ActionScript 3.0 stage access from within component class code

programming flash
1

Please help me work out how to access the stage from within component code. (I am very new to ActionScript)

Here is the cut down code of the main application entry point:


package {
	import flash.display.Sprite;
	
	public class Main extends Sprite {
		
		private var _textarea:TextArea;
		
		public function Main():void {			
			_textarea = new TextArea();

			this.addChild(_textarea);

			_textarea.show();
		}
	}
}

Here is the cut down code of the textarea component:


package {
	import flash.display.Sprite;

	public class TextArea extends Sprite {
		
		public function TextArea():void {
			trace(this.root); // is null
			trace(this.parent); // is null
			trace(this.stage); // is null
		}

		public function show():void {
			this.visible = true;			
		}
	}	
}

I need to access the main stage to add a mouse up event listener.

Thank you.