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Okayy so apparently I shared the room with Raul Castillo and Katie Mccarty! Also very appropriate considering I rewatched some Looking episodes in my hotel the day before

@katiemccartyofficial Happy Closing @merrilyonbway! Congratulations to everyone involved with this incredible production!! We love you JG!! ❤️❤️❤️ #merrilywerollalong #broadway #latergram #nyc #friends @jenziet @alexis_forte_costumes @raulcastillo

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So I needed a couple of days to recover, but witnessing Merrily's closing show on Sunday was simply amazing and so special.

The entire week people had gasped when they heard I was seeing the closing show haha, and even when queueing at the theatre, there were multiple people still looking for tickets. I felt so fortunate to be holding on to one - as well as that I bought it before the Tony's because those prices skyrocketed.

As soon as the overture started, people started applauding loudly, and once more before the overture had ended. Everyone clearly felt lucky to be in the room where it happens 😉. Jonathan obviously got a loud applause as he entered the stage, and so did Daniel and Lindsay, Katie Rose and honestly all cast members (as they deserve!)

After Franklin Shepard Inc Daniel got a standing ovation that lasted minutes, and completely broke down in tears. Throughout the show there were many standing ovations, after which the cast had to clearly wait to continue. The show without speeches lasted about 3 hours because of that. Jonathan kept it together quite well throughout the show and was mostly in tears during It's a hit, for which someone at the stage door airdropped me those pictures above. And having to start singing " our time" Jonathan was clearly in tears and kept looking upstage at Daniel. When he finally got his words out, Daniel's voice kept cracking and so also he got emotional.

After the official bows everyone got on stage including Sonia and Maria Friedman, stage management, musicians, dressers etc. You can find the speeches online, they mostly focused on the authentic love in the company and how they were never going to experience something as good again. Both everyone on stage as everyone in the audience was in tears. Especially when Sonia Friedman told Maria Friedman that their parents who are no longer with them, would be so proud of her. And that the last thing Stephan Sondheim did was cast Daniel for this show. Jonathan, Daniel and Lindsay were holding on to each other tightly the entire time and Jon placed some kisses atop of Daniels head which just looked to cute. It was clear they were taking a lot of comfort in one another.

During the speeches they also mentioned that it wouldn't take to long to watch this company do this show again, but in a different format, alluding to the proshot.

The next day I walked by the Hudson theatre and they were already clearing it out. I filmed walking by, but it is mostly tech and a small glimpse of the inside of the theatre that you can see.

All in all, it was an incredible experience to have witnessed this closing show and have gotten to see it at the new york theatre workshop from only a couple of meters away! Obviously the show is amazing! And it is such a joy and privilege to get to see Jonathan exude his happy theatre kid-energy live on stage.

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JONATHAN GROFF as Franklin Shepard MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

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So cute

Photos of young Jonathan in early shows from Lancaster Online. Long-time friend Katie McCarty is in the second photo from the 2002 cast of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" from left: Dan Shapiro as Schroeder, Kim Martin as Lucy, Katie McCarty as Sally, Lee Fulmer as Linus, Jonathan Groff as Charlie Brown and Emily Fritz as Snoopy

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LOOK AT HIMM!!!

Jonathan with his Tony Award.

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Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical — Jonathan Groff

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Soooo good! My gawd cant believe Im going to see the closing performance! Will be bawling my eyes out

The cast of Merrily We Roll Along performs on the Tony Awards.

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No one can say old friend How an old friendship survives One day chums Having a laugh a minute One day comes And they're a part of your lives

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This is just too cute

Jonathan Does Recess Therapy with kids at the Hudson Theatre.

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Jonathan’s speech to Sutton Foster and guests at the Sardi’s portrait unveiling. TikTok from Theatrely.

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Okay this is so sweet

Jonathan and Lea Michele at the Sardi’s portrait unveiling.

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Jonathan Groff | Out Magazine | May 14, 2024 | 🎥 Dean Isidro

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Jonathan and ‘Illinoise’ director Justin Peck at the Tony Nominees Lunch.

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Looking gooood

Always a good surprise to see Jonathan pop up at the Met Gala!

Jonathan at the Met Gala wearing Simone Rocha FW23 RTW.

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@coreymach the LOVE in this theater today is BEYOND (but especially in this scene!) ♥️ 7️⃣

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Jonathan received a Tony nomination for Merrily We Roll Along. Merrily received a total of six nominations including for Daniel Radcliffe, Lindsay Mendez, Maria Friedman and Best Revival.

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It was never guaranteed that a Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along would succeed.

More than 40 years later, the first-ever Broadway revival of Merrily has become the hottest ticket of the season. First mounted with Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez at the New York Theater Workshop in the winter of 2022, the production received a rapturous response and quickly sold out. And now, what was supposed to be a limited 12-week run on Broadway has been extended multiple times, giving audiences ample opportunity to rediscover one of Sondheim’s most misunderstood masterpieces. (The show’s final performance is set for Sunday, July 7.)

“This material is so transcendent, it’s teaching me something new every day,” says Groff. “Every single person in the cast is a genius, and our director [Maria Friedman] has stripped the entire thing back to its purest form. What Stephen Sondheim and George Furth wrote is so extremely personal, and she has made it personal for all the performers, and therefore, the audience.”

Below, the cast of Merrily We Roll Along takes Vogue behind-the-scenes at the Hudson Theatre. (Photos by Andy Henderson)

“How I feel coming out of the darkness of the first scene and laying eyes on Dan in the wings. This moment happens at every performance.” –Jonathan Groff (Franklin Shepard)

“My favorite scene…when we meet up on the rooftop, and have our entire lives ahead of us.” –Lindsay Mendez (Mary Flynn)

“This is our nightly routine, and my favorite part of coming to work. The three of us gather in my dressing room at half-hour before every performance to discuss our days and connect. We really are ‘Old Friends.’” –Lindsay Mendez

“Sondheim says it best: ‘Thanks, old friends. Keeping reminding me.’ But you can also use Beyoncé: ‘THIS A REMINDER.’” –Jonathan Groff