Linda Kerns gets ready backstage at the Pantages Theater. Kerns, a theater professor, understudies the role of Madame Morrible in “Wicked” and got to fill in for the lead actor and perform last week. Kerns has had a lengthy acting career, performing on Broadway in musicals such as “Nine” and “Big River.” She has also toured with “Les Misérables.”

Photo by Andrew Hsieh