Few things compare to a live performance on Broadway.
But watching the same show in a local movie theater actually comes close.
We’ve never seen a Broadway musical filmed for the screen, but when we saw Merrily We Roll Along released in theaters this past Friday, we jumped at the chance to head to the AMC Dine-In Mesquite 30 for a Sunday afternoon matinee.
(We figured NorthPark would be a nightmare, plus it gave us the chance to scratch our Outback itch before we got to the show.)
We’d wanted to see the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical in 2024 on one of our NYC trips. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find tickets cheaper than $400 a seat and not being huge Sondheim fans, it didn’t seem worth the risk.
The show won four Tony Awards in 2024, including Best Revival of a Musical, Leading Actor for Jonathan Groff, Featured Actor for Danielle Radcliffe. In hindsight, maybe we should’ve seen it live.
But there was something about seeing the filmed version that really took the show to a new level. Seeing closeups of both Groff and Radcliffe (as well as co-star Lindsay Mendez) really proved what great actors these people are. With legit tears streaming down their faces, you as an audience member see so much more raw emotion than you’d ever see onstage. Much like the movie versions of Wicked.
The show only runs in theaters through December 18, so if you’re Merrily-curious, now’s the time to see it. There are no trailers and no intermission, so show up on time and plan your beverage consumption accordingly for the 2.5-hour production.
Plus, if we all support this production, maybe producers will see there’s a market for filmed Broadway shows and we’ll be able to see other smash hits that we missed.
Merrily We Roll Along
Now playing through December 18
fathomentertainment.com
Photo(From left): Lindsay Mendez, Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe in ‘Merrily We Roll Along.’ Credit Joan Marcus.
