NYC Trip 2026 - Day 4, Part 2/Just In Time Musical

Well, here we are. The "Just In Time" musical recap. This is the entire reason we decided to return to NYC this year. My daughter is a Jeremy Jordan superfan and we got to see him. His performance was spectacular. Checked it off the bucket list.

 

Doug purchased tickets for both of our June shows months in advance. We knew of the musical about Bobby Darin's life back when Jonathan Groff originated the roll a year before. I know how much Briana enjoys Jeremy Jordan's performances, so when I heard he was the replacement for this show and he would only be performing the role for several months, I thought this was our best chance to see him.

 

This is the banner that came on the e-mail that sent our tickets...

 

We were all set.

 

And then a couple of weeks before going to NY...I realized that the Tony Awards were happening that Sunday evening. We were going to the 2PM matinee, but I know all the Broadway stars go to the ceremony and I worried that Jeremy might not show. And with my track record of getting understudies (like what happened with Shoshana), I was nervous.

 

So about a week or so before heading to NYC, Doug got a confirmation for the tickets. I had told him my concern about not getting to see Jeremy and he had that it his head. But, the ticket place made a mistake. They had Jonathan's picture on the email they sent and not Jeremy's...

 

So Doug comes to me and says, I think that Jonathan might be filling in that day because this is the email that I just received. The only reason we even entertained that thought was because it was awards night. We were happy that it might be Jonathan instead, but the reason we were going was for Jeremy. You don't want to be disappointed because Jonathan is the OG and amazing, but we were a little bummed.

 

Nonetheless, we were still excited to see the show. 

 

Briana got all dressed up for the occasion...

 

In the elevator heading to the show...

 

 The Circle In The Square Theater is just a couple of blocks from the hotel. It is located in the basement of the Gershwin Theater where "Wicked" plays. So, we had already been there a few years before...

 

The theater...

 

 We get to the theater thinking we weren't going to see Jeremy, but we were still happy. And we had great seats...

 

The theater is smaller and very intimate. It feels like a nightclub. The theater seating wraps entirely around the stage, actors are often mere inches away from the front row or walking through the aisles. There is a main stage (that you see behind Doug and Bri) and then a mini stage on the other side of the room. In the middle there are tables that concert goers can pay to sit at. Very cool.

 

So in that moment, we already thought were weren't seeing Jeremy. And then we read in the playbill that Carrie St. Louis wasn't going to be there either as Sandra Dee. We had yet another understudy - sigh. Luckily, Olivia Holt was going to be there as Connie Francis, and she just replaced Isa Briones (Isa is in the TV show "The Pitt"). But luckily, we already saw Isa Briones live in Hadestown two years before. 

 So the show starts, a man comes up through the floor and the announcer says "Here is Jeremy Jordan!!" The three of us look at each other in total shock, amazement and excitement. The email was wrong! We were wrong! He was there and we were thrilled! We were probably the only weirdos in the room who thought he wouldn't be. Anyway - it was a fun surprise...

 

Briana had a smile on her face the entire show (except during the sad parts). 

 

Jeremy as Bobby Darin was absolutely fantastic. Olivia Holt as Connie Francis - fantastic. The whole cast - fantastic!

 

The understudy, Tristen Buettel (as Sandra Dee), was also fantastic...

 

The first act was very upbeat and explained Bobby's rise to fame and his love for Connie Francis. The second act was a bit darker from him meeting then divorcing his wife Sandra Dee to his career declining to finding out his sister was actually his mother! And then he tragically died at 37. Yikes! But, they did lighten the show at the very end and it was amazing...

 

 

 

Two of the numbers... 

 

Just spectacular!

 

We left the theater and realized the stage door wasn't too bad to stand at. So, we decided to wait to see who came out. Bri and I were on one side and Doug went to the other side. Bri and I were in the second row. Bri got her playbills signed and I took pics. Doug managed to tackle pics and signing on his end - he somehow got in the front row on his side.

 

The stage door...

 

You can see Briana well in this picture above. I am behind the guy in the pink shirt.

 I will let you know immediately that Jeremy didn't come out. We were disappointed, but it's ok. We got to be in the same room as him - so it is all good!

 

You will now see pictures from my camera angle and from Doug's. 

 

Joe Barbara (who plays several roles including Bobby's brother-in-law) came out first, but he had no time to sign playbills because he had a bus to catch. But he did say hello...

 

Then Olivia Holt (Connie Francis) came out and started signing playbills. Briana told her how wonderful she was and Olivia said "Oh, thank you!" It was so cute...

 

Then Tari Kelly came out (plays Nina, Bobby's sister/bio mother) - Bri told her she was great too...

Then finally, Lance Roberts came out and started signing. He plays Bobby's manager (he was hilarious)...

 

He took a video of all of us for his social media...

 

Pride playbill - all signed!

 

One last photo before heading out...

 

My very happy girlie!

 

 Another successful Broadway attendance accomplished! Briana is going to have to find a job one day close to NYC so she can just go see Broadway shows all the time. It is her happy place.

 

 We were feeling a bit tired, but we really wanted to try to fit in Summit One Vanderbilt before going home. And we did!

 

More on that next.