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Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened

Original title: Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened...
  • 2016
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
766
YOUR RATING
Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened (2016)
This film from acclaimed theater director Lonny Price charts the journey of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along" in the 30-plus years since the musical debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in 1981.
Play trailer2:27
1 Video
25 Photos
Documentary

This film from acclaimed theater director Lonny Price charts the journey of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along" in the 30-plus years since the musical debuted on ... Read allThis film from acclaimed theater director Lonny Price charts the journey of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along" in the 30-plus years since the musical debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in 1981.This film from acclaimed theater director Lonny Price charts the journey of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along" in the 30-plus years since the musical debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in 1981.

  • Director
    • Lonny Price
  • Writers
    • Kitt Lavoie
    • Lonny Price
    • Ted Schillinger
  • Stars
    • Jason Alexander
    • Donna Marie Asbury
    • James Bonkovsky
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    766
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lonny Price
    • Writers
      • Kitt Lavoie
      • Lonny Price
      • Ted Schillinger
    • Stars
      • Jason Alexander
      • Donna Marie Asbury
      • James Bonkovsky
    • 3User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:27
    Trailer

    Photos25

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    + 21
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    Top cast26

    Edit
    Jason Alexander
    Jason Alexander
    • Self
    Donna Marie Asbury
    • Self
    James Bonkovsky
    • Self
    • (as Jim Bonkosky)
    David Cady
    • Self
    Liz Callaway
    Liz Callaway
    • Self
    Giancarlo Esposito
    Giancarlo Esposito
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Terry Finn
    Terry Finn
    • Self
    George Furth
    George Furth
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Adam Guettel
    Adam Guettel
    • Self
    Steven Jacob
    • Self
    Ann Morrison
    • Self
    Mandy Patinkin
    Mandy Patinkin
    • Self
    Tonya Pinkins
    Tonya Pinkins
    • Self
    Abigail Pogrebin
    • Self
    Lonny Price
    Lonny Price
    • Self
    Daisy Prince
    • Self
    Harold Prince
    Harold Prince
    • Self
    Forrest Ray
    • Self
    • Director
      • Lonny Price
    • Writers
      • Kitt Lavoie
      • Lonny Price
      • Ted Schillinger
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    7.6766
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    Featured reviews

    8EUyeshima

    A Famous Sondheim Fiasco Revisited & Revitalized

    Having just recently been thrilled by the successful Broadway revival of "Merrily We Roll Along", I wanted to revisit this 2016 documentary which chronicled the original 1981 production, a legendary fiasco now revered by Stephen Sondheim aficionados. Directed by Lonny Price, one of the original three leads and now one of the leading Broadway directors, the film went into fascinating specifics about the embattled mounting of the show, including the auditions of the youthful cast. It lasted only 16 performances, and the heartbreak of its closure was followed in this film by what happened to each of the cast members and how they looked back on their involvement. Needless to say, Sondheim and Hal Prince recovered from this stumble, but they never worked together again.
    7JoBloTheMovieCritic

    Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened

    7/10 - very fascinating look at one of the biggest flops to ever hit the Broadway stage and the legacy that continues to this day.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Toward the end of this documentary, the director/narrator Lonny Price gives overviews of several of its subjects' life and career paths (including Ann Morrison [Mary Flynn], Jim Walton [Franklin Shepard], Jason Alexander [Joe], Terry Finn [Gussie], and himself [Charley Kringas]) after "Merrily We Roll Along" closed. However, Price doesn't mention the subsequent careers of two of the show's most successful cast members: Tonya Pinkins (Gwen Wilson) and Giancarlo Esposito (Valedictorian). Although she was interviewed for the documentary, the fact that Pinkins has had a successful Broadway career in plays and musicals like The Wild Party and Radio Golf, was nominated for two Tony Awards, and has won one all went unmentioned. And Esposito, whose extensive film and television career has ranged from Do the Right Thing to The Usual Suspects to Breaking Bad, was not interviewed.
    • Soundtracks
      The Hills of Tomorrow
      Merrily We Roll Along (1980)

      "Rich and Happy" from Merrily We Roll Along

      Written by Stephen Sondheim

      Performed by Paul Gemignani

      copyright 1981

      Courtesy: Sony Masterworks by arrangement

      with Sony Music Licensing

      Warner/Chappell, by arrangement with

      Warner Group Licensing

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site for the film "Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened."
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Our Time: A Documentary About Growing Up
    • Production companies
      • Atlas Media Corporation
      • Allright Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $106,986
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $23,490
      • Nov 20, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $106,986
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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