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Lea Michele supports Jonathan Groff at off-Broadway bash

By
Mara Siegler
Published Jan. 9, 2023, 6:51 p.m. ET
Lea Michele supports pal Jonathan Groff at the “Merrily We Roll Along” cast party with Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez.Vincenzo Dimino

Lea Michele, who is currently wowing audiences as Fanny Brice in Broadway’s “Funny Girl,” showed her support for fellow musical stars and a former “Glee” cast member over the weekend.

On Sunday, Michele, 36, showed up to the cast party for the new show “Merrily We Roll Along” — starring Daniel Radcliffe, Lindsay Mendez, and Michele’s former castmate, Jonathan Groff — at Le Chalet at L’Avenue at Saks. 

“Lea made a surprise appearance right after her matinee performance,” says a spy. “She was immediately embraced by Jonathan.”

We’re told that Michele, who has gotten a reputation for being icy behind the scenes, “chatted with a few other guests while at the party, but mostly stayed by Jonathan’s side.”

The pair, who starred in “Spring Awakening” together as teens, have been friends for more than 15 years.

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In an HBO doc on the 2006 show, “Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known,” Michele says she fell in love with Groff — who was then closeted and figuring out his sexuality, and had asked if he would date her. 

“Merrily We Roll Along” is playing at New York Theater Workshop. Vincenzo Dimino

“I never asked him again about his sexuality and it was sort of this… I think he felt safe with me because he knew that I knew and that we could be best friends, and our relationship just grew and grew to the point that we would do the show and then we would go home together. That’s why Jonathan and I became so close. We were so intertwined.”

The theater fete at Saks also featured music from DJ Ari Grooves with guests dancing “all night long, some even taking off their shoes,” says a spy.

There was even some singing. “A cast member took the mic to lead an impromptu performance of ‘Happy Birthday’” says the attendee.

“Merrily We Roll Along,” is playing off-Broadway at New York Theater Workshop.

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