Broadway secrets revealed

Beyond the curtain of Broadway, only a few know how the magic is created, and as the Tony Awards approach, some of the stars of the stage share backstage stories and secrets.

Adam Chanler-Berat plays Boy/Peter in nine-time Tony nominated 'Peter and The Starcatcher'.

During a walking tour Chanler-Berat first pointed out the collection of Playbills that shows the history of the theater:

SOUNDBITE: Adam Chanler-Berat, actor, saying (English):

"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."

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.

McDonald talked about the one common factor all Broadway stars share.

SOUNDBITE: Audra McDonald, actress, saying (English):

"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."

And the secrets don't stop there - the stars revealed some of their pre-show preps.

SOUNDBITE: Adam Chanler-Berat, actor, saying (English):

"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."

McDonald explained how she creates a 'scar' on the side of her face, which she says is crucial to the role of Bess.

SOUNDBITE: Audra McDonald, actress, saying:

"It dries on your skin and it grabs your skin and pulls it together. And then it looks like an indentation on your face."

Aside from make-up, costumes are also one of the ingredients that help tell a story.

In 'Peter and The Starcatcher', imagination is key, but backstage reality keeps the show fresh.

SOUNDBITE: Adam Chanler-Berat, actor, saying (English):

"Really we have two sets of costumes also because we sort of sweat through our first set."

As for the biggest misconception of Broadway, McDonald didn't hold back.

SOUNDBITE: 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."

"The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess" has ten Tony nominations and award winners will be announced on June 10th.

Alicia Powell, Reuters.