This article originally appeared in the Spring 2026 Backstage Issue of Showstopper Magazine.
If someone asks about your favorite media, you probably have a list of comfort watches and childhood faves to rattle off. You know the stars, the songs, and the looks. But do you know the fine details of how it all came together? We’ve scoured entertainment history for “did you know?” facts that will wow even super-fans of these titles.
1952
Singin’ in the Rain
Debbie Reynolds snagged the role of Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain without any dance experience! At 19, Debbie had years of gymnastics training, but she learned to tap dance with Gene kelly and multiple dance teachers on set. She looks pretty effortless on screen for a first-time dancer!
1964
The Sound of Music
You can’t contain greatness! The Sound of Music started filming on location in Salzburg, Austria in spring 1964. On-location filming is expensive, so director Robert Wise planned for six weeks of filming. But their short spring shoot turned into an 11-week filming adventure that lasted until JUly.
1992
Crazy For You
When Crazy for You made its Broadway debut in 1992, it arrived with songs from across the 20th century, including many from the 1930 musical Girl Crazy, but one song in particular was a surprise revival. “What Causes That?” originally appeared in Treasure Girl (1928) and was discovered during the writing process. Susan Stroman shared with The Interval, “The song ‘What Causes That?’ was actually found in a trunk. It was a song that no one knew.”
2000
The Princess Diaries
In The Princess Diaries novels, Princess Mia Thermopilis’s father is still alive, but he didn’t make it to the movies. Why? Well, Julie Andrews took center stage as a guardian of Mia. Producer Debra Martin Chase told author Meg Cabot that the father had to go so Queen Clarisse Renaldi could have a larger role. Meg told Cosmopolitan,” …[Debra] said, ‘We want to have a bigger role for the grandmother because we’ve got this great acctress that wants to play her.’ And I asked, ‘Who’s the actress?’ ‘It’s Julie Andrews.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my god. Kill him. Kill the dad.'”
2000
Lizzie McGuire
Hilary Duff built her career on the now-iconic Lizzie McGuire, but she almost didn’t get the role. Luckily for her (and us!), her personality shone through her audition. The casting team called Hilary back multiple times to get a feel for her as Lizzie and to admire her fashion. Former Disney President of Entertainment Rich Ross told Newsweek, “She just wore such great outfits, and we wanted to see what she’d come in with next.”
2001
Chicago
Catherine Zeta-Jones insisted on having her hair cut for the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago. Originally, directors planned for Catherine to keep her hair long for the movie, but she didn’t want anyone to think a double was doing her dancing for her. A dancer since she was young, Catherine went all out to build her technique and strength for the iconic movie musical.
2016
The Greatest Showman
Zendaya put it all on the line (literally) for The Greatest Showman. Behind the scenes, Zendaya did many of her own stunts, including trapeze stunts, 40 feet in the air without a net. She told The New York Times, “…there was no net, and that freaked me out. But you know what? I did it.”
2018
Cats
Behind the scenes of Cats (2019), the actors and dancers had to attend “cat school” to learn how to move like Jellicle cats. Our cover star, Taylor Swift, actually over-attended cat school. She told Variety, “I came in, I’d say, four times more than I was scheduled to be there because I wanted to be a part of it.” Her “loitering” resulted in her writing “Beautiful Ghosts” with Andrew Lloyd Webber!
2023
John Proctor is the Villain
In a rare move, playwright Kimberly Belflower made John Proctor is the Villain available to license for live productions long before the now-acclaimed play made its way to Broadway. High schools, community theaters, and colleges were able to share their own versions of John Proctor is the Villain with aduiences as early as the ’23/’24 season.
2025
The Devil Wears Prada 2
The Devil Wears Prada 2 reached hit movie status in the summer of 2025, even though it didn’t premiere until May 2026. Tracking the filming schedule for glimpses of Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and Anne Hathaway had fans and papparazzi alike on a city-zised scavenger hunt for clues and behind-the-scenes looks at the movie during filming in Manhattan, coverlty labeled “Project Cerulean.” Other iconic filming locations for the sequel include a Dolce & Gabbana show at Milan Fashion Week and Lake Como, Italy.
