Back Stage is the weekly newspaper of the performing arts, with articles, news, reviews, ads for classes and photographers -- and most important, casting calls. There are union and non-union calls. For eligibility and salary information, call The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and The American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) at (212) 675-1003. AGMA is for ballet and modern dancers and opera singers. AGVA is for specialty acts and for performers such as the Rockettes. You can also call Equity, the actors's union, at (212) 869-9380. Equity covers both plays and musical theatre.

To Subscribe:

Kari Schroeder, at the University of Calgary in Canada, wants to know how to subscribe to Back Stage, The Performing Arts Weekly. (See postcard for general info on the publication.) Tip: If, like Kari, you don't live in NYC, then a subscription is a good idea. But if you're in NYC, you'd better dash out to the newsstand early Wednesday morning. Waiting for your copy to arrive in the mail will mean missing a lot of calls!

A one-year subscription in the U.S.A. is $79. In Canada, it's $135. Send a check or major credit card number plus your signature to:

BACK STAGE, P.O. Box 5017, Brentwood, TN 37024-9769

You can also get updated casting calls online at http://www.backstagecasting.com.