Meet Broadway's kid wranglers

NEW YORK (WABC) -- What looks like play is in fact preparation for Broadway's youngest stars, who must act like kids yet still be as dependable as any adult.

"I don't really think of getting paid. I just think of how fun it is," said Sydney Lucas who

Is one of dozens of kids working on Broadway right now watched over by the likes of Vanessa Brown.

"I'm what they call a child guardian or kid wrangler," Brown said "I started out as a teacher and I started tutoring kids who were doing these shows, and then I noticed that there was this other job that didn't involve math!"

Don't call her a baby-sitter. She's more like a playmate.

"My job is to make sure kids are taken care of, kids are safe and enjoying themselves," Brown said.

"She keeps the energy up," Lucas said

"Or down - depending on where it needs to be," Brown added with a laugh.

Sydney's older brother is part of the cast of "The King and I." Boys are crucial to "Finding Neverland" and the role of "Matilda" is so demanding several different girls play her every week. The group is big enough that four guardians are employed in that one show.

Ask a wrangler about stage moms and dad's: those pushy parents we've all heard so much about and she will turn polite in a hurry.

But vanessa brown offers advice for any parent that applies to any activity:

"I think the most important thing for parents is to make sure the kid is doing what they want to be doing," Brown said.

The child has to love this work because there's a lot of stress involved, especially when you think about the fact these productions costing millions of dollars depend on the efforts of pre-teens: boys and girls who are in elementary school when they're not on stage.