Features

Musical Improv

A Weekend of Musicals Made to Order
Imagine, if you will, standing onstage with nothing but a brief suggestion from an audience member for the musical you're about to perform. More »

T.R. Knight

Knight Music
It's a noble tradition. Think of Rex Harrison in "My Fair Lady," Richard Burton in "Camelot," Katharine Hepburn in "Coco," and Lauren Bacall in "Applause." More »

Tiffany Thornton

Tiffany Thornton: A Back Stage Exclusive
As Tawni Hart on the Disney Channel's "Sonny With A Chance," Tiffany Thornton is one sunny person indeed. In fact, it's almost impossible to imagine her saying a mean thing about anyone. More »

Yuri Lowenthal

Voice-Over Voice Acting
Voice-over actors Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt talk to Backstage.com about the dos and don'ts of the demo reel. More »

Ian Somerhalder

Blood-Sucking Fiend
Somerhalder nabbed the role of nefarious Damon Salvatore, a devilish bloodsucker who spends most of his time tormenting his younger, more earnest sibling. More »

Helen Stenborg

Keeping 'Vigil'
While the 84-year-old Minneapolis native has never played a silent character before, her preparation for this part is basically the same as for any other. More »

Miley Cyrus

Bringing Up Baby
When Miley Cyrus wanted to shift away from the tween roles that have defined her career, Tish Cyrus, her mother and co-manager, started at the top. More »

Indelicato

A Star Is Born
The show he's on is called "Ugly Betty" (ABC) but there's no question that Mark Indelicato's role as Betty's flamboyant young nephew has been a major contributor to the show's appeal. More »

Laura Leighton

Drama Queen
Fans have enthusiastically embraced the return of their favorite bad gal, and Leighton says it wasn't too tough to slip back into her character's distinctive skin. More »

Nolan Gould

Nolan Gould: A Backstage Exclusive
Nolan Gould is one special kid. An actor since the age of three and a certified member of Mensa, he's on his way to becoming a household name before he reaches his twelfth birthday. More »

gilles Marini

Slow Dancer
It should come as no surprise that Marini began his career as a model, but he soon moved beyond merely looking pretty to expressing complex emotions in numerous roles. More »

The Fine Print

Major Issues for Minors
When it comes to entertainment, kids are no longer in the minor leagues. Today, young actors are grabbing major roles—just look at Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, or the "Harry Potter" stars. More »

High School Musical

The Youth Market
"Hannah Montana." "High School Musical." The youth market is taking Hollywood by storm. There's never been a better time for aspiring kid and teen actors to break into show business. More »

Robin Holland

Solo Flights
How do you avoid the mediocre and present something that resonates with audiences? Back Stage spoke to solo performers who have successfully scored with theatergoers. More »

Chelsea Staub

Chelsea Staub: A Backstage Exclusive
"I just want to go to work and play dress up like for the rest of my life", says Chelsea Staub, and she's well on her way to achieving her goal. More »

Bye Bye Birdie

Revival of the Fittest
The major challenge in taking on an iconic work like “Bye Bye Birdie” is how profoundly it is identified with other stars, say Bill Irwin and Jayne Houdyshell. More »

Yvonne Strahovski

Lethal Lady
"I beg to do all of the stunts," she says with a laugh. "Last night I was on wires and hanging off the ceiling doing cool things. It's one of my favorite parts of the show." More »

Paranormal Activity

'Paranormal' Activists
Neither actor even expected "Paranormal Activity" to be released: After playing the festival circuit, it was bought and shelved with the intention of being remade. More »

2009-10 College and University Programs in Theater and Dance
The following is a list of accredited, degree-granting acting and dance programs at colleges and universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. More »

Jessica Keenan Wynn

What They're Doing For Love
A sturdy crop of young actors recently graduated from college theater programs has been giving stellar performances in musical theater productions across the country. More »

Kris Roberts

Learning the Business
Kris Roberts knew from the time she was 12 that she wanted to be part of the NYU legacy. "Open up any Broadway Playbill and you'll always see at least one person that went to Tisch." More »

Sophie Okonedo

More Than 'Skin' Deep
Playing a biographical figure poses a host of challenges—most pointedly accuracy, or at least capturing the person's essence. More »

Robert Stanton

'Child's' Play
"We had so much fun writing Love Child," says Robert Stanton. "We had a blast. But I'd be disingenuous if I said I didn't think of it as an acting showcase." More »

Michelle Monaghan

The Long Haul
Michelle Monaghan has kicked ass in action flicks like "Mission: Impossible III" and "Eagle Eye" and scored laughs in rom-coms like "The Heartbreak Kid" and "Made of Honor." More »

Katerina Graham

Katerina Graham: A Back Stage Exclusive
"I'm very strange, I'm not going to lie", says Katerina Graham. Strange? Perhaps. But only in the best sense of the word. More »

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