Talk about pressure! Lancaster’s own Jonathan Groff, the Tony-winning actor (Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical for Merrily We Roll Along) was in Lancaster over the Thanksgiving holiday and took time to attend Prima Theatre’s immersive holiday concert, Illumination.
Jonathan Groff with Prima Illumination singers and band
Groff who is becoming known for his versatility (the Disney film, Frozen; King George in the smash Broadway hit, Hamilton; his turn as a cosmetic surgeon on HBO’s And Just Like That and as an FBI agent in Netflix’s Mindhunter), attended the show with longtime friend, Cody Smith, who is the director of Illumination. The show, now in its third year, blends traditional holiday carols with modern favorites and is presented in a candlelit setting in which four vocalists are accompanied by a live ensemble of musicians playing the piano, cello, guitar and percussion instruments.
Groff, who is a graduate of Conestoga Valley High School, gave the show a rave review, calling it “exquisite” and adding, “The theater, the singers, the musicians, the costumes, the choreography … it’s all so beautifully done.” He told Smith that Illumination was “just perfect to put you in the holiday spirit.”
The two friends made a night of it by starting with dinner at The Belvedere Inn. After the show, Groff greeted audience members, as well as visited with the cast and crew. Then, it was back to New York, where he is preparing to take on the role of Bobby Darin, the multitalented musician, songwriter and actor who tragically succumbed to heart disease at the age of 37 in 1973. The show, Just in Time, is set to debut on Broadway n 2025.
Reading about Groff’s Thanksgiving visit spurred memories of the time he posed for our Best of Lancaster cover (November 2007). At the time, he was the toast of Broadway, thanks to his role in the hit show, Spring Awakening. Three of us took the train to New York, jumped in a taxi and made our way to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where the show had moved after selling out its entire run (plus two extensions) at the Atlantic Theatre.
We arrive to find fans (mostly young women) lined up along the sidewalk hoping to get a glimpse of the young actor. When he appeared to greet us, screams from the crowd erupted. Groff then took us to his dressing room, where he introduced us to his co-star, Lea Michele. (Years later, I would look at the pictures and say to myself, “That was freaking Lea Michele!” who went on to become a star in her own right.)
Groff then sat for an interview with writer Melissa Kashner, who later wrote, “…Groff just takes his success in stride. ‘You know, it doesn’t seem that long ago that I was unemployed!’ he laughs. His demeanor throughout what had to be his umpteenth interview brims with that same charm and graciousness and especially excitement, as if he just plopped his suitcases on the Broadway pavement this very second.”
LCM November 2007 Issue
For the cover, photographer Allan Holm suggested that Groff drape himself over the Spring Awakening advertisement outside the theatre. The screaming ensued again, but Groff focused on Allan’s directions, and we had our shot in record time. It was an adventure I’ll always remember!
Illumination runs through December 22 (Thursdays through Sundays), with performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Visit primatheatre.org for ticket information.
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