Modern Family star is cast as major ’60s singer Connie Francis on Broadway’s Just In Time

by

A Hollywood star is heading to Broadway again.

According to a recent announcement made on Wednesday, Sarah Hyland will be part of the cast for the show “Just In Time,” portraying the role of 60’s singer, Connie Francis.

On October 8, Hyland, aged 34, is set to commence his role as the late singer, following closely after Gracie Lawrence, who was nominated for a Tony award for her portrayal of the Pretty Little Baby songstress, has concluded her performance, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (paraphrased version)

In April 2025, the series titled “Just In Time” made its premiere, featuring Jonathan Groff portraying the iconic singer, Bobby Darin, renowned for his popular songs such as “Splish Splash”, “Dream Lover”, and his cover of “Beyond the Sea”.

Last year, I had the pleasure of being recognized with numerous Tony Award nominations, among them the coveted Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for the remarkable talent that is 40-year-old Groff.

Darin and Francis developed a deeply passionate relationship shortly into their careers, yet sadly their love didn’t last forever. In the end, the man famous for singing “Mack the Knife” married Sandra Dee instead.

In a conversation with Variety, Groff expressed that the tale of Bobby and Sandra’s marriage, unfolding in less than 40 minutes, is quintessentially American. He explained how their relationships were brought to life with the co-stars, conveying that events transpire swiftly, mirroring the rapid pace of Bobby’s life. Given his untimely death at the age of 37, he was constantly mindful of a ticking clock, and this fast-paced narrative reflects that awareness.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it as follows:

In my experience, the dynamic between Sandra and Bobby in the show is beautifully encapsulated by our talented writer, Isaac Oliver, and director, Alex Timbers. During work sessions, they delved deep into the characters’ personalities, referencing research and literature to ensure authenticity and depth.

Isaac, our writer, expressed keen enthusiasm for discussing the key elements and interpersonal dynamics of the Bobby and Sandra relationship that particularly resonate with contemporary audiences, including himself.

In a past endeavor, the Modern Family actor, Hyland, has graced The Great White Way before. Previously, Hyland played the role of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby and Jackie Bouvier (later known as Jacqueline Kennedy) in Grey Gardens.

According to The Hollywood Reporter’s report, Sadie Dickerson is set to take over the role of Sandra Dee in Just In Time, replacing Erika Henningsen. Erika Henningsen’s final performance will be on September 14.

In July, at the age of 87, Francis left us, marking the end of an incredibly productive career that produced popular songs like Stupid Cupid and Pretty Little Baby. Lately, Pretty Little Baby has been gaining popularity again, especially on the video-sharing app TikTok.

She also famously dated Darin, who died at age 37 in 1973.

Through her memoir, Francis first heard about Dee and Darin’s wedding over the radio, an announcement that left her saddened. Reflecting upon her life, she acknowledged that not marrying Darin was the most significant regret she had ever experienced.

The book even has two chapters dedicated to Darin.

In her writing, it was expressed that Bobby Darin stood out – he was vibrant, adaptable, brimming with vitality, and showed an unyielding resolve unlike anything she had witnessed before.

Over time, I grew to deeply appreciate him for all the qualities that I’ve always admired – his respect towards those less fortunate, his sense of justice, his wisdom, honesty, and self-assuredness, his boldness, resilience, and gentle kindness – these contrasting traits made him incredibly intriguing.

The two deeply fell for each other and frequently exchanged heartfelt love letters. However, their affection was hindered by Francis’ traditional Italian father, George, who demanded she focus on her profession and avoid romantic relationships.

Despite their forced separation due to her father, it turned out that George discovered that the pair had been secretly communicating and that Darin was attempting to persuade Francis to run off together. In this situation, Francis stated that, in a fit of anger, George threatened him with a gun, demanding he stay away from them forever.

After four separations from Darin, Francis got married and subsequently divorced four times. The most enduring of these marriages spanned five years, whereas the briefest one ended just four months after it began.

In that 2016 Daily Mail interview, she reminisced about Bobby, saying: “He was the one I first fell in love with and the only one I ever truly loved. No one else came close to stirring such depths of affection within me as he did. He possessed a captivating dynamism that drew me completely, but alas, we were destined to encounter insurmountable obstacles.

He was a remarkably kind individual, devoid of any trace of prejudice or intolerance, and among the most intelligent people I’ve encountered.

Read More

2025-09-03 19:03