz Schultz, and Matthew Wallace, with music direction by CT Hollis and accompaniment by Ben Villaluz.
Friday, Saturday and Monday night shows are at 8 p.m., plus 2 Sunday twilight shows at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 for Friday and Saturday performances; Sundays are $20, Monday nights — as always at the Ringwald — are $10. Student discounts are $5 off regular ticket price and available on Friday and Saturday performances, with valid student ID (available at the box office on the day of the show). Tickets can be purchased at www.TheRingwald.com or at the theater box office. The Ringwald box office opens 45 minutes before performances and tickets can be purchased with cash or credit card.
The Ringwald Theatre is located at 22742 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale and can be reached at 248-545-5545. Visit the website: www.theringwald.com.
