On September 8th, the Grammy Museum presented a “New York Evening with Just in Time” at The Greene Space in Manhattan, which featured Tony winner Jonathan Groff, Erika Henningsen, and Andrew Resnick.
“My name is Jonathan Groff and I play Bobby Darin in the musical ‘Just in Time’ eight time a week, and I have the great pleasure of sharing the stage with some of the greatest musicians in New York,” Groff said, prior to introducing each member of the band and the conductor (Andrew Resnick).
Backed by a gifted band, they performed for an intimate live audience (and there were fans that were tuning in via the Live Stream). “I feel like a Peloton instructor,” Groff jokingly said (about the fact that there were viewers watching at home).
In the six-time Tony-nominated Broadway show “Just in Time,” Groff portrays Bobby Darin, the late but great singer whose short but impressive life took him from a teen idol to a worldwide sensation, thus inspiring future generations that followed. Darin was known for such classic hits as “Beyond the Sea,” “Mack the Knife,” “Splish Splash” and “Dream Lover.”
Groff kicked off the show at The Greene Space with a tender version of Bobby Darin’s “Beyond the Sea,” which was well-received. “Let’s celebrate the brilliant artistry of Bobby Darin,” he said.
Groff spoke about the origin of the show “Just in Time,” and how it has been eight years in the making. He shared that it has taught him the importance of “being in the present moment with the people that are there right now.”
Both Groff and Resnick opened up about their decision to perform the show in a swinging nightclub space environment, in an effort to transport the audience into that time period.
They paid homage to the late Bobby Darin by showing a clip of the speech that was said by his son Dodd Darin at the Grammy Awards, where Bobby was posthumously honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” Grammy in 2010.
Groff, who was fighting back tears watching this clip, encouraged everybody to go home and watch this seven-minute video on YouTube.
Groff also discussed working with the musical’s book writers Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver, as well as Chita Rivera-nominated choreographer Shannon Lewis.
Resnick also revealed how an “emotional catharsis” moment in the show, which involved Gracie Lawrence (as Connie Francis) holding out a note as long as she possibly can in “Who’s Sorry Now?” and how it worked.
They subsequently introduced Erika Henningsen as Sandra Dee who performed the sassy and fun “Not For Me.” Henningsen shared that Sandra Dee’s scenes with Bobby Darin in the musical felt like a movie montage, and rightfully so.
It was followed by an impressive duet of “Irresistible You” (between Jonthan Groff and Erika Henningsen) and an ethereal duet of “If I Were a Carpenter,” which was sheer bliss. Henningsen’s vocals, in particular, were equal in excellence and purity to those of Alison Krauss and then blended well with Groff’s velvet voice.
Groff shared how he was initially hesitant to sing in people’s eyes when he did “Merrily We Roll Along,” but that prepared him for “Just in Time,” and now, it has been a “spiritual and amazing experience” to perform in people’s eyes, as well as an “absolute privilege.”
After Henningsen, Groff and Resnick took a few questions from the audience members, Groff closed the event on a fitting note with a poignant rendition of “The Curtain Falls.”
The Verdict
Overall, it was a warm and pleasant evening at The Greene Space in New York City (presented by the Grammy Museum) with Jonathan Groff and Erika Henningsen under the musical direction of Andrew Resnick.
Judging from their captivating vocals performances, the “Just in Time” cast album deserves recognition at the upcoming Grammy Awards (in its own right). Well done. One thing is for certain… the music of Bobby Darin will never go out of style.
The cast album of “Just in Time” is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
To learn more about “Just in Time” on Broadway, visit its official website.
Read More: “Just in Time” Broadway review.
