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