Acting & Auditioning Books

Inside Inside

James Lipton

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

A Most Enjoyable Journey 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

James Lipton provides the reader with a modestly-written account of his multi-faceted career and his many accomplishments. It is easy to journey with him from his initial efforts to earn money for law school to his accomplishments on radio, in television, on the stage and, finally as a (the?) principal of the Actors' Studio. That's the first half of the book. The second half is a review of many of the actors, actresses, writers and directors who were interviewed by him on "Inside the Actor's Studio" arranged with emphasis less on the individuals and their fame and more on their mettle. For devotees of the program, it is another wonderful journey with Lipton. For those who have not watched his television series on Bravo and who don't know James Lipton, it is an introduction to a most talented and accomplished individual who has a wonderful story to tell. "Inside Inside" is a most enjoyable read.

Editorial Review:

“An unqualified hit” (Library Journal) that offers behind-the-scenes close-ups of hundreds of celebrated artists— from the founder and host of Inside the Actors Studio.

Audition: Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part

Michael Shurtleff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 53 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Totally necessary for any actors library 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book breaks down the audition process and helps to give you something, a formula to work with and depend on to prepare your best performance. A great tool for any actor or performer.

Fantastically Helpful 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is fantastic. I read my friend's copy of it when I was at a performing arts program a couple years ago, and we had general auditions for the 13 shows being done there the next morning. Later I went on to read the entire book, which was immensely helpful. Not only does it help with auditioning skills, which, less face it, are among THE most important skills an actor can have, but it also helps with acting in general. Anyway, the night after reading a few sections after this book, I went to my auditions, and then the next day I attended 5 callbacks to different shows. I was approached by directors the next day telling me about the strength of my cold readings and how the directors had argued that evening because they all wanted to cast me in their shows. This hadn't happened before, and I attribute this success to this book. It's essential for every actor to read this. Gold.

Editorial Review:

The casting director for Chicago, Pippin, Becket, Gypsy, The Graduate, the Sound of Music and Jesus Christ Superstar tells you how you can find your dream! Absolutely everything an actor needs to know to get the part is here: What to do that moment before, how to use humour; create mystery; how to develop a distinct style; and how to evaluate the place, the relationships and the competition. In fact, Audition is a necessary guide to dealing with all the "auditions" we face in life. This is the bible on the subject.

An Actor Prepares

Constantin Stanislavski

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

So much mystery and veneration surrounds the writings of the great Russian teacher and director Stanislavski that perhaps the greatest surprise awaiting a first-time reader of An Actor Prepares is how conversational, commonsensical, and even at times funny this legendary book is. After many productions with the Moscow Arts Company, Stanislavski sought a way to introduce his new style of acting to the world outside of his rehearsal hall. The resulting book is a "mock diary" of an actor describing a series of exercises and rehearsals in which he participates. He details his own emotional and intellectual reactions to each effort, and how his superficial tricks and mannerisms begin to disappear as he increasingly gives over his conscious ego to a faith in the creative power of his subconscious. Rarely has any writer on the theater achieved the sort of lucid and inspired analysis of the acting process as Stanislavski does here, and his introduction of such now-standard concepts as "the unbroken line," "the magic if," and the idea of emotional memory has laid the groundwork for much of the great acting of the 20th century. While much excess and nonsense was to follow in the steps of Stanislavski's writings, his original texts remain invaluable, and surprisingly accessible, to any actor or student of drama. --John Longenbaugh

Sanford Meisner on Acting

Sanford Meisner, Dennis Longwell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Sanford Meisner has been called "the theater's best-kept secret," and Sanford Meisner on Acting by Dennis Longwell gives some insight into what techniques the hugely influential drama teacher used in his 50-plus years of work. One of the founding members of the Actors Studio (with Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Harold Clurman), Meisner developed his own special lessons based upon his understandings of the great Russian teacher Stanislavsky. Turning away from the sense-memory exercises common among his colleagues, his training focused instead on a realistic approach to imagination and creativity. Unlike many other educators associated with "the Method," Meisner had little tolerance for self-absorption or striving after strong emotional effect, instead preaching that clarity of purpose and efficient use of the psyche are the actor's greatest tools. Longwell's book follows a class of eight men and eight women through one of Meisner's 15-month courses at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse, with extensive transcripts taken directly from Meisner's notes to the students on the basis of their exercises. With an introduction by director Sydney Pollack, one of the many influential artists who studied with Meisner (the book includes accolades from Maureen Stapleton, Arthur Miller, Gregory Peck, and Eli Wallach), this is an excellent introduction that helps to demystify the work of a great theatrical teacher. --John Longenbaugh

