| 100% | CUES | 4 | Hints, as to stage actors |
| 58% | BACKLOADS | 9 | Postpones until final stages, as contract costs, and a hint to the circled parts |
| 50% | ASIDE | 5 | Comment from a stage actor directly to the audience |
| 49% | PERFORM | 7 | Take the stage as an actor |
| 48% | CUED | 4 | Fed lines to, as an actor |
| 48% | ENTER | 5 | Stage direction for an actor to join a scene |
| 48% | ENTER | 5 | Stage direction that prompts an actor to go onstage |
| 48% | ROLE | 4 | Something to fill, as an actor does |
| 45% | BREAKALEG | 9 | Good-luck wish before an actor takes to the stage |
| 45% | INOPERABLE | 10 | (adj.) unfit to be staged as a dramatic musical production |
| 45% | METEORIC | 8 | Sudden and swift, as an actor's rise to stardom |
| 45% | KEN | 3 | Comic actor Jeong who used to work as a doctor |
| 43% | DANCEAROUND | 11 | Skirt, as an issue ... or a hint to the puzzle's circles |
| 42% | CUING | 5 | Providing prompts to a stage actor |
| 42% | HANDRBLOCK | 10 | Tax giant, as well as a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 42% | ANDOR | 5 | Star Wars series, as well as a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 42% | CHANGEHANDS | 11 | Be sold, as property ... and a hint to each set of circled letters |
| 42% | REPEATAFTERME | 13 | "Do as I do," and a hint to what the circled letters do |
| 42% | PIERCEBROSNAN | 13 | Last actor to smoke onscreen as 15-Across in a film (2 wds.) |
| 42% | THESPIAN | 8 | Stage actor |
| 42% | INRE | 4 | As to |
| 42% | ANENT | 5 | As to |
| 42% | REGARDING | 9 | As to |
| 41% | JAMESSTEWART | 12 | Actor with the same initials as Jefferson Smith, his role in "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" |
| 41% | OLIVERREED | 10 | Actor whose likeness was digitally recreated to complete his scenes as Proximo in "Gladiator": 2 wds. |
| 41% | PROP | 4 | Object handled by stage actors |
| 41% | PROPS | 5 | Objects used by stage actors |
| 41% | PROPS | 5 | Objects handled by stage actors |
| 41% | INOROUT | 7 | Choice for a dog, as well as a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 41% | REGULARS | 8 | Main actors in a continuing series, as opposed to the show's guest stars |