Holy Cross’ Alternate College Theatre (ACT) Performs “Merrily We Roll Along"

The College of the Holy Cross’ Alternate College Theatre (ACT) is proud to present their spring show “Merrily We Roll Along,” directed by Conor Sullivan ’14, in Fenwick Theatre, located on the second floor of O’Kane Hall. The musical is based on a book written by George S. Kaufman, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The performances will be held Feb. 6, 7, and 8 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 8 and 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for members of the Holy Cross community and $15 for the general public and can be reserved by calling the box office at 508-793-3536.

“Merrily We Roll Along” begins at the height of main character Franklin Shephard’s Hollywood fame, as he walks away from his friendships and songwriting career to become a film producer. The play follows a trio of one-time best friends in unhappy middle age and shifts backwards through their lives to discover what happened to the idealism and promise of their youth.

“I believe the message of ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ resonates on an extremely deep level with college students in general, and Holy Cross students in particular,” says Sullivan. “Many of us feel immense pressure to find success, and too many of us define that success by our possessions and our bank accounts. Sondheim and Furth remind us that financial triumph is meaningless without personal triumph. It's a very Jesuit idea, one that cannot be reinforced enough.”

ACT is a student-run organization at Holy Cross. For each show, students manage every aspect of choreography (Brandon Gomez ’14), directing (Sullivan), lighting and set design (Will Fitzmaurice ’14), stage-managing (Julia Dunn ‘16), and vocal directing (Catherine Mikula ’14).

The play’s cast features Josh Armstrong ‘14, Christina Richardson ’14, Danielle Santos ’14, Patrick Simas ’14, Adia Vellaccio ’14, Emily Vecchiarelli ’15, Rebekah Dowdell ‘16, Nick Jorgensen ‘16, Megan McDermott ‘16, Iván Perez ‘16, Anna Tramontozi ‘16, Hannah Gabriel ’17, Derek Kunz ‘17, and Chris Little ‘17.