diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenAttract.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenAttract.cpp
index 8d8b1b57fb..659477e4a8 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenAttract.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenAttract.cpp
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ ScreenAttract::ScreenAttract( CString sName, bool bResetGameState ) : Screen( sN
 
 	// We have to do initialization in the first update because this->GetElementName() won't
 	// work until the object has been fully constructed.
-	m_Background.LoadFromAniDir( THEME->GetPathToB(m_sName+" background") );
-	this->AddChild( &m_Background );
-
 	m_In.Load( THEME->GetPathToB(m_sName+" in") );
 	m_In.StartTransitioning();
 	m_In.SetDrawOrder( DRAW_ORDER_TRANSITIONS );
@@ -46,16 +43,6 @@ ScreenAttract::ScreenAttract( CString sName, bool bResetGameState ) : Screen( sN
 	this->AddChild( &m_Out );
 
 	SOUND->PlayOnceFromDir( ANNOUNCER->GetPathTo(m_sName) );
-
-	float fTimeUntilBeginFadingOut = m_Background.GetLengthSeconds() - m_Out.GetLengthSeconds();
-	if( fTimeUntilBeginFadingOut < 0 )
-	{
-		LOG->Warn( "Screen '%s' Out BGAnimation (%f seconds) is longer than Background BGAnimation (%f seconds); background BGA will be truncated",
-			m_sName.c_str(), m_Out.GetLengthSeconds(), m_Background.GetLengthSeconds() );
-		fTimeUntilBeginFadingOut = 0;
-	}
-
-	this->PostScreenMessage( SM_BeginFadingOut, fTimeUntilBeginFadingOut );
 }
 
 
@@ -132,6 +119,19 @@ void ScreenAttract::Update( float fDelta )
 {
 	if( IsFirstUpdate() )
 	{
+		// The shared background isn't loaded until the screen is actually 
+		// showing.  The background is loaded by the time of the first update.
+		BGAnimation &background = *SCREENMAN->m_pSharedBGA;
+		float fTimeUntilBeginFadingOut = background.GetLengthSeconds() - m_Out.GetLengthSeconds();
+		if( fTimeUntilBeginFadingOut < 0 )
+		{
+			LOG->Warn( "Screen '%s' Out BGAnimation (%f seconds) is longer than Background BGAnimation (%f seconds); background BGA will be truncated",
+				m_sName.c_str(), m_Out.GetLengthSeconds(), background.GetLengthSeconds() );
+			fTimeUntilBeginFadingOut = 0;
+		}
+		this->PostScreenMessage( SM_BeginFadingOut, fTimeUntilBeginFadingOut );
+
+		
 		if( GAMESTATE->IsTimeToPlayAttractSounds() )
 			SOUND->PlayMusic( THEME->GetPathToS(m_sName + " music") );
 		else
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenAttract.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenAttract.h
index 4612527f94..d6c2f90fe2 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenAttract.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenAttract.h
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ public:
 	virtual void HandleScreenMessage( const ScreenMessage SM );
 
 protected:
-	BGAnimation		m_Background;
 	Transition		m_In;
 	Transition		m_Out;
 };
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenEdit.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenEdit.cpp
index b04d5ddc73..5d5793f465 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenEdit.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenEdit.cpp
@@ -412,8 +412,6 @@ ScreenEdit::ScreenEdit( CString sName ) : Screen( sName )
 	GAMESTATE->ResetNoteSkins();
 	GAMESTATE->StoreSelectedOptions();
 
-	m_BGAnimation.LoadFromAniDir( THEME->GetPathToB("ScreenEdit background") );
-
 	shiftAnchor = -1;
 
 
@@ -605,7 +603,6 @@ void ScreenEdit::Update( float fDeltaTime )
 		}
 	}
 
-	m_BGAnimation.Update( fDeltaTime );
 	m_SnapDisplay.Update( fDeltaTime );
 	m_NoteFieldEdit.Update( fDeltaTime );
 	m_In.Update( fDeltaTime );
@@ -713,7 +710,6 @@ void ScreenEdit::DrawPrimitives()
 	{
 	case MODE_EDITING:
 		{
-			m_BGAnimation.Draw();
 			m_sprHelp.Draw();
 			m_textHelp.Draw();
 			m_sprInfo.Draw();
@@ -733,8 +729,6 @@ void ScreenEdit::DrawPrimitives()
 	case MODE_RECORDING:
 		if( PREFSMAN->m_bEditorShowBGChangesPlay )
 			m_Background.Draw();
-		else
-			m_BGAnimation.Draw();
 
