JUST IN TIME Previews- Page 2

[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).

[The Other One]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 10:45am

bwaylyric, wayman had mentioned those two Oscars so I didn't repeat the information.  Thank you, though!

[Lisalemann]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 11:46am

MemorableUserName said: "

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."

They must not have done a great job with the book then - because Bobby Darin had a fascinating life! He lived his whole life knowing he was on borrowed time due to his genetic heart defect.  He was a successful singer and brilliant songwriter in multiple different genres (jazz, pop, country, folk music) and a respected actor.  He also became very involved in politics working on the Robert Kennedy presidential campaign. He had a heck of a life in such a short time. I'm still really looking forward to seeing this in July.

[aislestorm2]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 11:50am

There are also what looks to be two extra rows of seats down front on the sides, but the view is blocked by the people sitting at those $400 table seats. I would have hated to be in those added-on front rows.

[Penna2]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 12:32pm

MemorableUserName said: 


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, whodidn't seem very interesting as a person at all, and his life storyfeltlike a typical and predictable showbiz story(so, not very interesting...). Coming out of this, I had no idea why Bobby Darin'slife story needed to be told. All the show really needed werehis songs and Groff to perform them,and in the end, they're still all it has."

Bobby Darin was a fascinating person - a complete a-hole in many ways, but beloved - and incredible performer that's why 52 years after his death a show is being created about him and his music. Kevin Spacey did a great job in Beyond the Sea of showing who he was. This show sounds like not so much. More a vehicle for Groff to sing and share hiw own journey than to actually show what Darin overcame to become the star he was. Didn't see the preview, but that's what I'm getting from the comments. Maybe read one of the numerous books about Darin's life...Dream Lovers by his son is especially good.

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 12:45pm

He has moments where he does come off poorly or snaps at family/friends and it does touch on most of the bio details above especially in act 2. It’s not a bad book but it’s a show more focused on the music and focus on performing like Darin. 

Show let out at 10:35 after starting around 8:05 with a 20 or just under intermission. 

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 1:00pm

Any stage door reports? Curious if Groff came out. From what I noticed in Merrily, he came out early in the run but towards the latter half did not.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 2:03pm

The show covers all the bio points mentioned above, but very quickly (as Groff even promises early on they're going to do). So while we're told he's struggling, he goes from struggling to success so quickly it never seems like the struggle was that big of a deal. Groff seizes up every once in a while and grabs his chest while heartbeats pump on the soundtrack and the stage goes dark, but Groff himself seems so hale and hearty Darin's sickliness never comes across believably. The RFK thing is covered in 10 seconds as the Sandra Dee character summarizes it directly to the audience (something like "Bobby went all in campaigning for RFK, and when RFK was assassinated it was like Bobby died too.") ...And that's it. So all we're really left with is a bunch of impressions that seem typical of any musician. He was ambitious (...like every famous musician?), he was a jerk to the people around him (...like so many famous musicians?), he had a failed marriage (...), then he died (...like, everyone). Even the family history seemed typical (I believe Jack Nicholson famously had the same family revelations?). To do it right and provide a reason to care about any of that, it probably would have needed more development...but I didn't want more development. Even less would have been fine since the strongest parts of the show were elsewhere.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 2:13pm

aislestorm2 said: "There are also what looks to be two extra rows of seats down front on the sides, but the view is blocked by the people sitting at those $400 table seats. I would have hated to be in those added-on front rows."

I sat in the second row for the dress rehearsal and the view there was great! The tables don’t block anything.

[BroadwayPhan]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 2:21pm

The box office recommended sections A & D over B & C in your diagram.

Having seen the show now, I would agree with that assessment.

I think you feel closer to the action in sections A & D, while B & C feels a little more distant. I think the show is blocked well that it plays very well to sections A & D - you don't feel like you're "on the side" at all.

That being said - I would also recommend you sit no more forward than row B. There is very little rake in the rows in front of row B, so you could get a lot of heads in those for 2-3 rows.

I would also avoid the 6-7 seats in each row in sections A & D that are closest to the normal stage section (where the band is). 

The box office is also selling "upgraded rush" tickets if available for $69. Those might exist even when the $40 seats are gone.

Enjoy!

[Kad]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 2:33pm

broadwayboy222 said: "Any stage door reports? Curious if Groff came out. From what I noticed in Merrily, he came out early in the run but towards the latter half did not."

He did not stage door for the first preview and I have heard he is likely not going to be doing so going forward.

