Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff bring Broadway rivalry to celebrity substitute

Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele are bringing their Broadway camaraderie—and playful rivalry to the classroom.

The longtime friends, who first bonded during the development of their Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening, are guest-starring on the digital series Celebrity Substitute, where celebrities step into classrooms to coach students. PEOPLE had an exclusive first look at the episode, which premieres Wednesday, March 4, at 10 a.m. ET on YouTube.

In the clip, Michele, 39, and Groff, 40, are shown guiding students at P.S. 57 in Harlem through what Michele describes as “a fierce, fierce talent competition.” 

The pair share laughs while reflecting on their 20-year friendship, including moments from their time on Glee, where they occasionally played on-stage rivals.

Groff revealed the duo’s playful competitiveness in the past, noting, “We pretended to be competitive, which was probably the first time we were ever actually competitive.” Michele chimed in, recalling, “I remember doing scenes where [Lea’s] performing on stage and I’d be standing in the back [staring you down]. Or I’m performing on stage, and you’re like… frustrated.”

When asked who would win in a physical fight, Groff didn’t hesitate. “She hurts me,” he said, pointing to Michele. She laughed, replying with pride, “100 percent.”

The episode is executive produced by EGOT winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul via their Ampersand banner, in collaboration with Amazon. 

As part of the show’s classroom focus, Amazon supports teachers by clearing items from a lucky teacher’s Amazon Classroom List, helping provide resources for students.

Michele and Groff are both active on Broadway while filming the episode. Michele currently stars in the revival of Chess alongside Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher, a production expected to earn multiple nominations at the 2026 Tony Awards. 

Groff leads Just in Time as Bobby Darrin, with his final performance set for March 29, after which Matthew Morrison and Jeremy Jordan will take over for a limited run.