Singing for Dummies

Pamelia S. Phillips

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Ah, there’s just nothing better than singing in the shower. The acoustics are perfect and you don’t sound half bad, if you do say so yourself. In fact, with a little practice you could be the next “American Idol” platinum-selling recording artist, or stage sensation. It’s time for Pavarotti to step down and for you to step up as monarch of songdom.

Whether you’re a beginning vocalist or a seasoned songster, Singing for Dummies makes it easy for you to achieve your songbird dreams. Singing for Dummies gives you step-by-step instructions and lots of helpful tips, hints, vocal exercises, reminders, and warnings for both men and women, including advice on:

• The mechanics of singing
• Discovering your singing voice
• Developing technique
• Singing in performance
• Maintaining vocal health
• Performing like a pro

Singing for Dummies is written by Dr. Pamelia Phillips, Chair of Voice and Music at New York University’s Undergraduate Drama Department. Dr. Phillips shares all of her professional expertise to help you sing your way to the top. She gives you all the information you need to know about:

• Proper posture and breathing
• Perfecting your articulation
• Finding the right voice teacher for you
• How to train for singing
• Selecting your music materials
• Acting the song
• Overcoming stage fright
• Auditioning for musical theater

In addition to Dr. Phillips’ wisdom, Singing for Dummies comes with a CD packed full of useful instruction and songs, including:

• Demonstrations of proper technique
• Exercises to develop technique and strength
• Scales and pitch drills
• Practice songs for beginning, intermediate, and advanced singers

Singing for Dummies contains all the information, practices, techniques, and expert advice you need to hone your vocal skills with ease.

Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation

Charna Halpern, Del Close, Kim Johnson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 42 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

The definitive book on The Harold 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I began taking a long form (The Harold)improv class about a year ago. Halfway through my term, the instructor suggested a few books to read on the subject. After reading through the first few pages of this manual, it became clear to me that this was the class that I had been taking for over a year. Charna Halpern-with a fee quotes and exercises by the late, great Del Close-have put together an excellent "how to" book that any improviser, from beginning to proffessional would find etxremely helpful. For anyone interested in imrovisation this is the book for you!

Editorial Review:

Who would have ever thought that learning the finer points of improvisation could be such fun? The "Harold," an innovative improvisational tool, helped Saturday Night Live's Mike Myers and Chris Farley, George Wendt (Norm on "Cheers") and many other actors on the road to TV and film stardom. Now it is described fully in this new book for the benefit of other would-be actors and comics. The "Harold" is a form of competitive improv involving six or seven players. They take a theme suggestion from the audience and free-associate on the theme, creating a series of rapid-fire one-liners that build into totally unpredictable skits with hilarious results. The teams compete with scoring based on applause. The "Harold" is a fun way to "loosen up" and learn to think quickly, build continuity, develop characterizations and sharpen humor.

Harpo Speaks!

Harpo Marx, Rowland Barber

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Total reviews: 83 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

HARPO LIED 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

When speaking of the Algonquin Round Table of which he was a member for years - he claims his only contribution was to be a listener among all the great talkers. He lies. His storytelling, practical jokes and childlike sense of fun were an essential ingredient of that famed circle.

No other book, not even Groucho's own autobio, conveys the early 20th century world of Vaudeville in all its raunchy splendor as this book does. There was never so amazing a place as New York of that era. Its a fun read throughout.

Surprisingly, at the heart of the book is the unlikely pairing of best friends Alexander Wolcott and Harpo Marx. Wolcott, sexually neutered by a glandular condition or mumps as his story went, obese, ridiculous and brilliant, saw in Harpo the image of freedom he could never know. Harpo, a second grade drop-out who at fourteen was playing piano in a whorehouse, was perhaps the only human being who really understood his friend.

