How The Submission’s Jonathan Groff Earned the Nickname ‘Jonathong’

As kids all over America head back to school, Broadway.com decided to ask our favorite Broadway stars to look back at their own years in the classroom, sharing memories of favorite subjects and activities and describing their younger selves. Jonathan Groff got his big break as earnest, rebellious student Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening, and it sounds like the real-life Groff sometimes took things just as seriously!

What advice would you give to your school-age self?
Enjoy it! School seems so life and death when you are in it, and while it can be stressful and a lot of work, try to enjoy your friends and your work as much as possible. It's over before you know it.

What’s your favorite back-to-school item?
I always loved getting a new journal to write in at the beginning of the school year, anything seemed possible!

What is your most embarrassing school moment?
At the ninth grade formal when I won the swing dancing competition with Emily Fritz. After our victory, the floor cleared and everyone watched us dance. I got overly ambitious and tried to swing her around my body, I nearly dropped her on the floor, and to prevent her head from hitting, I grabbed her ankles and spun her around in circles. Her dress flew above her head, and everyone saw her red thong. They called me Jonathong.

In which extracurricular activities did you participate?
Drama was the big one. I spent a brief period of time on the cross country team. And one year I was class president. But it was all about the drama program for me.