JUST IN TIME Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/30/25 at 12:00am

New York’s latest biojukebox musical is about to make a (splish) splash.

Jonathan Groff returns to Broadway as Bobby Darin in Just in Time, starting previews tomorrow night (March 31). The $12.5 million immersive show also features Joe Barbara, Emily Bergl, Erika Henningsen, Gracie Lawrence, Michele Pawk, Lance Roberts, and Caesar Samayoa. Just in Time, driven by Darin’s hit songs, features a book by Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver, choreography by Shannon Lewis, and direction by Alex Timbers. Opening night is April 26 at the Circle in the Square Theatre.

“Just in Time is an electrifying new musical that will transport audiences into an intimate nightclub complete with a live band, a stellar ensemble cast, and iconic Bobby Darin hits including ‘Beyond the Sea,’ ‘Mack the Knife,’ ‘Splish Splash,’ and ‘Dream Lover.’ Discover the man behind the music — a once-in-a-lifetime talent who knew his time was limited and was determined to make a splash before it was too late.”

Who here’s got a date booked for the nightclub?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/30/25 at 4:39pm

Telecharge says 2:30 running time, including intermission.

11-piece orchestra is conducted by Andrew Resnick, with orchestrations by Resnick and Michael Thurber. 

• 2 Keyboards
• 3 Reeds
• 2 Trumpets
• Trombone
• Drums / Percussion
• Guitars
• Bass

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/30/25 at 4:55pm

MERCH

[Kad]

Posted: 3/30/25 at 5:05pm

CoffeeBreak said: "MERCH"

Well... eventually, I suppose.

[sm33]

Posted: 3/30/25 at 5:17pm

We're coming to the city for a bunch of shows this week, and we have tickets for what is now the third preview! This will easily be the earliest I've seen a show, especially one that hasn't been done before (as far as I know). I'm really looking forward to it. 

If you hadn't looked at tickets recently, they made a bunch more available for this week, and dropped the highest prices considerably. I was debating on trying to upgrade my seats, which I'm not even sure is possible, but I think I will just deal with the ones I've already got. 

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 3/30/25 at 5:47pm

I’m not seeing this until next weekend, but I heard from a friend at invited dress that CITS is gorgeous and that Groff is in terrific form and will be a strong Tony contender. I can’t wait!

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 10:10am

sm33 said: "If you hadn't looked at tickets recently, they madea bunch moreavailable for this week, and dropped the highestprices considerably.I was debatingon trying to upgrade my seats, which I'm not even sure is possible, but I think I will just deal with the ones I've alreadygot."

Thank you for this tip! I managed to get a $101 ticket!!!!!! I had paid $159 for the original first preview on 3/28. When they cancelled it, producers said we are welcome to rebook for a future date but won't honor the original price we paid. At that time, only tickets above $299 were available during first week of previews and I just told myself I'll just wait for the rush policy and do that. 

I just looked at dates this week and there are several tickets priced at $101-$199 that were definitely higher beforehand. Given the size of Circle in the Square, I'm happy with $101 price point given people are lining up at 5am for the rush tickets (I can line up early but would prefer to do so in warmer weather.) 

Thinking more about it, had the producers honored the original price folks paid for the first 2 cancelled previews, the first week of previews would have been full/sold out! 

 

[Lisalemann]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 1:19pm

CoffeeBreak said: "MERCH"

Those matchbooks are awesome!  I unfortunately want a LOT of this stuff...

[Penna2]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 7:39pm

The set is gorgeous.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 8:45pm

For anyone who's seen an early preview of ''Just in Time,'' any advice on where it's best to sit? I imagine Jonathan Groff will move all around, but SPOILER AHEAD, based on this Instagram pic, it's hard to tell what the optimum viewing spot is.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHyl6WZOmb6/

Updated On: 3/31/25 at 08:45 PM

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 3/31/25 at 11:42pm

Take this with a grain of salt because I love Groff, but I also loved this. It needs some cuts because it started at 8:10, paused for about a minute because of a set issue and I was on the street by 10:45 when they said it would run 2:15 with intermission, and it did feel long in some places.

Thoughts:

1) Gorgeous set

2) Beautiful costumes 

3) Top notch Groff. The man really does share Darin’s love of performing and the audience feels that, so we’re constantly cheering him on and proud when he dances his tush off and more.

4) Connie Francis is way more fun than Sandra Dee, so that does drag the second act down (along with other sad plot lines) but the mother character calls this out and they end things with a bang.

5) They gave us posters which are very nice and the people who had tickets for Friday’s cancelled show also got tote bags. Both generous and really cute.

