PhotosFrom Lion King to Fun Home; Enjoy These Exclusive, Iconic Backstage Pics From Over 150 Productions!Initially launching in 2010 with a two-parter from Lion King cast members Ben Jeffrey and Fred Berman, Playbill.com's popular Two-Show Day photo series has taken readers backstage and into the lives of dozens of Broadway and Off-Broadway performers. Here is a look back at over 150 installments.
Backstage Hijinks, Hugh Jackman and a Bechdel Party! A Two-Show Day With Young Fun Home Star Sydney Lucas
Backstage Hijinks, Hugh Jackman and a Bechdel Party! A Two-Show Day With Young Fun Home Star Sydney Lucas
Eleven-year-old Sydney Lucas has garnered rave reviews and a Tony nomination for her unforgettable performance in Fun Home. She offered to share a two-show day with Playbill, and what a day it was! Celebrity encounters, a fancy cocktail party and more...
68 PHOTOS
My grandma’s dog, Maisy, wakes me up with kisses.
Sydney Lucas
I decided to wear cartoon attire today for Alison Bechdel’s party between shows. She’s a cartoonist, ya’ know! By the way, that IS a real purse even though it looks like a cardboard cutout.
Sydney Lucas
Arrive at Circle in the Square for tutoring and noticed the cool new blue and red window shades (5 Stars, Extraordinary, Stunning).
Sydney Lucas
They also put up new posters on the pillars outside Circle in the Square. I get a chance to admire Beth’s poster…
Our regular tutor, Lauren, is not able to be with us for our last day of tutoring.
Sydney Lucas
Luckily, my brother, Jake’s tutor (Irene) from The King and I is able to fill in and Jake pops in to say hello to her.
Sydney Lucas
“Welcome to our house on Maple Ave, Irene!”
Sydney Lucas
Greet Tim & Sarah in the Box Office before going down to school.
Sydney Lucas
Sign in at the Message Board and chat with Tracy Geltman, our Company Manager, for a hot second.
Sydney Lucas
Tutoring is only for an hour on this 2 show day. Afterward, Gabby and I have a few minutes to work on our Fun Home collage.
Sydney Lucas
Then, our fantabulous wrangler, Vanessa, comes to grab us from Irene. We learn a lot of stuff from Vanessa, too, as you can see.
Sydney Lucas
Swing by my pal, Joel’s, room. Found him trying to clear some frogs from his throat.
Sydney Lucas
Marrick (Joel’s cover) opted for a tight close-up. Isn’t he dreamy?
Sydney Lucas
Stop by the Stage Management Office
Sydney Lucas
In Hair and Makeup, Nicole (Beth’s and Judy’s cover) shows off her new haircut! Gorgeous!
Sydney Lucas
Chris (Music Director) and I head to stage for the kids’ warm up after performing our special hand choreography routine.
Sydney Lucas
Vanessa takes Oscar, Zell & me to stage to warm up with Chris Fenwick our Music Director. Chris Reza warms up his reeds. Since we’re doing a lot of dancing when we perform our songs, we dance while we warm up to work on our endurance. We start with “Come to the Fun Home.”
Sydney Lucas
And move on to “Raincoat of Love.”
Sydney Lucas
After warm-ups, Chris plays “When the Saints Go Marching In” with me. It’s a pre-show ritual. OK, time to do a Broadway show!
Sydney Lucas
Hugh Jackman is soooo nice and came backstage to see us after the show. Here’s what I should have said, “So, Mr. Jackman, I have a great idea! In this new movie, Wolverine has an 11-year old daughter…” (Mom told me that I probably shouldn’t be pointing at Mr. Jackman. Oops!)
Sydney Lucas
Since Alison’s party starts at 5:30, I have to get my mid-day nap in right after the matinee!
Sydney Lucas
Hey everyone, meet Chris! He’s one of our spotlight operators. He makes us all look great on stage, and today he was my guardian angel. Love you, Chris!
Sydney Lucas
Heading out to Alison Bechdel’s party with the kid-like Beth Malone. One of the many reasons I love her so much!
Sydney Lucas
The kids make a beeline to Alison, and she’s excited to see us, too!
Sydney Lucas
You know the song in our show, "Changing My Major," right? Ladies and gentlemen, meet the REAL Joan!
Sydney Lucas
This is Alison’s super cool partner, Holly (aka Compost Maven).