Updated On: 4/2/25 at 02:33 PM

[merle57]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 3:16pm

I have not seen the show yet, but I originally questioned why do a musical show about his life when the movie covered the same territory. As I read the comments on the show, it sounds like George M! set in a nightclub with quick one or two line bio bits between a song repertory. Isn't this really more nightclub than musical theatre? 

I am too old and too spoiled by great musicals of the past. I am not a fan of Wikipedia musical theatre, nor do I like movies thrown on stage with generic scores where the lead blasts a Defying Gravity note at the end of Act One and has a soulful generic gut wrenching pop ballad at the end of the Act Two.  The formula is just not exciting.  Where is the originality?  At least Maybe Happy Ending, Operation Mincemeat and Dead Outlaw try for dramatic surprise and authentic emotions.

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 4:44pm

merle57 said: "I have not seen the show yet, but I originally questioned why do a musical show about his life when the movie covered the same territory. As I read the comments on the show, it sounds like George M! set in a nightclub with quick one or two line bio bits between a song repertory. Isn't this really more nightclub than musical theatre?

Well one obvious reason why is some people like a live experience more than just watching a movie, particularly when it is led by a popular, talented, and winsome performer like Groff.  This is no more "nightclub" than a lot of musical offerings.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 4:56pm

Bio musical AND narration? Imma pass. But so curious to see what Timber’s cooked up. 

[inception]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 7:12pm

My reaction to reading these few reports is that maybe if it extends to the Fall, this will be the show to splurge on pricey tickets.

Up to now I didn't even care about this.

[Penna2]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 8:12pm

SteveSanders said: "merle57 said: "I have not seen the show yet, but I originally questioned why do a musical show about his life when the movie covered the same territory. As I read the comments on the show, it sounds like George M! set in a nightclub with quick one or two line bio bits between a song repertory. Isn't this really more nightclub than musical theatre?

Well one obvious reason why is some people like a live experience more than just watching a movie, particularly when it is led by a popular, talented, and winsome performer like Groff. This is no more "nightclub" than a lot of musical offerings."

The thing is Darin was anything but "winsome." If you are going to see Groff that's fine. If you are going to see Darin and know anything about his life, based on the comments I've read here, you are going to be disappointed. I wasn't a big fan of Darin's when he was alive - thought Splish Splash was stupid...did love Mack the Knife though. I enjoyed Spacey's film, but it was actually the announcement of this show that got me interested in him. The movie was good, however, after reading a biography, it also fell short (but putting 37 years of life into 1 1/2 hours is tough). It was imaginative and I loved the way Spacey dealt with the heart issue. Putting his life on stage would be even more difficult.

From an interview I saw with Groff, the focus is about the music and maybe this should have just been a concert. This seems to be the main objective of the show...more about Groff than Darin. 

Updated On: 4/2/25 at 08:12 PM

[ELP]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 10:01pm

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, whodidn't seem very interesting as a person at all, and his life storyfeltlike a typical and predictable showbiz story(so, not very interesting...). Coming out of this, I had no idea why Bobby Darin'slife 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."

Absolutely spot on!!!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 10:23pm

The death finale to Kevin Spacey’s 2004 Bobby Darin biopic BEYOND THE SEA, featuring William Ullrich as young Bobby. Choreography by the fabulous Rob Ashford:

 

[Penna2]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 10:46pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "The death finale to Kevin Spacey’s 2004 Bobby Darin biopic BEYOND THE SEA, featuring William Ullrich as young Bobby. Choreography by the fabulous Rob Ashford:

Love this. I think either you posted this earlier here and it brought me back to watching the entire movie again. This scene has so much in it...particularly as it comes after the scene with them are taking what appears to be a dying Bobby from his last performance (The Curtain Falls). Bobby lives on, which has pretty much become the truth. Overall, the choreography was wonderful - the early scene where he goes off to be a star, the meeting with Sandra Dee and this one. William Ullrich is wonderful throughout. 

"

 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 11:18pm

Found this to be fairly standard - entertaining in most of the musical moments, but not without its flaws. The biggest one: the book is…pretty damn dreadful. 

Jon Groff is working his ass off up there. The music all sounds great. Costumes and lighting are particularly strong. Catherine Zuber, you will always be famous. 

This’ll no doubt sell well with the older crowd, but anyone hoping Alex Timbers / Ted Chapin would bring some sort of edge or unique perspective to the bio-musical genre will be disappointed. 

Updated On: 4/3/25 at 11:18 PM

[henrike]

Posted: 4/2/25 at 11:57pm

I saw tonight's performance (3rd preview), and I thought it had some fun moments. But I agree that the book needs work.

