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Book details

  • Genre:biography & autobiography
  • Sub-genre:Entertainment & Performing Arts
  • Language:English
  • Pages:216
  • eBook ISBN:9781667864433
  • Paperback ISBN:9781792387821

There is No Backstage

An Actor's Life

By Linda Stephens

Overview

Linda Stephens is one of the finest actors of her generation. She's played over 5000 performances on stages across the country. She's worked with and been praised by icons of the theatre--Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller and Stephen Sondheim. Yet you may not know who she is. In her memoir, she offers the reader an unflinching look at her personal journey on the professional stage, from dinner theatre to regional theatre to Broadway. It is a look at the professional actor's life, specifically the stage actor's life, more accurately, the successful stage actor's life. In this sensitive and beautifully written memoir, Linda reveals the struggles, triumphs, losses, and above all, the ultimate grace found in a life in the theatre.

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Description

THERE IS NO BACKSTAGE is distinguished actor Linda Stephens' remarkable memoir of five decades in the theatre, and her debut as an engaging story-teller.  She takes us on a journey of openness, humility and depth through her award-winning career until the book's poignant finale. Linda weaves a narrative of family, love, aging, hard work and hard-earned life lessons. It is an open-hearted, remarkably honest look at what it means to dedicate your life to a profession that demands so much and can give back so little. Yet when it does give back, it can change lives forever. True to her title, there really is no backstage in this vulnerable, wise and compelling account of a full life lived on the stage.

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About The Author

Linda Stephens has been acting on stages for fifty years. She's been awarded for her work in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and DC. She's appeared on Broadway and Off, in dozens of regional theatres across the country. She's worked with and been praised by Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and Stephen Sondheim. She's been blessed with a rich and diverse life in the theatre. After living in cities across the country, Linda now calls Milwaukee home.

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Book Reviews

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Richard
I love this book! I love this book! Linda Stephens has written a fascinating memoir of her fifty years as a professional musical and dramatic actress — one that every theatre professional should read, and every theatre lover will find illuminating and entertaining. One of the premiere stage actors of the past half century, Linda’s won Obie’s and Jeff’s (among many other awards), starred on Broadway, and worked with and been praised by a who’s who of theatre noteworthies, including Stephen Sondheim, Tennessee Williams, and Tracy Letts. She may not be a household name but that’s part of what makes her story so compelling. She’s always played in the top tier of the theatre world and made her living doing what she loves: performing on stage. And while acting/music is her art, she’s always approached it as a job. And seeing how she balanced the two is what makes this such a valuable book for working actors, and especially young working actors. There’s much wisdom to glean from her honest approach to both the artistry and the business of acting. Linda’s been a significant theatre force in at least four major theatre towns: New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Milwaukee. She’s worked at the highest level on the L.A. screen scene, too (playing John Mahoney’s love interest on “Frazier”!). What hasn’t Linda Stephens done?! Well, up till now — write a book about it all that we can all enjoy and learn from. Such a joyful, fascinating read! From Tony- and Pulitzer-winning playwright Tracy Letts: “In her soulful memoir, Linda Stephens explores her life as a performer with grace and aplomb. She makes explicit what a life in the theatre gets you . . . and what it costs. Sometimes triumphant, sometimes heartbreaking, always honest, this really is the actor’s life -- specifically the stage actor’s life -- or more accurately, a successful stage actor’s life. I would urge any young person considering an acting career to read this book and ask themselves: Do I have the hide for this?” You can purchase “There is No Backstage” at https://store.bookbaby.com/book/there-is-no-backstage. Read more