Class actors close to stage (5)
I believe the answer is:
caste
'class' is the definition.
(caste is a kind of class)
'actors close to stage' is the wordplay.
'actors' becomes 'cast' (I've seen this before).
'close to' suggests the final letters (the close/ending of).
The last letter of 'stage' is 'e'.
'cast'+'e'='CASTE'
(Other definitions for caste that I've seen before include "Hereditary Hindu social division" , "Hereditary social class among Hindus" , "Hindu determinant of status" , "Level in society" , "Social class or rank" .)