 		m_NoteFieldRecord.Draw();
 		if( PREFSMAN->m_bEditorShowBGChangesPlay )
@@ -743,8 +737,6 @@ void ScreenEdit::DrawPrimitives()
 	case MODE_PLAYING:
 		if( PREFSMAN->m_bEditorShowBGChangesPlay )
 			m_Background.Draw();
-		else
-			m_BGAnimation.Draw();
 
 		m_Player.Draw();
 		if( PREFSMAN->m_bEditorShowBGChangesPlay )
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenEdit.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenEdit.h
index 47b0e6b2ae..f795c930c8 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenEdit.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenEdit.h
@@ -51,8 +51,6 @@ protected:
 	Song*			m_pSong;
 	Steps*			m_pSteps;
 
-	BGAnimation		m_BGAnimation;
-
 	NoteField		m_NoteFieldEdit;
 	SnapDisplay		m_SnapDisplay;
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenEnding.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenEnding.cpp
index 06e952b557..536bd51937 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenEnding.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenEnding.cpp
@@ -246,15 +246,6 @@ ScreenEnding::ScreenEnding( CString sClassName ) : ScreenAttract( sClassName, fa
 
 	// Now that we've read the data from the profile, it's ok to Reset()
 	GAMESTATE->Reset();
-
-	float fSecsUntilBeginFadingOut = m_Background.GetLengthSeconds() - m_Out.GetLengthSeconds();
-	if( fSecsUntilBeginFadingOut < 0 )
-	{
-		LOG->Warn( "Screen '%s' Out BGAnimation (%f seconds) is longer than Background BGAnimation (%f seconds); background BGA will be truncated",
-			m_sName.c_str(), m_Out.GetLengthSeconds(), m_Background.GetLengthSeconds() );
-		fSecsUntilBeginFadingOut = 0;
-	}
-	this->PostScreenMessage( SM_BeginFadingOut, fSecsUntilBeginFadingOut );
 }
 
 ScreenEnding::~ScreenEnding()
@@ -263,6 +254,22 @@ ScreenEnding::~ScreenEnding()
 
 void ScreenEnding::Update( float fDeltaTime )
 {
+	// The shared background isn't loaded until the screen is actually 
+	// showing.  The background is loaded by the time of the first update.
+	if( IsFirstUpdate() )
+	{
+		BGAnimation &background = *SCREENMAN->m_pSharedBGA;
+		float fSecsUntilBeginFadingOut = background.GetLengthSeconds() - m_Out.GetLengthSeconds();
+		if( fSecsUntilBeginFadingOut < 0 )
+		{
+			LOG->Warn( "Screen '%s' Out BGAnimation (%f seconds) is longer than Background BGAnimation (%f seconds); background BGA will be truncated",
+				m_sName.c_str(), m_Out.GetLengthSeconds(), background.GetLengthSeconds() );
+			fSecsUntilBeginFadingOut = 0;
+		}
+		this->PostScreenMessage( SM_BeginFadingOut, fSecsUntilBeginFadingOut );
+	}
+
+
 	ScreenAttract::Update( fDeltaTime );
 
 	if( m_In.IsTransitioning() && m_Out.IsTransitioning() )
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenEz2SelectPlayer.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenEz2SelectPlayer.cpp
index 09419a1a0f..daeb3865bd 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenEz2SelectPlayer.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenEz2SelectPlayer.cpp
@@ -45,9 +45,6 @@ ScreenEz2SelectPlayer::ScreenEz2SelectPlayer( CString sName ) : ScreenWithMenuEl
 
 	LOG->Trace( "ScreenEz2SelectPlayer::ScreenEz2SelectPlayer()" );
 
-	m_Background.LoadFromAniDir( THEME->GetPathToB("ScreenEz2SelectPlayer background") );
-	this->AddChild( &m_Background ); // animated background =)
-
 	FOREACH_PlayerNumber( p )
 	{
 		m_sprJoinFrame[p].Load( THEME->GetPathToG("ScreenEz2SelectPlayer join frame 1x2") );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenEz2SelectPlayer.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenEz2SelectPlayer.h
index 9200a79ce0..3041fc961d 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenEz2SelectPlayer.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenEz2SelectPlayer.h
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ private:
 	
