The tradition began under the supervision of many producers and directors who came out of theater backgrounds.

Ms. Rivers, who is 67, does all right interviewing older, more established stars, especially those with a theater background.

When he moved to California in the mid-1980's, his theater background came in unexpectedly handy in getting movie jobs.

Jay came from a theater background," she said, "and suggested how to give stories a dramatic sound and add more sizzle.

I think they were very suspicious of my experimental theater background.

The rest of the cast members, mostly from musical theater backgrounds, are solid and engaging.

It was not an auspicious time for the company or for Broadway, and neither man began with any theater background.

When I was doing my record," he said, "the label didn't want me to talk about my theater background.

"Sam Shepard, of all people, who comes from a nontraditional theater background, is hamstringing other people's creativity," he said.

Zendaya had a theater background prior her casting.