Dear Backstage Reader,
This year marks Backstage’s 60th anniversary, and as you may have noticed, things are changing around here! I can’t think of a more exciting time to work in the arts, and I’m delighted to usher in this era as the brand’s new Editor in Chief.
In over a decade of covering the performing arts, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Backstage evolve into an essential resource for creatives. Now, 12 years after starting my journalism journey as a Backstage intern, I’m thrilled to share a fresh look that matches our continued commitment to providing creators and performers with the casting resources they need to work at the top of their game—and with a visual nod to our storied history.
In 2019, we helped over 51,000 creators find the perfect fit for their project, and over 156,000 performers book gigs across New York, Los Angeles, London, Australia, and beyond. We provided readers with inside access to the acting process of Oscar, Tony, and Emmy winners including Nicole Kidman, Eddie Murphy, Charlize Theron, and many more, plus first-hand looks inside the casting rooms at Netflix, HBO, and Marvel, to name a few.
In continuing to grow our reach in 2020, expect to enjoy more access to tips and advice from the industry’s most celebrated actors, directors, producers, and casting directors; discover new Backstage Experts working across multiple disciplines; and continue to find tools that expand your craft through curated, deep-dive Backstage Guides and articles on everything from social media to agents, both online and in print. Things will shift, but our commitment to our readers and their needs won’t. We’ll continue to keep our finger on the pulse of how technology, industry news, and new trends change and shape actors and the people who hire them to work.
We’re excited to offer our readers more of what they’ve come to love about Backstage and build towards providing more of what they may not expect. Join us as we enter new areas in film, television, theater, commercial, dance, and more while continuing to support creativity wherever it lives. Here’s to 60 more years!
All my best,
Briana Rodriguez
