Merrily We Roll Along, written by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, is told in reverse chronological order and depicts the story of a successful and wealthy composer by the name of Franklin Shepherd, as well as his two old friends (Mary and Charley), and their changing relationships and lives over the course of twenty years. It raises the question of what we are willing to sacrifice for money and notoriety and emphasizes the importance of family and friendship.