Editorial Review:

To Marx Brothers fans who have yet to read this book: Put it off as long as you can, because once you are finished, you will wish you could read it again for the first time. Harpo's life was interesting in itself, but it also frequently intersected with the lives of other fascinating people, most notably his own brothers and drama critic Alexander Woolcott. Marx also was part of the legendary Algonquin Round Table; he's got plenty to say about that. Wait'll you hear about what it means to "throw a Gookie." You'll never be able to watch a Marx Brothers movie again without looking for the Gookie!

Hollywood Babylon: The Legendary Underground Classic of Hollywood's Darkest and Best Kept Secrets

Kenneth Anger

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Total reviews: 74 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

The Granddaddy of Hollywood Scandal Books 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Shadow Watcher
Nobody Drowns in Mineral Lake

This is the granddaddy of books dealing with Hollywood's dark side.

Drawing as much from gossip as he does from known facts, author Kenneth Anger dishes all the "inside dope" about the glamourous stars of Hollywood's Golden Age.

From the Fatty Arbuckle murder trial to the Lana Turner/Johnny Stompanato affair, no scandal is left out of this book that continually pushes the envelope to the very edge and, possibly, over it.

For example, there's one drawing in the book of Cary Grant (circa 1930s) that bears the caption, "Who's a fairy?"

There are also some very unflattering photos of stars without clothes or make-up, being arrested and even dead.

If you are looking for something "in good taste," this book is definitely not for you.

On the other hand, if you're looking for an entertaining diversion, then HOLLYWOOD BABYLON might just be it. Just don't believe everything you read.

© Michael B. Druxman, author of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (available December 2008)

Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film & Television

Judith Weston

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 42 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

No other book on acting or directing comes close 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book isn't just for directors. It is an invaluable resource for actors as well. I've taught film and video acting for a number of years and never found a book that was worth having students read even part of. Until this one. Unlike most books on acting which focus on techniques that may work great on stage but are worse than disastrous on film, Judith Weston goes under the surface of acting and directing to the core of what a close-up camera needs to see. That, in a nutshell, is "lending the character your unconscious," so that absolutely nothing looks (or is) fake or "pretend." Even more importantly, she provides down-to-earth, extremely effective techniques for directors that support and demand genuine, affect-free performances. She discusses the creative process of the director at a level that is not idiosycratic or based on her personal "style" (as so many books for directors and actors do). Her advice is both common-sensical and deeply insightful, it's what every good director knows but often can't articulate consistently enough. Don't miss this book if you work in film or video, whether you are a director, actor, teacher, editor, DP, AD, or even a gaffer. After reading Weston, you will see every aspect of the actors performances more truly and clearly, and find yourself finding new ways to get the most out of every second on screen. One of those books that changes your life by telling you what you already knew more clearly than you ever thought it could be said, and giving you fresh new ways to put it into practical use. Highest recommendation.

Editorial Review:

This is essential reading for anyone interested in directing or acting. Judith Weston's brilliance is to recognize that directors, actors, writers, and technicians are involved in a process that is at essence a collaboration. In order for them to have the best shot at creating something true and meaningful, they must share a language and a method of exchange that fosters creative cooperation. Weston rightly sees the director as the central figure in inspiring the energy of a production's harmony. She advises the prospective director on every aspect of a stage or film production, showing how the director can draw the best performances possible from actors.

Actions: The Actors' Thesaurus

Marina Caldarone, Maggie Lloyd-Williams

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Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

ACTIONS: The Actors' Thesaurus is a vital companion for actors in rehearsal—a thesaurus of action words to revitalize performance.

Actors need actions. Actors cannot ‘act’ adjectives, they need verbs. Verbs are an aim to achieve, an action to perform.

‘Actions’ are active verbs. ‘I tempt you.’ ‘You taunt me.’ In order to perform an action truthfully--and therefore convincingly-- an actor needs to find exactly the right action to suit that particular situation and that particular line. That is where this book comes in….

ACTIONS is a thesaurus of active verbs that the actor can use to refine performance until s/he hits exactly the right one to help make the action come alive. ACTIONS: The Actors’ Thesaurus by Marina Caldarone & Maggie Lloyd-Williams has gathered together the (formerly) dogged-eared photocopied lists of action verbs from greenrooms and rehearsal rooms and put them together in this pocket-sized thesaurus. All with a view to helping actors get to the heart of meaning and to a great performance. This thesaurus of action words is indispensable in developing mood, line readings, and acting choices for each and every line.