A Tony Award nomination, lead roles in a Disney film and an HBO series, appearances in major Hollywood movies: however you define "making it," Ronks native Jonathan Groff certainly has.

Groff's rapid ascent in the entertainment world began with his role as Melchior Gabor, a deeply philosophical teenage boy stuck in a provincial town in the musical "Spring Awakening." The show manages to combine contemporary pop-rock, an 1890s setting and a cautionary tale of teenage sexuality - and was a huge success.

Since then, Groff has played roles such as the conceited glee club star Jesse St. James on "Glee," the misanthropic-yet-loveable Kristoff in "Frozen," and neurotic Patrick in HBO's "Looking."

The actor and singer will be returning home to Lancaster County to perform a benefit concert at Ephrata Performing Arts Center on January 31. I spoke with him by phone about the concert, as well as his midstate memories and how his career has progressed.

You earned a Tony Award nomination for your role as Melchior in the musical "Spring Awakening". Were you familiar with the original play at all?

"I didn't know anything about it, and when it came through, I had to look it up. I knew [composer] Duncan Sheik's music - 'Barely Breathing' was on the radio when I was in high school - and our director Michael Mayer directed my favorite musical at the time, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.' I learned about the play for the audition."

Did you think that the show would be a success early on?

"I think, yeah, on paper, it seems like a truly bizarre idea. They had a hard time in the beginning getting it produced. It's really challenging material. It's rock music and it's also period. It makes more sense when you're seeing it. We all felt very connected to it, but I don't think anyone knew how it would be received."

"It was definitely a shock and surprise when we went to Broadway, and we didn't think it would last more than a month or two. It was certainly an incredible experience and it changes all our lives."

Would you say your own teenage years in Lancaster more closely resemble Melchior from "Spring Awakening," or Jesse St. James from "Glee"?

(Laughs) "That's a good question. I would say my high school experience was definitely more like Jesse St. James. I was in chorus and did all the plays. I was not a rebel. Melchior's was a pretty rough experience for a 15 year old."

I'm glad to hear it! You've done Broadway, network TV and big-time movies. Do you have a preference?

"My heart will always be in the theater - that's where I started and you never forget your first love."

"For me as far as trying to find the next job or imagining what the next project will be to work on, it's more about the people involved than the medium. I love theater and film and TV, so what's most important to me in trying to find a project is the director and cast and the material."

"Frozen" is one of the biggest Disney films ever, but do fans ever recognize you for it, since it was animated?

"No one's ever said, 'You sound like Kristoff!' But I have made a lot of voice memos for kids of family members as Kristof and Sven. So that's been fun."

Why do you think "Frozen" was such a phenomenon?

"I feel like I grew up with 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Aladdin' and 'The Lion King.' And there hasn't really been a film like that in a while."

"Part of the success was that a lot of people my age grew up with those movies and loved them, and now have kids of their own. I think that's part of it. It's got great music and a great story, and a really good message. Hopefully those things end up being successful at the end of the day."

You're starring in HBO's "Looking" and in HBO's production of "The Normal Heart." To what level do you consider roles for gay characters, if at all? Do you ever feel a responsibility as a gay actor to tell those stories?

"I guess the fact is that it's sort of project-to-project."

"I wanted to do 'Looking' because I believed in the script and it was for HBO. I always wanted to work for them. It's shot in San Francisco and our director Andrew Haigh was on my bucket list [to work with]. I loved the movie 'Weekend.' With 'The Normal Heart,' I saw that play on Broadway and I was just wrecked. I felt very honored to be in the film version of that play, because it's a great story and a beautifully written play."

"The fact that I'm gay playing gay is just an added nice element to it all. It makes it that much more personal."

Last year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage was legal. Have you been following gay rights in your home state, and were you surprised by the developments?

“I think it’s incredible. It’s amazing. I can’t even imagine, growing up in Pennsylvania 15 years ago, that gay marriage would pass. It’s a sign of the times, and I’m so happy for everyone in Pennsylvania and people all across the country. In a few years I think it will be all across the country that it’s legalized. I think it’s wonderful.”