If you were anywhere near a screen in the summer of 2020 when the Hamilton movie dropped on Disney+, you probably remember the spit. It was the "spit heard ‘round the world." Jonathan Groff, decked out in a heavy wool King George III costume, was singing "You’ll Be Back" with such precision and intensity that a fine mist of saliva became a permanent part of the cinematic record.
People obsessed over it. There were memes. There were slow-motion edits. But for the man who actually wrote the show, Lin-Manuel Miranda, that moment was just another Tuesday in a friendship that has spanned nearly two decades.
Honestly, the connection between Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jonathan Groff is one of those rare Hollywood—well, Broadway—bonds that actually feels real. It’s not just two famous guys doing press junkets together. It’s a creative partnership that helped redefine what a modern musical looks like. And it all started long before anyone knew who Alexander Hamilton was.
The Bodega and the Spring Awakening
Most people assume they met during the casting of Hamilton. Nope. Not even close.
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Back in 2007, Lin-Manuel was the rising star of the Heights. He was working on In the Heights off-Broadway at 37 Arts. Meanwhile, a young Jonathan Groff was becoming the literal "it boy" of theater in Spring Awakening at the Eugene O'Neill.
They had a mutual friend in Karen Olivo (who would later win a Tony for West Side Story). Lin was filming a goofy promotional video called "Heights Cool Musical Too"—a parody of High School Musical—to drum up interest for his show. He needed a "cool" theater kid to play the Zac Efron role.
Groff showed up. He didn't really know Lin. Lin didn't really know him. But in that video, Lin raps about how Groff is "so cute" and how you shouldn't look into his eyes or you'll get "taken in."
It was prophetic.
They became fast friends in that small, sweaty world of New York theater. They were peers watching each other explode into stardom. When In the Heights moved to Broadway and Spring Awakening became a phenomenon, they were the two faces of a new generation.
The Text Message That Changed King George
Fast forward to 2015. Hamilton is the hottest ticket in town at the Public Theater. Brian d’Arcy James is playing King George III. But Brian has a conflict; his own show, Something Rotten!, is getting fast-tracked to Broadway. He has to leave.
Lin-Manuel Miranda didn't put out a casting call. He didn't call an agent. He sent a text to Jonathan Groff.
It was basically: "Hey, it’s one song. It’ll be fun. Come play with us."
Groff hadn't even seen the show yet. He flew to New York, saw it on a Friday, and was on stage as the King by Tuesday. Think about that for a second. The role that would earn Groff a Tony nomination and make him a Disney+ icon was basically a "hey, come hang out" favor for a friend.
Why the Chemistry Works
There is a specific energy between them that fans call "Groffsauce" and "LMM." During the legendary #Ham4Ham shows—those free outdoor performances Lin used to put on for people waiting in the ticket lottery line—the two were inseparable.
- They did a Thoroughly Modern Millie tribute.
- They performed a High School Musical rap.
- They shared a dressing room at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
Groff often talks about how he would stand in the "vom" (the entrance tunnels in the theater) or peek through the curtains just to watch Lin perform. He wasn't just a coworker; he was a fan.
Lin, for his part, has always been Groff’s biggest hype man. When Groff took on the lead in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, Lin was there. When Groff won his Tony for Merrily We Roll Along in 2024, the internet immediately looked for Lin’s reaction.
Beyond the Room Where It Happens
It’s easy to look at them and see two successful guys. But their friendship represents something bigger in the industry. It’s about the "we’re in the play" mentality.
Lin-Manuel Miranda has mentioned in several interviews that he and Groff have a running joke. No matter how famous they get—whether Groff is voicing Kristoff in Frozen or Lin is winning Oscars for Encanto—whenever they get together, they say, "We’re in the play."
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It’s a reminder of that high school theater feeling. That pure, unadulterated joy of just doing the thing.
A Few Things Fans Get Wrong
Let's clear some stuff up.
First, they aren't competitive. In an industry built on egos, you'd think the guy who wrote the show and the guy who stole the show (with nine minutes of stage time) might clash. They don't.
Second, the "roommates" thing. You’ll see fans online saying they lived together. They didn't—at least not in a literal apartment sense. They called themselves "roommates" because of their shared dressing room during the Broadway run of Hamilton. It’s a theater term of endearment.
Third, the spit. Groff actually has a physiological thing where he just produces a lot of saliva when he sings. He’s been "spitting" on audiences since Spring Awakening. Lin just happened to be the one who put him under the high-definition lights of a film crew.
What’s Next for the Duo?
While they haven't announced a formal new collaboration since the Hamilton days, their paths are constantly crossing.
Lin-Manuel is currently deep into film directing and composing for massive Disney projects. Groff has solidified himself as a premiere leading man on Broadway and a powerhouse in prestige TV like Mindhunter.
But honestly? The most likely place you'll see them together is in the audience of someone else's show. They are the ultimate "theater nerds who made it."
How to Follow Their Work Today
If you want to keep up with what they're doing, don't just wait for Hamilton 2 (it’s not happening).
- Watch Groff in 'Merrily We Roll Along' recordings: If you want to see the performance that finally got him that Tony, it’s essential viewing.
- Listen to 'The Warriors': Lin-Manuel’s recent concept album. It shows he’s still playing with the same genre-bending rules he used when he first met Groff.
- Check the Playbill: Both men are notorious for showing up at opening nights for small, off-Broadway productions. They stay connected to the roots.
The takeaway here isn't just that two talented guys are friends. It’s that in a business designed to break people down, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jonathan Groff have managed to keep a 15-year friendship intact. That's rarer than a Tony award.
If you're looking to dive deeper into their history, I'd suggest tracking down the original "Heights Cool Musical Too" video on YouTube. It’s grainy, it’s 2007, and it’s the purest look at where this all started.