Dozens of stars rehearse day before Oscar ceremony

But no matter how they looked, all of the stars who rehearsed Saturday for the 85th Academy Awards seemed excited about being a part of the big show.

They paraded through the Dolby Theatre in 15-minute increments: Meryl Streep, Ben Affleck, Reese Witherspoon, Richard Gere, Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta, Nicole Kidman, Jack Nicholson. And dozens more.

Each rehearsed their lines in front of an audience of show workers and awarded prop Oscars to rehearsal actors. They also scanned the theater from the stage, searching for their show-night seats.

“Oh, wow. That's a very dramatic picture of me,'' best-actress nominee Jessica Chastain said after spotting her seat-saving placard. "I'm looking at everyone's headshots. It's kind of incredible.''

Affleck confessed his excitement from the stage as he looked out at all the famous faces expected Sunday.

“This is like the most memorable aspect of the Oscars,'' the "Argo'' director said. “You see all these place cards (at rehearsal), then you come back and they're all here!''

Affleck also chatted backstage with the college film students who won a contest to serve as trophy carriers during the ceremony.

“I love that,'' he said. "It's super cool.''

Travolta spent time with the students, too.

“I was there when that idea was born and I said it was the best idea they could possibly come up with,'' he told the aspiring filmmakers backstage. "And here you are!''

Travolta plans to bring his 13-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu, to the

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