Crossword puzzle clue "stage hint"

Hint (and a hint to this puzzle's theme)

"Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of ___" (classic 1971 children's book based on experiments at the National Insistute of Mental Health, hint hint)

Something your poetry teacher might assign you to write about a particularly inspirational poetry teacher you've had *hint* *hint

Stage hint

Went all out on stage ... or a hint to the four other longest puzzle answers

Elaborate Broadway stage decor, vis-a-vis summer camp theater stage design?

At an early stage — at a late stage

Contented sighs (and a homophonic hint to this puzzle's theme)