6) What I’d change (SPOILERS AHEAD) - Groff starts the show as himself and makes multiple jokes about how he’s wet. We’ve heard it. Maybe one and done. He sings Splish Splash in a bikini bottom and honestly, it should be an “is he naked” moment where he holds the rubber ducky or towel in front of himself without ever letting us see the Speedo. The song that his sister sings in the audience when a microphone comes down from the ceiling should be cut. Really slowed down the first act, and it didn’t seem necessary.

I’m sure there were other things I’d change, but that’s what I remember. Definitely thought this was a ton of fun and fully Groff’s show. I suspect reviews will be mixed, but I’m a fan!

[RW3]

Posted: 4/1/25 at 12:16am

DramaTeach said: "Take this with a grain of salt because I love Groff, but I also loved this. It needs some cuts because it started at 8:10, paused for about a minute because of a set issue and I was on the street by 10:45 when they said it would run 2:15 with intermission, and it did feel long in some places.

Thoughts:

1) Gorgeous set

2) Beautiful costumes

3) Top notch Groff. The man really does share Darin’s love of performing and the audience feels that, so we’re constantly cheering him on and proud when he dances his tush offand more.

4) Connie Francis is way more fun than Sandra Dee, so that does drag the second act down (along with other sad plot lines)but the mother character calls this out and they end things with a bang.

5) They gave us posters which are very nice and the people who had tickets for Friday’s cancelled show also got tote bags. Both generous and really cute.

6) What I’d change (SPOILERS AHEAD) - Groff starts the show as himself and makes multiple jokes about how he’s wet. We’ve heard it. Maybe one and done. Hesings Splish Splash in a bikini bottom and honestly, it should be an “is he naked” moment where he holds the rubber ducky or towel in front of himself without ever letting us see the Speedo. The song that his sister sings in the audience when a microphone comes down from the ceiling should be cut. Really slowed down the first act, and it didn’t seem necessary.

I’m sure there were other things I’d change, but that’s what I remember. Definitely thought this was a ton of fun and fully Groff’s show. I suspect reviews will be mixed, but I’m a fan!"

Jonathan Groff in a speedo…my interest has been piqued

[RumTumJM]

Posted: 4/1/25 at 2:31am

Now that some of you have seen the show, I have to ask the BIG QUESTION: "What places to sit in & what are the worst?"

I've attached a seating chart here & given the sections letters, so that we can all identify & refer to them easily. 

https://ibb.co/BH7Lndqz
 

Updated On: 4/1/25 at 02:31 AM

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/1/25 at 5:18am

View-wise, B and C face the stage, so I’d choose that. He does go into the aisles a bit between A and B and C and D. There are a few moments that happen between B and C, so their backs will be to you, but I think you’ll miss a little on the sides. Actually, I think the seats between aisles between A and B or C and D is probably pretty great and you wouldn’t miss anything. The only think I’d really avoid are the end seats closest to the stage of A and D.

[justherehanging]

Posted: 4/1/25 at 6:44pm

Wish there was a discount 

 

so expensive 

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 4/1/25 at 11:01pm

This is the Groff show but a delightful one. If he hadn’t won for Merrily, he’d probably easily be winning for this.

I think critics will be mixed on the conceit but the audience was into it tonight. Timbers does a nice job directing and the ensemble surrounding Groff is also solid. 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Did not expect this to have a Hadestown esque gasp moment. And the end did feel a bit Moulin Rouge-esque in that he dies and then mega mix.

 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/1/25 at 11:37pm

''Wish there was a discount ... so expensive''

''Just in Time'' has $40 rush tickets and standing room. 

[Kad]

Posted: 4/1/25 at 11:58pm

Even considering his win last year, I think Groff will be a formidable contender for Best Actor.

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 12:15am

I agree Groff will be a contender for Best Actor in a musical. Right now I think his main competition is Jeremy Jordan (Floyd Collins) but we'll see how it goes come June. It's funny since I still remember Jeremy Jordan singing the duet "Let Me Be Your Star" with Jonathan Groff in MCC miscast over a decade ago! 

[Springtime]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 12:22am

Wick3 said: "I agree Groff will be a contender for Best Actor in a musical. Right now I think his main competition is Jeremy Jordan (Floyd Collins) but we'll see how it goes come June. It's funny since I still remember Jeremy Jordan singing the duet "Let Me Be Your Star" with Jonathan Groff in MCC miscast over a decade ago!"

And the Groff/Jordan duet has now been professionally recorded by MCC and is available on Spotify etc. 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 12:28am

''Even considering his win last year, I think Groff will be a formidable contender for Best Actor.''

