Role Reversal

Backstage: "Don't be fooled by the rising stock market or other signs of economic recovery. The color of most state budgets is deep red, and arts funding remains on the chopping block. Coast to coast, theaters already offering fewer productions are set to lower their tallies further, with shows featuring tiny casts increasingly standard. Until state arts funding stabilizes—that's a big if—the number of acting jobs on stage won't rise anytime soon."