Jonathan Groff leads Bobby Darin bio-musical Just in Time to Broadway

A new jukebox bio-musical has arrived on Broadway with its heart firmly in the storytelling camp rather than the souvenir singalong lane. Just in Time, led by Tony winner Jonathan Groff, charts the turbulent and dazzling life of mid-century crooner Bobby Darin, whose catalogue includes “Dream Lover”, “Beyond the Sea”, and “Splish Splash”. The show tracks Darin’s meteoric rise and fragile health, culminating in his death at 37 from complications linked to rheumatic fever, and frames the tale as an emotional journey rather than a greatest-hits package.

The project took flight after Groff and producer Tom Kirdahy began developing the idea in 2019 during Groff’s stint in Little Shop of Horrors off Broadway. Early hurdles included navigating rights to Darin’s life story, given the existence of the Australian musical Dream Lover which played in Melbourne in 2017 and 2018. Kirdahy secured the necessary permissions through Darin’s son, Dodd, clearing the way for a six-year path to Broadway.

Groff has been embedded with Just in Time from inception as both star and producer. That long involvement has been reflected during awards season, with the production recognised by the Tony Awards in six categories, including a nomination for Groff himself. The team positions the show as a testament to sustained collaboration, noting the years of development required to shape a bio-musical that balances nostalgia, nuance, and narrative drive.

Kirdahy’s connection to the piece is also personal. The producer, whose credits span The Inheritance, Hadestown, and the current revival of Gypsy, was married to playwright Terrence McNally until McNally’s death in 2020 due to COVID. Work on Just in Time began a year earlier. Fulfilling a promise to see the project through has given the production a commemorative dimension. McNally’s legacy continues to be visible in other ways. New York City named a street after him on May 30, and a film of his musical Kiss of the Spider Woman starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and Tonatiuh is in development with Kirdahy producing.

The creative team presents Just in Time as a timely reminder of the value of live performance and community during a period of cultural division. The musical leans into themes of urgency, legacy, and living fully, and the casting of Groff, a gay leading actor, has resonated with audiences across generations and demographics in a climate where queer visibility can feel contested. The production frames Darin’s story as both a period portrait and a contemporary reflection on time, ambition, and connection.

With its combination of familiar hits, intimate biography, and a star-led creative nucleus, Just in Time aims to offer both catharsis and celebration. The show is now playing at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre.

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