There's some breaking of the 4th wall in the beginning, which made all of us entranced by Jonathan Groff's charming persona. The first act was quite enjoyable, in fact. The second act, however, needs to be rewritten from scratch. The way it's currently written, its challenging to care about his relationship with Sandra Dee. There was some mediocre acting with the supporting roles, but hopefully they'll find deeper specificity in their lines as the run continues. It seems, however, that bad acting in musicals is quite prevalent this season (the younger leads in Buena Vista, the female lead in Maybe Happy Ending, the 80% committed camp in Death Becomes Her, etc). Do directors simply not care about the acting? Thank goodness we have Audra who's giving it 110% to make up for it.

 

Updated On: 4/3/25 at 11:57 PM

[Penna2]

Posted: 4/3/25 at 3:10am

henrike said: "I saw tonight's performance (3rd preview), and I thought it had some fun moments. But I agree that the book needs work.

 The second act, however, needs to be rewritten from scratch. The way it's currently written, its challenging to care about his relationship with Sandra Dee. 

The relationship was challenging - she was 16 (according to her and their son - official records had her at 18). They were madly in love with one another, and her mother wasn't thrilled about them being together. (That's a whole other story again!) Both were damaged. She was sexually abused by her stepfather for years until he died. Bobby didn't know about this until much later. Doubt she knew all about his health issues. The main problem was he was one of the boys and after shows he was with his friends. She was a day person working on films, but he wanted her at all his shows. She wanted him home. She started drinking and to stay awake to go to work on a film and take care of Dodd, she was given drugs by her doctor. Anyhoo...he divorced her when he thought she was having an affair with Peter Fonda. Despite the divorce they were still together for years after the divorce. She wanted to get the marriage back together. After a miscarriage during this period (1 of 3 she had while they were together) he wasn't particularly "kind "and she cut him off. According to some, after his relationship with Andrea Yeager (who tends to get forgotten in his story), they dated and lived together for 3 years were married for about 5 minutes before Bobby divorced her, too, Bobby and Sandy were working to get back together. She was never with another man, and he said she was THE ONE for him. Hard to put all that in a show when the show is concentrating on the nightclub element of his career. It's part of the reason their marriage didn't work. 

The point being, this could be its own play along the lines of the Days of Wine and Roses. Again, Spacey was able to show a lot of their relationship in the film. But, once again, this production seems to be more about showcasing Groff singing Darin.

The Connie Francis relationship was a challenge as well, I would imagine. They met when he was writing songs for her. They fell in love, and he wanted to elope even though her father threatened to kill him. On the way to get married, she backed out - she was afraid for him. They met up again on Ed Sullivan's show later, did a couple of songs and that was the last time they ever saw one another in person. Spacey didn't use their story or the Andrea relationship in the film. No one has talked about her part of the show, just that it was better than the part with Dee.

There is just so much. His relationship with Polly was the strongest. She taught him everything about music and kept him alive. When he found out about the lie, it was around the same time he was working with Bobby Kennedy, so Kennedy's death combined with that knowledge AND the miscarriage and Sandy cutting him off all happening was a big trauma for him. It did bring around, however, his return to the spotlight. 

One element Dodd wrote about in his book that was just kind of left dangling was how Bobby deliberately did not take the antibiotics prescribed before a dental appointment, but also did not take his heart medication either. In a sense he ended it that day although he wouldn't die for a while later.

There is this element of his feeling betrayed by the women he loved...even if only imagined. Outside of the times he was on stage or working with his music, he was insecure. I'm not sure of the exact words, but he would say in the dressing room he was this short, ugly guy from the Bronx but when he walked out of the door he was Cary Grant - that's what he loved the most.
 

 

[justherehanging]

Posted: 4/3/25 at 6:40am

Never been a circle on the square

the cheapest tickets are the last row, how far back is that really does anybody have any photos they would be willing to share

[The Other One]

Posted: 4/3/25 at 7:18am

Not very far back at all.  Probably the equivalent of being in the middle of the orchestra in most Broadway theaters, allowing for the elevation factor.  I sat in the last row for An Enemy of the People, and while I would love to have been closer the $400 I saved by not being so was a most acceptable compromise.

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 4/3/25 at 9:08am

I was last row house left (by door 1) and it was a pretty good view especially for the price.
 

You’re closer to the second stage where there are a fair number of performances. 

Updated On: 4/3/25 at 09:08 AM