It's rare for performers to win consecutive Tonys. Two examples come to mind: Gwen Verdon and Thelma Ritter tied for Best Actress in a Musical for ''New Girl in Town'' (195. Then, Verdon returned the following season to win for ''Redhead.'' ... At the 2012 Tonys, Judith Light won Best Featured Actress in a Play for ''Other Desert Cities.'' Then she returned the following year to win for ''The Assembled Parties.'' ... At the Oscars, Tom Hanks won Best Actor for ''Philadelphia'' (1993), followed by ''Forrest Gump'' (1994). And Jason Robards won Best Supporting Actor for ''All the President's Men'' (1976), followed by ''Julia'' (1977). ... Other examples?

P.S. I don't include the Emmys, which I consider the laziest and least-imaginative major showbiz award. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won Best Actress in a Comedy 6 times in a row for ''Veep.'' And RuPaul won Best Host of a Reality Show 8 times in a row.

 

 

Updated On: 4/2/25 at 12:28 AM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 12:51am

Jonathan Groff is delightful and charming and watching him singing and dancing in the big numbers was a blast. The show certainly may be worth it for that alone. Unless you're a Bobby Darin diehard, that's really the only reason to see this, despite a capable supporting cast and a very cool set.

I love Michele Pawk, but after her first appearance that made me think, "Yay! Michele Pawk!" the rest of the book scenes in Act I were deadly, simply to be endured to get to the next number. That was still better than Act II, which seemed much heavier on story and became a slog (though Erika Henningson is very good in a thankless part. But all the members of the supporting cast are good).

The best parts of the second act were when a character reappeared to call out how the second act had turned into a bunch of ballads (accurate) and told him to lighten up, and when an audience member loudly yelled out, "WHAT?!" at a plot revelation (that I saw coming a mile away but based on the audience reaction, many did not).

This would have been better as less of a traditional bio-musical than if they had done it as a concert (or simply carried the opening conceit through the show): Groff performing Darin's songs, either in character as Darin or as himself like at the start of the show, interspersed with (very brief) stories about Darin's life if necessary to break up the numbers. Groff's brief bits about himself were more fun than anything I learned about Bobby Darin, who didn't seem very interesting as a person at all, and his life story felt like a typical and predictable showbiz story (so, not very interesting...). Coming out of this, I had no idea why Bobby Darin's life story needed to be told. All the show really needed were his songs and Groff to perform them, and in the end, they're still all it has.

[The Other One]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 7:14am

Wayman_Wong said: "''Even considering his win last year, I think Groff will be a formidable contender for Best Actor.''

It's rare for performers to win consecutive Tonys. Two examples come to mind: Gwen Verdon and Thelma Ritter tied for Best Actress in a Musical for ''New Girl in Town'' (1958). Then, Verdon returned the following season to win for ''Redhead.'' ... At the 2012 Tonys, Judith Light won Best Featured Actress in a Play for ''Other Desert Cities.'' Then she returned the following year to win for ''The Assembled Parties.'' ... At the Oscars, Tom Hanks won Best Actor for ''Philadelphia'' (1993), followed by ''Forrest Gump''(1994). And Jason Robards won Best Supporting Actor for ''All the President's Men'' (1976), followed by ''Julia'' (Other examples?)

With the Oscars, yes, but you have to go way back.  Luise Rainer won for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937) and Spencer Tracy won for Captains Courageous (1937) and Boys Town (1938).

With the Tonys, Shirley Booth won for Goodbye My Fancy in 1949 and Come Back, Little Sheba in 1950, Sandy Dennis won for A Thousand Clowns in 1963 and Any Wednesday in 1964, Stephen Spinella won for the two halves of Angels In America in 1993 and 1994 and Laurie Metcalf won for A Dolls House Part 2 in 2017 and Three Tall Women in 2018 .  I'm not sure if you want to count these examples, because each won one as lead performer and one as supporting, but they did win consecutively.  

 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 8:36am

The Other One: Thanks for the additional trivia. But since Kad raised the possibiliity that Groff might have a good shot at another Tony for Best Actor in a Musical, I was really only focused on performers who were repeating in the same category. But great to meet other awards junkies like me! 

Updated On: 4/2/25 at 08:36 AM

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 10:21am

The Other One said: "Wayman_Wong said: "''Even considering his win last year, I think Groff will be a formidable contender for Best Actor.''
With the Oscars, yes, but you have to go way back. Luise Rainer won for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937) and Spencer Tracy won for Captains Courageous (1937) andBoys Town (1938).
"

Don't forget Tom Hanks' consecutive Oscars in 1994 (Philadelphia) and 1995 (Forrest Gump).