(https://i.imgur.com/KHDaCal.png)
From the Sony press release:
SYNOPSIS
Spanning two decades, Merrily We Roll Along traces the complex, often heartbreaking unravelling of a once-unbreakable friendship between composer Franklin Shepard (Jonathan Groff) and his two closest friends — playwright-lyricist Charley (Daniel Radcliffe) and writer Mary (Lindsay Mendez) . But this is no ordinary story. Told in reverse, the film winds backwards through time, beginning in fractured adulthood and journeying back to the bright-eyed optimism of youth — when everything still seemed possible. Long considered a cult classic ahead of its time, Merrily We Roll Along features some of Stephen Sondheim’s most personal and piercing songs. Now, in a bold new cinematic interpretation of the Tony Award-winning musical, the film invites audiences into the heart of the story — not just watching it unfold but inhabiting it. Shot with intimacy and immediacy, it places viewers on stage and inside the action, offering a deeply immersive experience that reveals the emotional truth of the piece in a way no theatre seat ever could.
CAST AND CREW
Directed by: Maria Friedman
Written by: Book by George Furth, Based on the Original Play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, Katie Rose Clarke, Reg Rogers, Krystal Joy Brown
SPECS
Run Time: Approx. 145 Mins
Rating: PG-13 for drug use, some strong language, and smoking
Blu-ray Feature: 1080p High Definition/1.78:1 | Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA (Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish)
https://youtu.be/Ams0ROhWX0w
This is interesting - a filmed stage production but the camera gets to go on stage instead of being shot from the view of the audience. I wonder how well this will translate to the home experience. On one hand, it's a way to see a show with big name stars without going to Broadway. One the other hand, will it match the live experience? Disney did something similar with Hamilton last year.
Back in my community theater days, some of us asked if anyone was going to record any of the performances, but we were told that there wouldn't be much point as it doesn't translate well. That was many decades ago, so both the technology and home viewing experience has changed a lot since then, but you still can't replicate the shared experience aspect.