Jonathan Groff Overcome with Emotion After Getting Standing Ovation at First “Merrily” Show Since Tony Win
The 39-year-old actor received a standing ovation during his first 'Merrily' performance after winning big at the 2024 Tony Awards on June 16
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez during the opening night curtain call for Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along" on BroadwayJonathan Groff was treated to a standing ovation in the middle of his first performance of Merrily We Go Around since he won a Tony Award.
On June 18, the show’s official Instagram posted the sweet moment when Groff, 39, became emotional as the crowd and his fellow castmates — including Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez — cheered him on.
During the scene, Groff’s character — musical composer Franklin Shepard — is handed a Tony Award in the middle of the song. During the standing ovation, Groff tried to hand off the award to the rest of the cast but they returned it back to him.
The standing ovation lasted several minutes before Groff and the rest of the cast continued their performance.
On June 16, Groff won the 2024 Tony Award for best performance by a leading actor in a musical for his work in Merrily. Groff had been previously nominated for two other Tony Awards for his performances in Spring Awakening in 2007 and his iconic role as King George III in Hamilton in 2015.
The actor thanked his family for "always allowing my freak flag to fly without ever making me feel weird about it," and his fellow Merrily castmates Radcliffe and Mendez.
"You are more than old friends — you are soulmates.” Groff said in his speech. “And I’m looking forward to watching each other change for the rest of our lives."
Theo Wargo/Getty
Merrily We Go Around also won big at the 2024 Tony Awards, taking home the awards for best orchestrations and best revival of a musical. Along with Groff, Radcliffe, 34, also won his first Tony Award for best performance by a featured actor in a musical.
In the Stephen Sondheim-composed musical, Groff, Radcliffe and Mendez play creative companions that chase their theatrical dreams over the span of two decades. The actors have performed at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway since September 2023, and will continue their run through July 7.
Matthew Murphy
The revival earned rave reviews from critics, who especially praised Groff’s performance. The New York Times called Groff “thrillingly fierce” in their October 10, 2023 review.
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