Photographer Jenny Anderson (who shot our fabulous Classic New York Films and Tony Awards Parties photos) brings BroadwayBox backstage for an exclusive new series capturing Broadway companies getting ready to take the stage. For the latest shoot, Jenny went backstage at Broadway's Jacobs Theatre, home to the incredibly powerful new musical Bandstand
, an original story about WWII veterans that join up with a gold star widow (Laura Osnes) to form a band and help forget the horrors of war. Scroll on to see how the company prepares for a performance.
Walking into the Jacobs, we find leading man Corey Cott chilling out before the show.
As we head to the dressing rooms, we find Nate Hopkins improvising on the clarinet.
Nate Hopkins makes his Broadway debut as law student and sax player Jimmy Campbell.
Joe Carroll plays the band’s simple-minded drummer Johnny Simpson.
Bandstand marks Joe Carroll’s fourth show on Broadway. He previously appeared as Prince Topher in Cinderella, various characters in Once, and Balthasar in Romeo and Juliet.
Assistant choreographer and standout dancer, Jaime Verazin stretches and warms up before dancing Bandstand’s Tony Award-winning choreography.
Before each show, The Donny Nova Band comes together for tuning call onstage at the Jacobs.
Brandon James Ellis is an audience favorite as the alcoholic base player Davy Zlatic.
He previously appeared on Broadway and the West End in another actor-musician musical, the Tony-winning Once.
Original Paper Mill bandmate Joey Pero returns to the Broadway company as trumpet player Nick Radel.
Each performance of Bandstand is dedicated to a veteran. Here, Corey Cott reads the dedication for this evening’s soldier.
After the tuning call and the dedication, the cast comes together one last time before getting into costumes, hair, and makeup.
Backstage at the Jacobs, there’s a wall of veterans for whom the performances have been dedicated.
Part of Brandon James Ellis’ prep includes getting his fake tattoos put on.
Two-time Tony nominee Laura Osnes stars as Julia Trojan, a war widow with an incredible talent as a singer and lyricist whose life gets a second chance when she joins The Donny Nova Band.
Laura’s longtime dresser Tamara Kopko helps her into her first look.
Laura keeps a box of fan art she receives at the theatre.
Once she's fully Julia Trojan, Laura checks in with her onstage mom, Beth Leavel.
Tony winner Beth Leavel gets plenty of laughs as Laura's mom, Mrs. June Adams.
Mother/daughter pre-show planks.
‘Cause females are strong as hell.
Beth Leavel feeds her fish Paprika—an opening night gift from Laura Osnes.
Corey Cott gives a performance that has to be seen as Bandstand’s driven band leader and musical prodigy, Donny Novitski.
Once in costume, warm-ups can begin.
Corey gives one last look before heading down for places.
Andrea Dotto and Jessica Lea Patty enjoy a chat in the wings before the show begins.
Just give it up for Bandstand scene-stealer Mary Callanan, photographed here with co-stars Jonathan Shew & Drew McVety.
Before stepping out, Corey gives his lighter a flick to be sure it works (and because now it’s a ritual).
Laura descends the stairs to get in place for her entrance at the top of the show. See Laura and the entire company in Bandstand at the Jacobs Theatre through September 17.
