“Just In Time,” a biographical jukebox musical about the performer Bobby Darin, has recouped its entire production cost after just over a year on Broadway. The show, which earned a Tony nomination and plenty of raves for its star Jonathan Groff, was capitalized at $12.5 million.
“Just In Time” is the first musical of the 2024-2025 season to achieve profitability, an increasingly rare accomplishment these days. Only four other musicals to open since the pandemic, “MJ,” “Six,” “& Juliet,” and “The Outsiders,” have managed to recoup on Broadway.
“Just In Time” garnered mixed reviews and failed to earn a Tony nomination for best musical. It was nominated in six other categories but went home with zero awards. However Groff, a Broadway favorite from “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Hamilton” and “Spring Awakening,” was key in the show’s popularity. During his final week as Bobby Darin, in late March, “Just In Time” reached its highest gross of more than $2 million.
Developed and directed by Alex Timbers, “Just In Time” began performances at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre on March 31 ahead of opening night on April 26. The venue, which the musical cheekily references as the basement of “Wicked,” was transformed into an intimate and immersive night club, complete with a live band and ensemble of 16 to perform Darin’s hits like “Splish Splash,” “Beyond the Sea,” “Mack the Knife” and “Dream Lover.” Darin, who rose fame during the 1950s and ’60s, died in 1973 at age 37 due to complications from open heart surgery. “Just in Time” is planning a North American tour, which will launch in June 2027.
Matthew Morrison (“Glee”) and Jeremy Jordan (a theater veteran who is currently starring as Darin) joined the show after Groff’s exit. Other famous faces, like “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland and “The Pitt” actor Isa Briones, were notable replacements in the role of singer Connie Francis.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone involved in the creation of ‘Just In Time.’ From our first preview, we witnessed firsthand the electrifying audience response to our immersive Broadway show,” said producers Tom Kirdahy and Robert Ahrens. “‘Just In Time’ delivers joy to audiences nightly. Bobby Darin lived an extraordinary life and created magic every time he stepped on stage. It continues to be a privilege to tell his story as we enter our second year on Broadway.”
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