Sydney Lucas
Kids get a drink and some eats.
Sydney Lucas
Making the rounds at Alison’s party to say, “Hey!” to everyone. Here’s Michael, Oskar Eustis (in his casual tux) and me.
Sydney Lucas
Beth & wife, Shelly
Sydney Lucas
The real Joan, Judy, me
Sydney Lucas
Lisa Kron with the kids
Sydney Lucas
Joel, Judy, Sam Gold
Sydney Lucas
Joel & Roberta with the kids
Sydney Lucas
I know what you did last night, Emily Skeggs!
Sydney Lucas
Everybody’s getting crazy, starting with Zell’s sister, Madilyn, and Beth
Sydney Lucas
Beth is stunned by our goofiness.
Sydney Lucas
Madilyn shows us a slow motion app on her phone. That occupies us for a while.
Sydney Lucas
Back at the theatre. Molly & Chelsea from O+M proudly point out that the evening show is SOLD OUT while Sarah & Jason perfectly photo bomb.
Sydney Lucas
We have the best House Staff here at Circle in the Square!
Sydney Lucas
There goes Beth…she’s still riled up from the party. (With Oscar and his little brother)
Sydney Lucas
Now look, Beth is bench pressing Zell! LOL!!
Sydney Lucas
Our merchandise manager, Amber and ushers, Laura, Susan & Nirvana here at Circle in the Square are definitely “no nonsense.”
Sydney Lucas
It’s half hour before our 8pm curtain and I’m back in my dressing room. Now you see me…
Sydney Lucas
…now you don’t.
Sydney Lucas
I show the kids the game that I brought in that we’ll play at some point during the show. It’s called Bean Boozled. Sometimes you’re lucky. Sometimes you’re not.
Sydney Lucas
Just changed out of my party dress and met up with Michael for our next entrance.
Sydney Lucas
Walking with Michael in the hallway underneath the odd 200s section of the audience.
Sydney Lucas
There’s the door! Once we go through that grey door, we’re at the vom entrance and have keep super quiet or the audience will hear us.
Sydney Lucas
Gabby, Oscar & Zell playing other games in the dressing room while waiting for their scenes.
Sydney Lucas
I just finished “Ring of Keys” and time to play Bean Boozled! The game’s spinner tells us to choose a particular color of jelly bean.
Sydney Lucas
What will it be? Juicy pear? Or Booger? The only way to find out is to pop it into your mouth. Obviously, everyone is apprehensive.
Sydney Lucas
Unfortunately, not juicy pear! But, alas, it’s time to go back on stage for the finale.
Sydney Lucas
What a terrific show! So many of Alison’s friends were in the audience. We hang around to chat with Alison and greet other friends, too.
Sydney Lucas
Cherry Jones stops to take a photo with Lauren (Emily & Roberta’s cover) and me.
Sydney Lucas
Sully! I know it’s an emotional show and no, I will not hold you!
Sydney Lucas
Say cheese, Roberta, Cherry, Sully, Sydney, Rachel and Emily.
Sydney Lucas
I snap a quick picture of Jerry (spotlight operator), Jim (Michael’s cover) and Chris (you’ve already met) before they leave for the night.
Sydney Lucas
No one wants to leave when Alison & Holly are here, and we start to get slap happy starting with Emily.
Sydney Lucas
Lauren & I get silly while Kevin and Lisa Dawn our Stage Managers look on.
Sydney Lucas
Time to update the totem pole photo adding in “airplane”
Sydney Lucas
Trying to say goodnight to Judy and Beth is full of shenanigans. HAHA!
Sydney Lucas
We finally leave Circle in the Square and arrive just in time to grab Jake from The King and I.
Sydney Lucas
Say ‘Hi’ to the Braganza girls because they have to rush out.
Sydney Lucas
Take a pic with the rest of The King and I Children’s Ensemble and the wonderful wranglers!
Sydney Lucas
Surprise! We run into Jake’s and my best friend, Noah Johnston, on the way out. Noah will be in On Your Feet when it moves to Broadway. Farewell Noah!
Sydney Lucas
Normally, Dad will give Lauren & Rachel a ride home, but today we don’t have room for everyone. So instead, we take a fun selfie pretending we're in a clown car, say goodnight to Rachel & Lauren, and head home from Lincoln Center Theatre. What a great day!
