Exclusive! Jonathan Groff on Why He's Returning to Broadway in Hamilton & the 'Genius' of Lin-Manuel Miranda

Stage and screen favorite Jonathan Groff is a busy man! He will headline William Finn's A New Brain for Encores! Off-Center later this month, before returning to the Great White Way in July to star as King George III in Hamilton. "I’m so excited," the Tony nominee exclusively told Broadway.com about appearing in Lin-Manuel Miranda's new musical. "It’s just such a great thing for the community, for everyone, that the show is going to be on Broadway."

"Lin's a genius and I think he managed to do this impossible thing," said Groff. "He somehow created something that was artistically challenging, groundbreaking, new, surprising, thought-provoking and also completely commercial." The three-time Broadway.com Audience choice award winner is especially looking forward to the impact that the tuner will have on audiences. "I think about the high school students and the young artists that will come and see a show like Hamilton and then create the next version of that for us." (No pressure then, if you've bought tickets!)

Groff took over as King George during Hamilton's run off-Broadway at the Public Theater for Tony nominee Brian d’Arcy James, who departed the production to star in Something Rotten!. Groff won three Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards and was nominated for a Tony Award for playing Melchior in Spring Awakening. For the Public Theater, he previously starred in Hair at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park and The Bacchae. Other off-Broadway credits include The Submission, The Singing Forest and Prayer for My Enemy. He was also seen in Deathtrap in London's West End and Red at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Screen credits include the gay-themed drama Looking on HBO and Glee.

Hamilton will begin previews on July 13 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, with opening night set for August 6.