USA/FILE: Stars from Tony nominated productions talk about what it's really like to star on Broadway in New York City

Record ID: 837463

  • Title: USA/FILE: Stars from Tony nominated productions talk about what it's really like to star on Broadway in New York City
  • Date: 26th May 2012
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - MAY 4, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUDRA MCDONALD, ACTRESS, SAYING: "I wear both of the mics around my back during the first act and then in the second act because I am in a slip for a lot of the second act, one of the microphone packs goes into my head and I wear it in my head and then the other one on my back. And both of the actual little microphones are here, but the mic packs, the receivers and what not are placed in different places on my body." MCDONALD TYING HER HAIR UP. MCDONALD PLACING WIG CAP ON HER HEAD. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUDRA MCDONALD, ACTRESS, SAYING: "There is not a lot of glamour involved, literally, should I be saying this. Last night I saw a cockroach walk by backstage and I was like, 'Wow, I have to' - this is them testing the monitors (referring to music in background). But I thought, 'Wow, I have to lay down and sniff stuff off of the stage and I'm going to have to kill that cockroach.' And it was literally about a minute before I walked on stage, and so I literally stomped on the ground and then Philip Boykin who plays 'Crown' was like, 'What are you doing?' And I just sort of showed him, he was like, eehh."
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2012 13:00
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  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAAU5NQA6P7VSK2H7XUK351CICN
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  • Story Text: Eight times a week the stars of Broadway take to the stage for live performances, possibly leaving an impression that the life of a stage actor is both thrilling and flashy.
    However, beyond the stage, there are only a few who know how the magic of creating a Broadway shows happens, and as the Tony Awards approach, some of the stars reveal their backstage secrets.
    A few television series have broadened the reach of the Broadway world, telling stories of the production process and stage secrets. But what others might not realize is how each show does things differently, how each actor prepares, and how each stage has its own routines to make the glitz and glamour come alive.
    'Peter and The Starcatcher's' Boy/Peter, portrayed by Adam Chanler-Berat gave Reuters an exclusive look backstage at the Brooks Atkinson theater. The play has nine Tony nominations, the most of any play for the 2012 season. Before opening the stage door to begin his workday Chanler-Berat revealed what goes through his mind when he arrives at the theater.
    "When I walk by that line of people going to get tickets I sometime get butterflies. But mostly just, sort of, Zen, focus and preparations," said Chanler-Berat.
    During a walking tour backstage, Chanler-Berat first pointed out the collection of Playbills that shows the history of the theater: "This is sort of a cool thing. They have all of the playbills and one of the posters of 'Noises Off', one of the shows that was in Brooks Atkinson before we got here."
    The tour ended in Chanler-Berat's dressing room, where he said he "gets in the zone."
    Four-time Tony winner, Audra McDonald, who stars as Bess in "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess" and is nominated for a Best Actress Tony, has been working on Broadway for over 20 years. As a veteran McDonald talked about the one common factor all Broadway stars share.
    "Everybody has their own little secret to what keeps them going. I do know that probably everybody who performs on Broadway has a hard time getting to bed at night because it takes a while to wind down after doing the show," she said.
    And the secrets didn't not stop there, as both stars continued to share the painstaking ways they stay true to their character.
    "We really dirty up in this show and here's our dirt, and we have to apply this all over our face. This used to be white, just so you know - and now my hands are all black," said Chanler-Berat, who applies his own makeup for the show.
    As McDonald prepared for her Friday night curtain call, she explained how she creates a 'scar' on the side of her face, which she says is crucial to the role of Bess.
    Aside from the make-up, costumes are also one of the ingredients that make the story more authentic and vibrant. But in some cases, cleaning them every night is not enough. In 'Peter and The Starcatcher', imagination is the key to the whole story, but backstage every detail becomes real.
    "We have two sets of costumes, the first one is sort of darker, the first act sort of takes place in a darker world and then act two opens up and brightens up. But really we have two sets of costumes also because we sort of sweat through our first set," Chanler-Berat explained.
    For McDonald, her microphones are also a part of her costume.
    "I wear both of the mics around my back during the first act and then in the second act because I am in a slip for a lot of the second act, one of the microphone packs goes into my head and I wear it in my head and then the other one on my back. And both of the actual little microphones are here, but the mic packs, the receivers and what not are placed in different places on my body," McDonald told Reuters.
    When asked what the biggest misconception of Broadway was, McDonald didn't hold back.
    "There is not a lot of glamour involved, literally, should I be saying this. Last night I saw a cockroach walk by backstage and I was like, 'Wow, I have to' - this is them testing the monitors (referring to music in background). But I thought, 'Wow, I have to lay down and sniff stuff off of the stage and I'm going to have to kill that cockroach.' And it was literally about a minute before I walked on stage, and so I literally stomped on the ground and then Philip Boykin who plays 'Crown' was like, 'What are you doing?' And I just sort of showed him, he was like, eehh," laughed McDonald.
    Even with moments like these, true Broadway stars will do almost anything to live their dream.
    "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess" has ten Tony nominations and award winners will be announced on June 10 in New York City.
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