Backstage in the Spotlight From "42nd Street" to "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" | Playbill

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Backstage in the Spotlight From "42nd Street" to "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty in "Smash" — Backstage in the Spotlight From "42nd Street" to "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

What happens backstage at Broadway shows is supposed to be secret, private and not really important compared with what is happening onstage. But try telling that to the public. People’s fascination with life in the wings and behind the passdoors exploded in recent years with TV shows like "Smash" and "Glee" and movies like this year’s Oscar-winning Best Picture, "Birdman." Read the feature "Exclusive From The 2015 Tonys Playbill! How 'Glee' and 'Smash' Brought Backstage Life Into The Spotlight."

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18 PHOTOS

Ruby Keeler and Warner Baxter in "42nd Street"

Anne Baxter, Marilyn Monroe and Bette Davis
in "All About Eve" — Anne Baxter, Marilyn Monroe and Bette Davis in "All About Eve"

Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif in "Funny Girl"

Joseph Fiennes as William Shakespeare in "Shakespeare
in Love" — Joseph Fiennes as William Shakespeare in the Oscar-winning film version of Shakespeare in Love.

"Every Little Step"

Next Slide

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens in "High School Musical"

Lea Michele in "Glee"

Matthew Morrison in "Glee"

Neil Patrick Harris (right) in the "Saturday Night Live" sketch "Save Broadway"

The "Saturday Night Live" sketch "Save Broadway"

Christian Borle in "The Standbys"

Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty in "Smash"

The late Elaine Stritch in the film "Shoot Me"

"Birdman"

Birdman film still — Michael Keaton and Edward Norton in Birdman

James Corden (center) performing <i>Grease</i> on the streets of Los Angeles on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" — James Corden (center) performing Grease on the streets of Los Angeles on "The Late Late Show with James Corden"

James Corden performing <i>Grease</i> on the streets of Los Angeles on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" — James Corden performing Grease on the streets of Los Angeles on "The Late Late Show with James Corden"

Tituss Burgess in "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty in "Smash"

Ruby Keeler and Warner Baxter in "42nd Street"

Anne Baxter, Marilyn Monroe and Bette Davis
in "All About Eve"

Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif in "Funny Girl"

Joseph Fiennes as William Shakespeare in "Shakespeare
in Love"

"Every Little Step"

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens in "High School Musical"

Lea Michele in "Glee"

Matthew Morrison in "Glee"

Neil Patrick Harris (right) in the "Saturday Night Live" sketch "Save Broadway"

The "Saturday Night Live" sketch "Save Broadway"

Christian Borle in "The Standbys"

Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty in "Smash"

The late Elaine Stritch in the film "Shoot Me"

Birdman film still

James Corden (center) performing <i>Grease</i> on the streets of Los Angeles on "The Late Late Show with James Corden"

James Corden performing <i>Grease</i> on the streets of Los Angeles on "The Late Late Show with James Corden"

Tituss Burgess in "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

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