Broadway favorite Robin De Jesús can currently be found tearing it up on the Paper Mill Playhouse stage as Doody in its latest production of the popular hand-jiving musical Grease . For all you musical-theater fans who are curious about the backstage life of a performer, the actor is giving TheaterMania a look under the hood of opening day with the cast and crew who has set up shop at the Jersey theater. Take a gander at De Jesús' personal photo journal, filled with caffeine, sushi, and a lovely reverse commute on the invincible G train.
Open Gallery (37 Images) I love you but I'm SO not showing you my face in the morning. I want you to keep on loving me. Maybe after I get coffee. I love my tree-lined walk to the subway. How can you not love Brooklyn?> I love my tree-lined walk to the subway. How can you not love Brooklyn? Why must the subway station taunt me with ads for ice cream! Don't they know I'm getting ready for Broadway Bares? Ugh!> Why must the subway station taunt me with ads for ice cream! Don't they know I'm getting ready for Broadway Bares? Ugh! OK. Now you can see me!> OK. Now you can see me! Maybe there is a reason some people don't love Brooklyn. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you (insert drumroll) the G train!> Maybe there is a reason some people don't love Brooklyn. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you (insert drumroll) the G train! Why must you make me sad? P.S. My lips are huge.> Why must you make me sad? P.S. My lips are huge. Oh wait! I can just catch the train on the opposite track! TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!> Oh wait! I can just catch the train on the opposite track! TO INFINITY AND BEYOND! My favorite place to grab a healthy snack before hopping in the van to Paper Mill. If you ever stop at Green Symphony, say hi to Jay for me!> My favorite place to grab a healthy snack before hopping in the van to Paper Mill. If you ever stop at Green Symphony, say hi to Jay for me! Our beautiful cast and more are all smiles on OPENING DAY!> Our beautiful cast and more are all smiles on OPENING DAY! This is the Paper Mill van. Who needs a limo? This is how the big dawgs roll!> This is the Paper Mill van. Who needs a limo? This is how the big dawgs roll! Everyone say hi to Theresa Zicollelo, our wonderful company manager, on your way into the theater.> Everyone say hi to Theresa Zicollelo, our wonderful company manager, on your way into the theater. Kevin Santos is all smiles as he signs in. I love having another member of the ''In the Heights'' family with me in this show!> Kevin Santos is all smiles as he signs in. I love having another member of the ''In the Heights'' family with me in this show! Tommy Bracco is so excited for opening night that he is showing us his happy dance.> Tommy Bracco is so excited for opening night that he is showing us his happy dance. It's like a flashback to 2006 when Telly Leung and I shared this exact same dressing room while performing ''Godspell'' together (which was also directed by the fabulous Daniel Goldstein).> It's like a flashback to 2006 when Telly Leung and I shared this exact same dressing room while performing ''Godspell'' together (which was also directed by the fabulous Daniel Goldstein). The cast prepares for a last-minute rehearsal. It's never too late to make the show better.> The cast prepares for a last-minute rehearsal. It's never too late to make the show better. Kevin Santos is also our dance captain, so pay attention!> Kevin Santos is also our dance captain, so pay attention! I'm dressed and ready to do a matinee. Why do I think I'm so cool?> I'm dressed and ready to do a matinee. Why do I think I'm so cool? A quick pre-show shot with our fabulous Eugene (Sean Patrick Doyle, who is also a part of our ''La Cage'' family) and Ms. Lynch (Donna English.)> A quick pre-show shot with our fabulous Eugene (Sean Patrick Doyle, who is also a part of our ''La Cage'' family) and Ms. Lynch (Donna English.) Let's hear it for props!> Let's hear it for props! Opening-night-party passes!> Opening-night-party passes! Look at our beautiful stage managers.> Look at our beautiful stage managers. We are so ready for a little dinner between shows.> We are so ready for a little dinner between shows. I LOVE SUSHI!!> I LOVE SUSHI!! I should be a food model!> I should be a food model! Not a bad-looking group, eh? Martin Landry (our keyboardist), Eloise Kropp (Patti Simcox), Telly Leung (Teen Angel), Sean Patrick Doyle (Eugene), and Mike Longo (Power Swing).> Not a bad-looking group, eh? Martin Landry (our keyboardist), Eloise Kropp (Patti Simcox), Telly Leung (Teen Angel), Sean Patrick Doyle (Eugene), and Mike Longo (Power Swing). I'M TELLING YOU! I SHOULD BE A FOOD MODEL! WHERE ARE THE OFFERS!> I'M TELLING YOU! I SHOULD BE A FOOD MODEL! WHERE ARE THE OFFERS! It's all about the eyes. You have to have a story to tell.> It's all about the eyes. You have to have a story to tell. Now THAT is talent!> Now THAT is talent! Our lovely dressers, Jackie, Debbie, Lee, and Kathy. Can't do it without them.> Our lovely dressers, Jackie, Debbie, Lee, and Kathy. Can't do it without them. I gotta practice my guitar skills before "Those Magic Changes."> I gotta practice my guitar skills before "Those Magic Changes." I'm trying…OY!> I'm trying…OY! Kenickie (Shane Donovan) and Danny (Bobby Conte Thornton) doing pushups before the show while our Sonny (Tommy Bracco), director (Daniel Goldstein), and Super Swing (Kate Bailey) watch! > Kenickie (Shane Donovan) and Danny (Bobby Conte Thornton) doing pushups before the show while our Sonny (Tommy Bracco), director (Daniel Goldstein), and Super Swing (Kate Bailey) watch! Telly Leung and our ridonkulously talented choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter hug it out. #wegotogether> Telly Leung and our ridonkulously talented choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter hug it out. #wegotogether I gotta FaceTime my mom before the show (she is gonna hate this photo). Special shout-out to my grandmother with my aunts and uncle in the upper-right corner!> I gotta FaceTime my mom before the show (she is gonna hate this photo). Special shout-out to my grandmother with my aunts and uncle in the upper-right corner! SHOWS DONE! LET'S PARTY!!!!!> SHOWS DONE! LET'S PARTY!!!!! Danny and Sonny with their guests.> Danny and Sonny with their guests. This party is packed! HAPPY OPENING AND HAPPY DAY OFF!> This party is packed! HAPPY OPENING AND HAPPY DAY OFF! Loading...