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Vada will be attending the first collaboration from CinemaLive and Digital Theatre, Merrily We Roll Along. Maria Friedman’s acclaimed West End production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s play is to be screened in cinemas across the country.
Though originally billed as a one-night-only event for October 24th, increased demand for this distinguished version of the classic 1981 musical (itself adapted from a 1934 play of the same name) means that it has since added screenings in certain venues, playing in all regions across the UK and at selected cinemas in Ireland too.
But fear not, Vada readers worldwide! The broadcast will also take place in numerous other countries with the likes of Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Russia and Brazil all confirmed. To check countries, dates, venues and any other information concerning the event, visit www.cinemalive.com.
The reason to do so is simply because it’s received more five-star reviews than any other musical in West End history coming from the likes of the Guardian, the Independent, the Times, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, the Sunday Express and Metro, and in 2012 it also won the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical.
Starting in 1980 and travelling backwards in time, this powerful and moving story features some of Sondheim’s most beautiful songs including ‘Good Thing Going’, ‘Not a Day Goes by’ and ‘Old Friends’, directed by triple Oliver Award-winner Maria Friedman. Sondheim may be best known to film fans such as myself as the lyricist of West Side Story and co-creator of Sweeney Todd, but his incredible career has landed him an Academy Award, 8 Tony Awards, 8 Grammy Awards, 6 Olivier Awards and a Pulitzer Prize!
He calls this production of Merrily We Roll Along “not only the best I’ve seen, but one of those rare instances where casting, direction and show come together in perfect combination, resulting in the classic ideal of the sum being greater than the parts.” The Independent’s incredible praise stretches as far as to claim that “it is, make no mistake, one of the great musical productions of this or any era.”
This is the first production from CinemaLive and Digital Theatre’s new joint venture, and as you can tell we’re pretty excited for it. There are many more to come, so keep your eyes peeled on www.cinemalive.com for announcements – we hope they’re as promising as this one! Tickets are on sale now but, given the prestige of the event, we doubt they’ll be available for long.
If you decide to get involved – whatever country you’re in – we hope that you enjoy Merrily We Roll Along as much as everyone else has, and no doubt as much as we will. Please do get involved and let us know what you thought. Vada will be posting a review of the production towards the end of October before additional screenings take place in many locations, providing an extra opportunity for Vada readers to catch this lauded piece of theatre.
Images copyright Tristram Kenton.
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