 	Sprite	m_sprJoinMessage[NUM_PLAYERS];
 	Sprite	m_sprJoinFrame[NUM_PLAYERS];
-
-	BGAnimation	m_Background;	
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp
index d5bf32b4e0..0fe669a6a0 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "RageTextureManager.h"
 #include "ThemeManager.h"
 #include "ScreenSystemLayer.h"
+#include "BGAnimation.h"
 
 ScreenManager*	SCREENMAN = NULL;	// global and accessable from anywhere in our program
 
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ void ScreenManager::Register( const CString& sClassName, CreateScreenFn pfn )
 
 ScreenManager::ScreenManager()
 {
+	m_pSharedBGA = new BGAnimation;
 	m_SystemLayer = NULL;
 
 	/* By the time this is constructed, THEME has already been set up and set to
@@ -60,7 +62,6 @@ ScreenManager::ScreenManager()
 	this->ThemeChanged();
 
 	m_ScreenBuffered = NULL;
-
 	m_MessageSendOnPop = SM_None;
 }
 
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ ScreenManager::~ScreenManager()
 
 	EmptyDeleteQueue();
 
-	// delete current Screens
+	SAFE_DELETE( m_pSharedBGA );
 	for( unsigned i=0; i<m_ScreenStack.size(); i++ )
 		delete m_ScreenStack[i];
 	delete m_ScreenBuffered;
@@ -139,6 +140,8 @@ void ScreenManager::Update( float fDeltaTime )
 	 */
 	ASSERT( !m_ScreenStack.empty() || m_DelayedScreen != "" );	// Why play the game if there is nothing showing?
 
+	m_pSharedBGA->Update( fDeltaTime );
+
 	if( !m_ScreenStack.empty() )
 	{
 		Screen* pScreen = GetTopScreen();
@@ -149,7 +152,7 @@ void ScreenManager::Update( float fDeltaTime )
 	}
 
 	m_SystemLayer->Update( fDeltaTime );
-
+	
 	EmptyDeleteQueue();
 
 	if(m_DelayedScreen.size() != 0)
@@ -180,13 +183,21 @@ void ScreenManager::Draw()
 	if( !DISPLAY->BeginFrame() )
 		return;
 
+	m_pSharedBGA->Draw();
+
 	if( !m_ScreenStack.empty() && !m_ScreenStack.back()->IsTransparent() )	// top screen isn't transparent
+	{
 		m_ScreenStack.back()->Draw();
+	}
 	else
+	{
 		for( unsigned i=0; i<m_ScreenStack.size(); i++ )	// Draw all screens bottom to top
 			m_ScreenStack[i]->Draw();
+	}
+
 	m_SystemLayer->Draw();
 
+
 	DISPLAY->EndFrame();
 }
 
@@ -202,7 +213,7 @@ void ScreenManager::Input( const DeviceInput& DeviceI, const InputEventType type
 }
 
 
-Screen* ScreenManager::MakeNewScreen( const CString &sName )
+Screen* ScreenManager::MakeNewScreen( const CString &sScreenName )
 {
 	/* By default, RageSounds handles the song timer.  When we change screens, reset this;
 	 * screens turn this off in SM_GainFocus if they handle timers themselves (edit). 
@@ -214,20 +225,20 @@ Screen* ScreenManager::MakeNewScreen( const CString &sName )
 	SONGMAN->Cleanup();
 
 	RageTimer t;
-	LOG->Trace( "Loading screen name '%s'", sName.c_str() );
+	LOG->Trace( "Loading screen name '%s'", sScreenName.c_str() );
 
-	CString sClassName = sName;
+	CString sClassName = sScreenName;
 	// Look up the class in the metrics group sName
 	if( THEME->HasMetric(sClassName,"Class") )
 		sClassName = THEME->GetMetric(sClassName,"Class");
 	
 	map<CString,CreateScreenFn>::iterator iter = g_pmapRegistrees->find( sClassName );
-	ASSERT_M( iter != g_pmapRegistrees->end(), ssprintf("Screen '%s' has an invalid class '%s'",sName.c_str(),sClassName.c_str()) )
+	ASSERT_M( iter != g_pmapRegistrees->end(), ssprintf("Screen '%s' has an invalid class '%s'",sScreenName.c_str(),sClassName.c_str()) )
 
 	CreateScreenFn pfn = iter->second;
-	Screen* ret = pfn( sName );
+	Screen* ret = pfn( sScreenName );
 
-	LOG->Trace( "Loaded '%s' ('%s') in %f", sName.c_str(), sClassName.c_str(), t.GetDeltaTime());
+	LOG->Trace( "Loaded '%s' ('%s') in %f", sScreenName.c_str(), sClassName.c_str(), t.GetDeltaTime());
 
