Given the challenges that face theatre professionals each day, it is heartening to see evidence of a healthy trend in the making. Case in point: young film and television actors returning to theatre or exploring serious stage work for the first time.

Miguel Ferrer, son of Jose Ferrer, began his acting career working in film and television in Los Angeles. His credits include "Robocop," Stephen King's "The Stand" and David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" among others.

More recently, Ferrer stepped on stage at L.A.'s Skylight to star in Milton Katselas' Visions and Lovers: Variations on a Theme, alongside Jenna Elfman, star of ABC's "Dharma and Greg."

Encouraged by that stage experience, and after working in New York City with Al Franken on the political comedy, "Lateline" for NBC, Ferrer began exploring other stage projects. He tells Playbill On-Line he is currently involved with the development of a new theatre project he hopes will be done in New York, where he moved this summer with his wife, actress Leilani Sarelle, and their two children.

Meanwhile, Ferrer says, his latest film, Western Sandblast's "Where's Marlowe" (Paramount) opens nationwide Nov. 12. Directed by Daniel Pyne, "Where's Marlowe" may or may not threaten the box office expected of the new "Pokemon" movie, but the often hilarious and film noir piece -- something of a "Pulp Fiction" meets "The Blair Witch Project" -- points to a trend of actors interested in both film and theatre.

Also starring with Ferrer in "Where's Marlowe?" are Mos Def, John Livingston, Allison Dean, John Slattery, Elizabeth Schofield, Barbara Howard and Clayton Rohner. A footnote for entertainment aficionados: Ferrer's co-star, John Slattery, an established stage actor, is married to Talia Balsam, daughter of Martin Balsam. The connection? Balsam's first husband was Ferrer's cousin, film actor George Clooney.

-- By Murdoch McBride