Lindsay Mendez Clarifies How Much Jonathan Groff Spits on Stage

Lindsay Mendez is setting the record straight on how much her Merrily We Roll Along costar Jonathan Groff really spits on her during their performances.

During the run of their Broadway show, Mendez, 42, Groff, 40, and their costar Daniel Radcliffe participated in Vanity Fair’s Lie Detector Test, during which the actress was instructed to ask Groff, “You’re a notoriously spitty singer… How many times do you think you spit on us during the production of Merrily We Roll Along?”

Groff replied, “A lot,” going on to explain how he stays hydrated in a hilarious now-viral clip.

Mendez agrees, telling Us, “It happens,” but she doesn’t really mind it.

“You know, Dan and I actually feel really bad that we opened that can of worms because Jonathan is such an incredible performer, and he’s also an incredible human being, and I don’t want everybody to be focused on how much he’s spitting and missing the glorious work that comes out of that man,” Mendez told Us Weekly exclusively at the Cinema Society screening of Sony Pictures Classics’ Merrily We Roll Along film at the Hudson Theatre and The Skylark on Monday, December 1. “Honestly, I love him so much that I don’t give a s*** how much he spits.”

She continued: “I would do a million more shows with him. And let it rain, baby. I’m here for it. He is just so incredibly gifted, and beyond that, has the best heart of any human, so while yes, there is spitting, I would take it just any day and everyday.”

Mendez, Groff and Radcliffe, 36, costarred in Merrily on Broadway from October 2023 to July 2024. Spanning three decades in the late 20th century, the musical follows the turbulent relationship of a composer (Franklin Shepard, played by Groff), and his two best friends (lyricist Charley Kringas, played by Radcliffe, and writer Mary Flynn, played by Mendez).

While their performances have been limited to New York, the new film — out Friday, December 5 — is going to bring the Tony-winning musical worldwide.

“It’s been everything,” Mendez — who was pregnant during the filming of the Merrily movie — told Us of Groff and Radcliffe’s support. “I didn’t even know how much I needed this specific friendship, and then it just kind of plopped into my lap, and it was the easiest thing. It just kind of works.”

She added: “I haven’t had another throuple relationship like this one … every person fulfills the right kind of space for the friendship to function and it’s one of the greatest of my life, I feel. I just can’t believe we get to share all of this together.”

The film version of the hit musical is not the only adaptation coming to the big screen — there is also a Richard Linklater-directed film in the works. However, this one is being filmed over the course of 20 years (Boyhood style), with Paul Mescal, Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein taking on the three main roles.

“I’m a big fan of hers, but I haven’t gotten to connect,” Mendez told Us of Feldstein, 32, who is playing Mary. “Maybe someday we’ll get to hang out and chat all things Mary.”

Feldstein, if you’re reading, Mendez also has some advice for you.

“It’s so different. She’s telling the story front to back. My big advice [would be] to really let things go as you tell the scene, but she’s going to have such a different, amazing experience,” Mendez said. “Enjoy and cling on to these amazing people that you get to play best friends with. It’s such a fun ride to get to experience that friendship every day.”

Merrily We Roll Along hits theaters December 5.