Jonathan Groff flubs Sondheim lyric on Late Night with Seth Meyers, but Tony-winning cast’s reaction steals the moment

Jonathan Groff just proved that even Tony Award winners can struggle with Stephen Sondheim‘s notoriously tricky lyrics. During a recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, the Merrily We Roll Along star brought an absolutely hilarious blooper caught during a Broadway performance. As the film hits theaters nationwide on December 5, this outtake reveals the lighter side of performing the legendary composer’s intricate words.

What Makes Sondheim’s Lyrics So Challenging?

Stephen Sondheim‘s lyrics are famously intricate and demanding. His words move at lightning speed, require precise articulation, and often contain tongue-tying combinations that challenge even the most experienced performers. Sondheim’s brilliant wordplay serves the story but demands complete vocal precision from singers.

During a panel discussion with Seth Meyers, Groff acknowledged this difficulty. The Tony winner and his castmates Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez discussed how Sondheim’s complex compositions occasionally trip up performers who’ve dedicated their careers to mastering musical theater. The unscripted moment showcased the genuine challenges beneath polished Broadway performances.

Merrily We Roll Along features Sondheim classics like “Old Friends,” “Good Thing Going,” and “Not a Day Goes By.” Each song contains multiple layers of complex lyrics that must be delivered flawlessly across an entire run.

The Late Night Appearance That Started the Buzz

On Monday, November 25, the Merrily trio appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers to promote the upcoming theatrical release. Groff brought a blooper reel that captured real moments of vulnerability from their Broadway performances. Skip to the 7-minute mark in their interview segment for the exact flub that has audiences laughing.

The appearance served dual purposes: generating buzz for the December 5 nationwide release while humanizing these award-winning performers. Audiences got to see that even Grammy-nominated and Tony-winning talents sometimes stumble through Sondheim’s notoriously challenging material in live performance.

The trio’s chemistry during the interview demonstrated why their Broadway production became the hottest ticket in town. Radcliffe played Charley Kringas, Groff portrayed Franklin Shepard, and Mendez brought Mary Flynn to life in the narrative about three friends navigating decades together.

A Revival That Defied 40 Years of History

Achievement	Details
Original 1981 Production	16 performances and 44 previews only
2024 Tony Awards	4 major awards including Best Orchestrations
Theater Run	October 10, 2023 – July 7, 2024 (Hudson Theatre)
Theatrical Release	December 5, 2025 (Sony Pictures Classics)

The original Sondheim and George Furth production infamously closed after just 16 performances in 1981. Yet this modern revival became a cultural phenomenon, regularly ranking among Broadway’s highest-grossing shows during its nine-month run. Director Maria Friedman reimagined the musical for contemporary audiences using mature actors, fundamentally changing how this Sondheim classic connects with viewers.

The 2024 Tonys validated this approach. Jonathan Groff won Leading Actor in a Musical, Daniel Radcliffe claimed Featured Actor in a Musical, and the production earned Best Orchestrations for Jonathan Tunick‘s arrangements. Lindsay Mendez earned Best Featured Actress in a Musical, cementing this trio’s place in Broadway history.

December 5: When Moviegoers Get Their Turn

Starting December 5, the filmed Broadway production becomes available in theaters nationwide through Sony Pictures Classics and Fathom Entertainment. This marks only the second commercial release of this specific production, after the 2013 West End film version with the London cast premiered on Digital Theatre.

International releases will follow in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Tickets are now available through FathomEntertainment.com for US screenings. This theatrical capture preserves these performances permanently, allowing future generations to experience Groff, Radcliffe, and Mendez performing at their peak.

The 2-hour-25-minute film includes the full orchestrations, choreography by Tim Jackson, and costume design by Soutra Gilmour. It’s rated PG-13 and captures the complete theatrical experience that made this show the sensation of Broadway 2023-2024.

Will This Comedy Moment Make the Final Cut?

One burning question remains: did the flub from Late Night make it into the theatrical film? The segment featured was specifically from a blooper reel designed for comedy purposes, not from the official filming. The theatrical release likely showcases finished performances rather than the playful outtakes that made Groff, Radcliffe, and Mendez laugh together on Seth Meyers’ set.

However, this moment of vulnerability transforms how audiences now view Sondheim’s work. Knowing that even Tony winners occasionally trip through these lyrics adds appreciation for the difficulty involved. It also reminds theater lovers that live performance always carries risk, which is precisely what makes it magical.

When audiences sit in theaters starting December 5, they’ll witness the result of months of perfecting these demanding performances. But thanks to Jonathan Groff’s willingness to share his funny moment with Seth Meyers, they’ll also appreciate the incredible challenge underneath that polished exterior.

“Anyone who’s sung a Sondheim song knows—sometimes it’s hard to get all those brilliant lyrics in your mouth.”

— Playbill, on the challenge of performing Sondheim

Sources

• Playbill – Recent coverage of the lyric flub and late-night appearance
• Sony Pictures Classics – Official theatrical release announcement and details
• Fathom Entertainment – Distribution information and ticket availability