Broadway for Visitors: How the Musical Just In Time Is Delivering Smiles and Spectacle

Cast member Lance Roberts visits with Broadway Collection about the show’s nightclub set and its swinging star, Jonathan Groff—“he’s our chandelier.”

A smile is contagious. And at Broadway’s Just In Time, smiles are spreading fast!

Broadway veteran Lance Roberts, who appears alongside star Jonathan Groff in the Bobby Darin jukebox-biomusical, has a theory about that: the theatre’s unique design. The Circle in the Square Theatre has been transformed into a swinging retro nightclub, with the stage thrusting out into the audience on three sides. It’s impossible not to grin and bop along when you look across the room and see a hundred other people movin’ and a-groovin’ as Groff launches into “Splish, Splash.”

Just In Time celebrates the life and music of legendary crooner Bobby Darin, blending his greatest hits (“Mack the Knife,” “Beyond the Sea,” and more) with the story of his meteoric rise from teen idol to global sensation, anchored by Groff’s Tony-nominated, energetic and charismatic performance. The show ranks high on Broadway Collection’s list of “Broadway for Visitors” recommendations. It’s a non-stop party full of heart, just like Darin himself.

But don’t take our word for it, hear what Lance Roberts has to say about the show. Just In Time is Roberts's eleventh Broadway production, so when he tells us how much fun he’s having channeling his inner crooner, we believe him. Watch the video to see why this swingin’ musical has audiences grinning from ear to ear.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity and readability.

Lance Roberts: Hi, I’m Lance Roberts, and I play Ahmet Ertegun and Murray the K and others.

Broadway Collection: The seating at Just In Time isn’t typical for a Broadway show. How does that enhance the audience experience?
Oh, that’s a good question! I get to see how it enhances, because what it is…you know, they say that a smile is contagious. And because our show is not really in the round, it’s more three-quarter thrust, the audience not only gets to see us on stage, but they get to watch each other. So if there’s a tender moment, you can see how they’re like, “Oh Bobby..Sandy,” you know. But if there’s an exciting moment, they’re across the aisle from each other, going “Yeah, splish splash, I was taking a bath!” I mean, it's really a lot of fun. And moments like the “Splish Splash” dance are all over TikTok, and when it comes on you can see in the audience’s faces, “Oh, you saw that? Oh, I saw that, too!” So that’s very exciting. And that sort of changes the experience for everyone.

What keeps you coming back to the Broadway community?
Well, it changes. I mean, when we’re actually doing the show, it’s hard to see your friends in other Broadway shows. But the Broadway community has come together for a lot of philanthropic activities. We have the Legacy Robe, we have the Easter Bonnet [Competition], where we get together with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and we raise money for these charities. And what’s great about it is that people who work on Broadway are from all over the country and the world. I just found out that the money that we raise actually gets to every single state in America. So that’s very exciting. It’s great— I like to keep coming back so that we can go beyond just performing and reach everyone as best as we can.

Does someone need to know Bobby Darin’s story to enjoy the show?
Not at all. Because if this music doesn’t get you dancing, nothing will. Someone said, “You can tell someone’s age by how they know ‘Splish Splash.’” Like some of us, who are older, we remember it from “Happy Days.” Younger people know it from “Barney.” So, it’s like, the music has been part of American culture since it came out in the ‘50s, so you really don’t need to know.

And it’s really a story about a person who finds out at a very young age that they don’t have a lot of time to be on the earth. And I think a lot of people can identify with “What do I do with the time that I have?”

Then the music propels you from “Mack the Knife,” “Dream Lover,” “Beyond the Sea,” and, of course, “Splish Splash.” These are songs that you’re just like, “Wait, I've heard that. I didn’t know that Bobby Darin sang them all.” So, you really don’t need to be familiar, but it does enhance the story—seeing how the songs go hand in hand with his life and the loves in his life, you know like Sandra Dee and Connie Francis.

Do you have any pre-show rituals or routines?
Yes. Getting a breakfast sandwich across the street at the Carnegie Diner. {laughs}

It’s exciting waiting for the curtain to rise. What's it like for the performers right before the show starts?
It’s fun. You know, here we are in the dressing room, and three of us are here—the three gentlemen in the show other than Jonathan Groff: Caesar Samayoa and Joe Barbara. Well, we’re in here and it’s sort of like a check-in. Ii jokingly call it “hot topics.” We’ll talk about something…while we’re getting dressed and warming up, we actually talk about things that have happened in our lives, and things that are happening in the world. So, it’s just sort of our check-in and that’s really our daily routine here.

Q: Many visitors come to Broadway looking for a spectacle. Is that something Just In Time delivers?
Oh yeah. I mean, this set—first off, Derek McLane, who many people have seen his set at MJ or Moulin Rouge!, which is also directed by Alex Timbers, who did our show. First of all, the theatre has been transformed. It was black cement blocks and now it’s this very elegant art deco nightclub setting, beautifully lit. And what that set does is gives you tons of spectacle that Derek McLane has added…and then the lights, Justin’s [Townsend] lights…it’s constant. And you never, ever know what’s gonna come next from the direction of the show—because, like I said, it’s three-quarter thrust. So we don’t just come from left or right or center—we can be behind you, next to you… above you? {laughing} No, we don’t come from above—but there’s a lot of surprise. It’s truly truly beautiful.

And I like to say that Jonathan Groff is the biggest spectacle. He’s our chandelier and our helicopter.

What is your favorite number in the show and why?
My favorite number is “Up the Lazy River” because I get to sing with Joe [Barbara] and Jonathan Groff and we’re like Frank, Dean, and Sammy during that number and I look forward to it every single day. I don’t even think that I’m performing as much as just hanging out with these two fellas and we’re singing our favorite song. I look forward to it every single day.

What’s your one-sentence pitch to convince someone to see Just In Time?
Because you will forget all the troubles outside and only want to dance.

Watch the video on YouTube: Lance Roberts Shares the Magic of Just In Time | Broadway Collection

Consider us there! From the immersive set to the high-energy performances, Just In Time delivers non-stop smiles and unforgettable spectacle. For visitors looking to experience the magic of Broadway, Just In Time is a can't-miss highlight.

As a division of the Shubert Organization, the oldest and largest theatre operator on Broadway, the Broadway Collection is uniquely positioned to curate a selection of shows tailored for visitors, whether it’s the first trip or the fiftieth. We’re here to make sure you don’t miss out on the very best that Broadway has to offer.

Learn more about Just In Time and why it’s one of Broadway’s most talked-about shows right now.