Interview: Debbie Gravitte Is Back on Broadway—and Loving Every Minute

Debbie Gravitte made her Broadway debut as one of the voices in 1979’s They’re Playing Our Song, won a Tony Award a little over 10 years later for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, and has been entertaining audiences on stages everywhere ever since.

Now, after a 22-year absence from Broadway, Gravitte has returned to play Polly Walden, the larger-than-life mother of pop singer and movie star Bobby Darin, in Just in Time, which recently entered the second year of its run at Circle in the Square.

TheaterMania recently spoke to Gravitte about why she wanted to play Polly, working with both Matthew Morrison and current star Jeremy Jordan as Bobby, her time away from Broadway, and her relationship with son Sam Gravitte (a former Fiyero in Wicked), who will star in the off-Broadway play Birthright.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

What appealed to you most about the role of Polly?

It was mostly what I read in script, but I did a little bit of digging about her. They asked me to audition—I rarely do that—but just the idea of getting to sing “That’s All,” which is my favorite song, got me in the room. Playing a mother was another box I wanted to check, since I love my three children more than I can say. It’s also nice that it’s not a really taxing role. I don’t have to live like a nun; there’s been no steam nor vocal rest. Being in this show makes me want to stay on Broadway from now on.

You started this show on April 1 with Matthew Morrison as your Bobby, and three weeks later Jeremy Jordan came in. Tell me about that adjustment?

Matthew’s first day going in was the same as mine. While it was our first performance together, it ended up being seamless. Matthew is really a great dancer and that was fun to watch. However, I fell madly in love with Jeremy, in part, because he goes all out. Now, I think he’s grown completely into the role, so it fits like a glove. And I think everyone in our current company gives 100 percent. We have a wonderful crew, including this one old-school guy who I used to go down to McHale’s with during Jerome Robbins’ Broadway and who taught me how to play poker. Broadway really is a community!

So, this is your first Broadway show in over 20 years, since you took over the role of Mama Morton in Chicago in 2003. Why such a long absence?

I remember my kids came to the show one night, and I immediately thought, “Do I want to miss out on everything on my kids for this?” I had started doing symphony concerts, which not only allow you to do less but get paid more, but which also gave me the chance to not miss out on my kids’ activities, especially playing sports. I don’t regret one second of that decision.

How much has changed since 2003, never mind since They’re Playing Our Song?

In some ways, it feels like the blink of an eye. What hasn’t changed is that we’ve all come together to tell a good story. But I am still having trouble adjusting to the whole social-media thing. All these phones get whipped out during the finale, and I always think, “Do they think they’re getting better video than the night before, which is probably on the Internet!” But you can’t fight it; you just laugh.

Finally, your son Sam is starring just a few avenues away from you in the new play Birthright at MCC. Is it exciting for you to both be on NYC stages at the same time? And what advice have you given him?

Oh my god, we talk all the time. Now, it’s going to be lots of dinners that I’ll end up paying for, but I can’t wait. Sam becoming an actor was inevitable. I told him a long time ago that I cherish my reputation; the fact that people want to work with me matters. There are so many talented people out there that the bottom line is “are you going to choose the a-hole or the person everyone likes.” You know, my husband [Beau Gravitte] is doing The Notebook on the road. It Is pretty remarkable that three Gravittes are doing theater at the same time. Life Is good!