 	/* Loading probably took a little while.  Let's reset stats.  This prevents us
 	 * from displaying an unnaturally low FPS value, and the next FPS value we
@@ -238,10 +249,10 @@ Screen* ScreenManager::MakeNewScreen( const CString &sName )
 	return ret;
 }
 
-void ScreenManager::PrepNewScreen( const CString &sClassName )
+void ScreenManager::PrepNewScreen( const CString &sScreenName )
 {
 	ASSERT(m_ScreenBuffered == NULL);
-	m_ScreenBuffered = MakeNewScreen(sClassName);
+	m_ScreenBuffered = MakeNewScreen(sScreenName);
 }
 
 void ScreenManager::LoadPreppedScreen()
@@ -255,6 +266,7 @@ void ScreenManager::LoadPreppedScreen()
 void ScreenManager::DeletePreppedScreen()
 {
 	SAFE_DELETE( m_ScreenBuffered );
+
 	TEXTUREMAN->DeleteCachedTextures();
 }
 
@@ -285,9 +297,9 @@ void ScreenManager::SetFromNewScreen( Screen *pNewScreen, bool Stack )
 	PostMessageToTopScreen( SM_GainFocus, 0 );
 }
 
-void ScreenManager::SetNewScreen( const CString &sClassName )
+void ScreenManager::SetNewScreen( const CString &sScreenName )
 {
-	m_DelayedScreen = sClassName;
+	m_DelayedScreen = sScreenName;
 
 	/* If we're not delaying screen loads, load it now.  Otherwise, we'll load
 	 * it on the next iteration.  Only delay if we already have a screen
@@ -299,7 +311,7 @@ void ScreenManager::SetNewScreen( const CString &sClassName )
 void ScreenManager::LoadDelayedScreen()
 {
 retry:
-	CString sClassName = m_DelayedScreen;
+	CString sScreenName = m_DelayedScreen;
 	m_DelayedScreen = "";
 
 	/* If we prepped a screen but didn't use it, nuke it. */
@@ -307,10 +319,13 @@ retry:
 
 	Screen* pOldTopScreen = m_ScreenStack.empty() ? NULL : m_ScreenStack.back();
 
+
 	// It makes sense that ScreenManager should allocate memory for a new screen since it 
 	// deletes it later on.  This also convention will reduce includes because screens won't 
 	// have to include each other's headers of other screens.
-	Screen* pNewScreen = MakeNewScreen(sClassName);
+	Screen* pNewScreen = MakeNewScreen(sScreenName);
+
+	
 
 	if( pOldTopScreen!=NULL  &&  m_ScreenStack.back()!=pOldTopScreen )
 	{
@@ -333,16 +348,16 @@ retry:
 
 	/* If this is a system menu, don't let the operator key touch it! 
 		However, if you add an options screen, please include it here -- Miryokuteki */
-	if(	sClassName == "ScreenOptionsMenu" ||
-		sClassName == "ScreenMachineOptions" || 
-		sClassName == "ScreenInputOptions" || 
-		sClassName == "ScreenGraphicOptions" || 
-		sClassName == "ScreenGameplayOptions" || 
-		sClassName == "ScreenMapControllers" || 
-		sClassName == "ScreenAppearanceOptions" || 
-		sClassName == "ScreenEdit" || 
-		sClassName == "ScreenEditMenu" || 
-		sClassName == "ScreenSoundOptions" ) 
+	if(	sScreenName == "ScreenOptionsMenu" ||
+		sScreenName == "ScreenMachineOptions" || 
+		sScreenName == "ScreenInputOptions" || 
+		sScreenName == "ScreenGraphicOptions" || 
+		sScreenName == "ScreenGameplayOptions" || 
+		sScreenName == "ScreenMapControllers" || 
+		sScreenName == "ScreenAppearanceOptions" || 
+		sScreenName == "ScreenEdit" || 
+		sScreenName == "ScreenEditMenu" || 
+		sScreenName == "ScreenSoundOptions" ) 
 		GAMESTATE->m_bIsOnSystemMenu = true;
 	else 
 		GAMESTATE->m_bIsOnSystemMenu = false;
@@ -355,14 +370,14 @@ retry:
 	SetFromNewScreen( pNewScreen, false );
 }
 
