7 Things We Learned About Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff in "Those You've Known"

Published on 5/4/2022 at 10:35 PM

On May 3, HBO aired "Those You've Known," a documentary about the original Broadway run of the musical "Spring Awakening" and the actors' reunion concert in the fall of 2021 to raise money for The Actor's Fund. The doc blends together footage from the original Broadway run, which began in 2006, with the performances at the concert. "Spring Awakening" is a coming-of-age rock musical that is set in Germany in the 1890s. In the doc, creator Steven Sater and composer Duncan Sheik talk about how the issues of the original play — which was published in 1891 — still spoke to young adults in the early 2000s. The show deals with sexual awakenings, abuse, homosexuality, abortion, and suicide, and how adult indifference causes suffering for teens.

"Spring Awakening" also launched the careers of its cast members, including Lea Michele, who played Wendla, and Jonathan Groff, who played Melchior. The original cast — who were almost all teenagers at the time — also included "Pitch Perfect"'s Skylar Astin and "The Newsroom"'s John Gallagher. Meanwhile, other cast members like Lilli Cooper, Gideon Glick, and Jennifer Damiano have continued to work on Broadway.

All of the original cast members are in the documentary, reflecting on their experiences as part of the show and how it shaped their lives after. In addition to showcasing the stunning footage from the concert, "Those You've Known" reveals information that even the biggest "Spring Awakening" fans might not have known. Ahead, here are the seven things that surprised us most in the "Spring Awakening" documentary "Those You've Known," which is streaming on HBO Max now.

Lea Michele Joined "Spring Awakening" at 14 Years Old

Lea Michele was just 14 when she was cast in the "Spring Awakening" workshop. Michele was one of the very first people to sign on, and one of the youngest, but she already had Broadway credits under her belt. She made her Broadway debut in 1995 when she was 8, joining "Les Miserables" as young Cosette. She also was part of the original Broadway cast of "Ragtime" in 1998. She would also play Shprintze in "Fiddler on the Roof" on Broadway before "Spring Awakening" opened on the Great White Way.

Jonathan Groff Almost Wasn't Cast

In the doc, the creators described Jonathan Groff, who is from Lancaster, PA, as a "chorus boy." They feared he didn't have enough of an edge to play the moody Melchior, but he proved himself during auditions and got the part.

Jonathan Groff Was Afraid His Performance Would Out Him

Jonathan Groff, who is gay, was closeted when he was cast. In the doc, he confesses he was worried his acting would reveal that he wasn't straight. He says, "The first thing I felt was, 'They're going to know I'm gay. F*ck. I never had sex with a girl, I'm in the closet. I'm just going to pretend that I know what I'm doing.'"

Groff explains that he was scared that being out would ruin his career as an actor. He says, "I was afraid if people knew who I was, they wouldn't find what I was doing believable."

Lea Michele Was in Love With Jonathan Groff

In the doc, Lea Michele says repeatedly that she was in love with Groff. She finally told him about her feelings at a party, and she knew from his reaction that he was gay. "I just saw a look in his eyes, and that moment I knew," she explains. "I never asked him ever again about his sexuality, and I think he felt safe with me because I knew and we could still be best friends."

The pair were so close that Michele even showed Groff her vagina once because he'd never seen one. In the doc, when Groff finds out that Michele told the crew about this, he couldn't stop laughing at the absurdity.

"Spring Awakening" Was Not an Immediate Success

When the show went into previews on Broadway, they were selling 300 seats in their 1,100 seat house. The crew at the theater would warn them that when they looked out, they would mostly be seeing purple velvet chairs instead of audience members. By the time the show closed in 2009, it played 859 performances and 29 previews.

Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff Literally Prayed For Tony Nominations

Because the show was struggling financially, the cast and crew were desperate for nominations at the Tony Awards, which would help sell tickets. The night before the nominees were announced, Groff and Michele ran across the street midshow from the theater to the actor's chapel and prayed for nominations. Groff dropped $50 in the collection box, which Michele didn't know he was planning to do, and she had no money. The next day, the show found out they'd received 11 nominations, including best performance by a leading actor in a musical for Groff. Michele was not nominated.

Jonathan Groff Came Out a Month After He Left the Show

Groff and Michele left "Spring Awakening" together in May 2008. A month later, Groff finally felt comfortable enough to come out. He emotionally recounts this time in his life in "Those You've Known," reflecting on how playing Melchior gave him enough strength to come out and finally use his own voice. When he told Michele that his roommate was actually his boyfriend, she told him that she already knew.