diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.cpp
index a86a05b330..43d3c4ba79 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ 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 );
@@ -49,6 +53,9 @@ 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];
@@ -81,11 +88,13 @@ ScreenStage::ScreenStage( CString sClassName ) : Screen( sClassName )
 	SET_XY_AND_ON_COMMAND( m_SongTitle );
 
 	if ( SHOW_BANNER )
+	{
 		if( GAMESTATE->m_pCurSong && GAMESTATE->m_pCurSong->HasBanner() )
 		{
 			m_Banner.LoadFromSong( GAMESTATE->m_pCurSong );
 			this->AddChild( &m_Banner );
 		}
+	}
 	m_Banner.SetName("Banner");
 	SET_XY( m_Banner );
 	ON_COMMAND(m_Banner);
@@ -115,7 +124,7 @@ void ScreenStage::HandleScreenMessage( const ScreenMessage SM )
 		OFF_COMMAND( m_SongTitle );
 		OFF_COMMAND( m_Artist );
 		OFF_COMMAND( m_Banner );
-		SCREENMAN->PlaySharedBackgroundOffCommand();
+		OFF_COMMAND( m_Background );
 		this->PostScreenMessage( SM_GoToNextScreen, this->GetTweenTimeLeft() );
 		
 		break;
@@ -131,11 +140,6 @@ 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 0e21913ed5..828e007011 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenStage.h
@@ -19,9 +19,12 @@ public:
 	virtual void Update( float fDeltaTime );
 	virtual void MenuBack( PlayerNumber pn );
 
+	virtual bool UsesBackground() const { return false; }
+
 private:
-	Transition	m_In, m_Out, m_Back;
-	BGAnimation				m_Overlay; // overlays all elements except bitmaptexts
+	Transition		m_In, m_Out, m_Back;
+	BGAnimation		m_Background;
+	BGAnimation		m_Overlay; // overlays all elements except bitmaptexts
 	Banner			m_Banner;
 	BitmapText		m_SongTitle;
 	BitmapText		m_Artist;