Broadway photographer Jenny Anderson's new book, The In-Between: Intimate and Candid Moments of Broadway Stars, will be released April 15. Watch Anderson flip through the book and recount the story behind some of her photos—including Glenn Close preparing to take the stage in Sunset Boulevard, Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond backstage on Parade's closing night, and more—in the video above.
With a foreword written by Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, The In-Between features more than 100 of Anderson's photos, including those taken behind-the-scenes of such Broadway musicals as Hamilton, Wicked, The Lion King, Kinky Boots, Sweeney Todd, Waitress, Hadestown, and The Phantom of the Opera.
Anderson says she was immersed in the arts from a young age. Her parents are both retired teachers, one in theatre and one in art. Though she initially wanted to be a performer, Anderson soon discovered that wasn't her path. "My dad always gave me photo books, and introduced me to the world of documentary photography at a young age," Anderson says. "Once I got to college and finally figured out that I—A: was not going to be an actor, and B: was not going to be a doctor. I discovered...maybe I can actually do [photography] as a job, and I can also marry it with my other love of theatre."
In college, Anderson began photographing her school's productions, gathering photos of the show itself as well as backstage and getting-ready shots. After graduating, she sold everything she had and bought a one-way ticket to New York.
"I've been doing this for 18 years, and I feel like when I started, I was a baby," Anderson says. "22, off the plane straight from college, and I just always wanted to be a part of this community—of Broadway, of theatre, of [the] artist community. I'm better at saying the words, 'I am a good photographer' now. Because I used to say, 'I'm not really that good of a photographer, I'm good at connecting with the person.' But now that I'm on the other side of 15 years, I can say that I am talented as a photographer, but most of it comes with me and the connection [with] the person."
Of course, capturing backstage and behind-the-scenes photos requires Anderson's subjects to be comfortable with inviting her into their space before they take the stage. But she says these connections weren't hard to come by.
"It was easy to connect with [actors], because I'm just a theatre kid at heart," Anderson says. "I love it so much that when I walk in the room, I want that person to feel comfortable and at ease, because if they're not, I'm not, then I won't get a good photo." She then adds, smiling, "That little southern charm every now and then comes out."
The In-Between features photos of several Broadway favorites, including Tony winners Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jonathan Groff, Hugh Jackman, LaChanze, Patti LuPone, Ben Platt, Billy Porter, Daniel Radcliffe, and Chita Rivera. The late Gavin Creel is also featured in two different shots, and was a key inspiration for the book.
"[Gavin] was the first one that was like, 'When are you going to do a book? Are you ever going to do a book?,'" Anderson says. "He's actually the first person I told when I signed the book deal. He's absolutely the first person I texted. I believe it was already when he had found out he was sick, and he still responded and was so excited."
As Anderson reflects on the connections she's built over the years, it's clear that for her, photography is more than a career—a genuine love for her subjects and the stories behind each photo radiates in her work.
"I wanted to be a part of this community because [of] these moments of being backstage," Anderson says. "Being a part of a family, and capturing that, and them letting me come in and capture that is the biggest honor in the world."
The In-Between is published by Applause Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Group
Click here to pre-order.