-void ScreenManager::AddNewScreenToTop( const CString &sClassName, ScreenMessage messageSendOnPop )
+void ScreenManager::AddNewScreenToTop( const CString &sScreenName, ScreenMessage messageSendOnPop )
 {	
 	/* Send this before making the new screen, since it might set things that will be re-set
 	 * in the new screen's ctor. */
 	if( m_ScreenStack.size() )
 		m_ScreenStack.back()->HandleScreenMessage( SM_LoseFocus );
 
-	Screen* pNewScreen = MakeNewScreen(sClassName);
+	Screen* pNewScreen = MakeNewScreen(sScreenName);
 	SetFromNewScreen( pNewScreen, true );
 	m_MessageSendOnPop = messageSendOnPop;
 }
@@ -512,6 +527,11 @@ void ScreenManager::PlayBackSound()
 	m_soundBack.Play( &p );
 }
 
+void ScreenManager::PlaySharedBackgroundOffCommand()
+{
+	m_pSharedBGA->PlayCommand("Off");
+}
+
 /*
  * (c) 2001-2003 Chris Danford, Glenn Maynard
  * All rights reserved.
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.h
index 917931175d..5a26c00ad1 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 class Screen;
 struct Menu;
 class ScreenSystemLayer;
+class BGAnimation;
 
 
 typedef Screen* (*CreateScreenFn)(const CString&);
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ public:
 	void PrepNewScreen( const CString &sName );
 	void LoadPreppedScreen();
 	void DeletePreppedScreen();
+	
 	void SetNewScreen( const CString &sName );
 	void AddNewScreenToTop( const CString &sName, ScreenMessage messageSendOnPop );
 	void Prompt( ScreenMessage SM_SendWhenDone, const CString &sText, bool bYesNo = false, bool bDefaultAnswer = false, void(*OnYes)(void*) = NULL, void(*OnNo)(void*) = NULL, void* pCallbackData = NULL );
@@ -59,6 +61,12 @@ public:
 
 	Screen *GetTopScreen();
 
+public:
+	//
+	// in draw order first to last
+	//
+	BGAnimation			*m_pSharedBGA;	// BGA object that's persistent between screens
+	void PlaySharedBackgroundOffCommand();
 private:
 	vector<Screen*>		m_ScreenStack;	// bottommost to topmost
 	ScreenMessage		m_MessageSendOnPop;
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.cpp
index 5b0f8677c6..0f79f7a77f 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.cpp
@@ -157,9 +157,6 @@ ScreenNameEntry::ScreenNameEntry( CString sClassName ) : Screen( sClassName )
 
 	GAMESTATE->m_bPastHereWeGo = true;	// enable the gray arrows
 
-	m_Background.LoadFromAniDir( THEME->GetPathToB("ScreenNameEntry background") );
-	this->AddChild( &m_Background );
-
 	FOREACH_PlayerNumber( p )
 	{
 		// load last used ranking name if any
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.h
index fde88a08f6..f6945fbaa8 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntry.h
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ public:
 private:
 	bool AnyStillEntering() const;
 
-	BGAnimation		m_Background;
-
 	ReceptorArrowRow	m_ReceptorArrowRow[NUM_PLAYERS];
 	BitmapText		m_textSelectedChars[NUM_PLAYERS][ABS_MAX_RANKING_NAME_LENGTH];
 	BitmapText		m_textScrollingChars[NUM_PLAYERS][ABS_MAX_RANKING_NAME_LENGTH];
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntryTraditional.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntryTraditional.h
index e5509c4c59..6f2e340da0 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntryTraditional.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenNameEntryTraditional.h
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ private:
 	void ChangeDisplayedFeat();
 	void SelectChar( PlayerNumber pn, int c );
 
-	BGAnimation		m_Background;
-
 	ActorFrame		m_Keyboard[NUM_PLAYERS];
 	Sprite			m_sprCursor[NUM_PLAYERS];
 	vector<BitmapText*>	m_textAlphabet[NUM_PLAYERS];
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.cpp
index 18aa8b9a9c..289cf63cee 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.cpp
@@ -31,11 +31,6 @@ ScreenStage::ScreenStage( CString sClassName ) : Screen( sClassName )
 
 	LIGHTSMAN->SetLightsMode( LIGHTSMODE_STAGE );
 
-
-	m_Background.LoadFromAniDir( THEME->GetPathToB(m_sName + " "+GAMESTATE->GetStageText()) );
-	m_Background.SetDrawOrder( DRAW_ORDER_BEFORE_EVERYTHING );
-	this->AddChild( &m_Background );
-
 	m_Overlay.SetName( "Overlay" );
 	m_Overlay.LoadFromAniDir( THEME->GetPathToB(m_sName + " overlay"));
 	ON_COMMAND( m_Overlay );
@@ -54,9 +49,6 @@ ScreenStage::ScreenStage( CString sClassName ) : Screen( sClassName )
 	m_Back.SetDrawOrder( DRAW_ORDER_TRANSITIONS );
 	this->AddChild( &m_Back );
 
