In his adolescence, Groff took part in many community productions in his hometown of Lancaster. At seventeen years old, he directed and starred in "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at a high school theatre festival at the Fulton Opera House, for which he won a community award. He also performed in "The Sound of Music", "Ragtime", "Cyrano", "Evita", "My Fair Lady", "Peter Pan", "The Pirates of Penzance", and "Rags" at the Fulton Opera House, as well as starring as Edgar in "" and Ugly in "Honk!" at The Ephrata Performing Arts Center.