-	/* Prep the new screen once m_In is complete. */
-	this->PostScreenMessage( SM_PrepScreen, m_Background.GetLengthSeconds() );
-
 	FOREACH_PlayerNumber(p)
 	{
 		Character* pChar = GAMESTATE->m_pCurCharacters[p];
@@ -123,7 +115,8 @@ void ScreenStage::HandleScreenMessage( const ScreenMessage SM )
 		OFF_COMMAND( m_SongTitle );
 		OFF_COMMAND( m_Artist );
 		OFF_COMMAND( m_Banner );
-		OFF_COMMAND( m_Background );
+		SCREENMAN->PlaySharedBackgroundOffCommand();
+
 
 		this->PostScreenMessage( SM_GoToNextScreen, this->GetTweenTimeLeft() );
 		
@@ -140,6 +133,11 @@ void ScreenStage::HandleScreenMessage( const ScreenMessage SM )
 
 void ScreenStage::Update( float fDeltaTime )
 {
+	// The shared BGA isn't loaded until after the screen is showing.  It is ready
+	// to access by the time of the first update.
+	if( IsFirstUpdate() )
+		this->PostScreenMessage( SM_PrepScreen, SCREENMAN->m_pSharedBGA->GetLengthSeconds() );
+
 	if( m_bZeroDeltaOnNextUpdate )
 	{
 		m_bZeroDeltaOnNextUpdate = false;
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.h
index 69399fe706..0e21913ed5 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.h
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ public:
 
 private:
 	Transition	m_In, m_Out, m_Back;
-	BGAnimation				m_Background;
 	BGAnimation				m_Overlay; // overlays all elements except bitmaptexts
 	Banner			m_Banner;
 	BitmapText		m_SongTitle;
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenStyleSplash.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenStyleSplash.cpp
index b0918a3eb3..1d627505e5 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenStyleSplash.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenStyleSplash.cpp
@@ -39,9 +39,6 @@ ScreenStyleSplash::ScreenStyleSplash( CString sName ) : ScreenWithMenuElements(
 		iDifficulty = GAMESTATE->m_PreferredDifficulty[PLAYER_2];
 	}
 
-	m_Background.LoadFromAniDir( THEME->GetPathToB(ssprintf("ScreenStyleSplash-%s-%s-%d",sGameName.c_str(),sStyleName.c_str(),iDifficulty) ) );
-	this->AddChild( &m_Background );
-	
 	this->PostScreenMessage( SM_StartClosing, 2 );
 }
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenStyleSplash.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenStyleSplash.h
index 9391b1e037..7289387d42 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenStyleSplash.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenStyleSplash.h
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ public:
 protected:
 	void MenuStart( PlayerNumber pn );
 	void MenuBack(	PlayerNumber pn );
-
-	BGAnimation m_Background;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.cpp
index 51a66e11c7..0cf10fb93b 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.cpp
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ ScreenWithMenuElements::ScreenWithMenuElements( CString sClassName ) : Screen( s
 
 	this->SetName( sClassName );
 
-	m_Background.LoadFromAniDir( THEME->GetPathToB(m_sName+" background") );
-	this->AddChild( &m_Background );
-
 	m_autoHeader.Load( THEME->GetPathToG(m_sName+" header") );
 	m_autoHeader->SetName("Header");
 	UtilSetXY( m_autoHeader, m_sName );
@@ -140,7 +137,7 @@ void ScreenWithMenuElements::StartTransitioning( ScreenMessage smSendWhenDone )
 	UtilOffCommand( m_autoFooter, m_sName );
 	UtilOffCommand( m_textHelp, m_sName );
 
-	m_Background.PlayCommand("Off");
+	SCREENMAN->PlaySharedBackgroundOffCommand();
 
 	m_Out.StartTransitioning(smSendWhenDone);
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.h
index e695601d15..fae887ebd4 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.h
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ public:
 	void ResetTimer();
 
 protected:
-	BGAnimation			m_Background;
-
 	AutoActor			m_autoHeader;
 	Sprite				m_sprStyleIcon;
 	MemoryCardDisplay	m_MemoryCardDisplay[NUM_PLAYERS];