Customer Reviews:
Good but young.......2007-05-06
This was on a list of suggested reading from a class I attended with Second City. I bought it hoping to use some of the ideas for my middle schoolers. There are many ideas in the book for younger kids, like songs. There are some good ideas that can be adapted into a middle school room.
It been great in my classroom.......2006-11-10
I teach sixth grade math, and have a group of students for an exploratory class. We talk about current events, esteem building, community building, fun non-academic skills with an emphasis on social awareness. I have been using this book for most of the year so far, and my students look forward to it,a nd ask for it. I don't have a background in theater, but this book has several premade units that have a focus on different skills. The one I am just completing focuses on community building for the group and concentration and focus for the individual. I find it easy to use, and I like the skills that it is building and reinforcing in my students. If you don't want to do a whole unit, the individual exercises and warm-ups can be set up and completed in 5-10 minutes. Great,and quick!
I strongly recommend this for any classroom!
Not what I thought it would be.......2006-05-10
I teach drama/theater in a low income public school. I bought the book because my school has very few resources and I thought this might be useful. As it turned out the book was hardly used during my first year teaching. My biggest problem with this book is that it is not very user friendly for a teacher who just wants to add some fun to a class but not a complex game. In other words the book needs to make the games simpler so the kids can pick them up faster and have more fun. This might not be problem for teachers in high school as your students might be more mature and able to handle more complex games. But for middle school teachers tread lightly. Also if you have a bunch of behavior problems in your class then forgot about it. In my experience I found the worse the behavior the better they were at spoiling fun classroom games. Be warned.
Theater Games for the Classroom: A Teacher's Handbook.......2005-08-28
EXCELLENT!! Inspiring. Well Organized. So many great ideas for the new or seasoned acting teacher.
My bible!.......2002-09-24
As a teacher of drama to many low-income, urban, and "difficult" adolescents, this is the book that I find most useful, alive, and inspiring! Simply wonderful for anyone trying to bring the best out of young actors!
Book Description
6 working actors describe their methods and philosophies of the theater. All have worked with playwright David Mamet at the Goodman Theater in Chicago.
Customer Reviews:
Exciting Choices for the Actor.......2007-10-18
I used this book to teach a beginning acting class at our community college. It is an excellent introduction to the craft. The book gives clear examples of selecting an action that create clear and exciting choices for the actor. Rather than focusing on emotional states such as "you're angry or you're happy," the text shows how to allow emotional truth to come from the moment while focusing on what the character is doing. The examples in the book are practical and relate well to the craft. I particularly appreciated that an action should have a test in the other character. So rather that an character delivering a letter with an action "to deliver" that is over without fanfare, a more exciting action would be "to please my boss so I'll get a promotion." The character still delivers a letter, but with a more dynamic action that is interesting to watch. The book is short. I covered the material in our film acting and stage acting units in about eight classes. It's short, sweet & to the point. I recommend it as a great review for experienced actors and as a wonderful introduction to beginning actors. Enjoy!
Very Useful.......2007-06-13
This is a very useful guide to teaching theatre. I will be using it a lot in my classroom.
bravo!.......2007-04-03
I studied for a couple of years at the Atlantic Theatre in NYC which David Mamet and William H Macy founded...they teach exclusively the principles in this book..the title says it all.."Practical"..as far as analyzing a script, breaking it down and coming up with acting impetus this book will free you from all that crap you've been taught and give you basic, workable tools to act..especially in auditions where you might be given a script and then 5 minutes later be asked to do it..once I got a grasp of the practical techniques I found my audition success rate soar..I still incorporate these techniques in every audition...the method and all that other acting stuff you'll learn like smelling the coffe and being a leave floating off a tree, well, that's nice but an actors basic tools never change, knowing your lines and analyzing the script, knowing what's going on in the scene and what you want in the scene..this book give you the tools to do just that...highly recommended!
Even if you're not an actor.......2007-02-07
I'm a theatre major, but I'm not an actor. I've never been, actually. But one of the requirements is to take an acting course, which put me in a pinch.
We study this book in class, and this book is great, even for people who know nothing about acting. It really does do a good job for making it easy to understand.
Clear, DO-ABLE instruction.......2005-04-15
Ok. When you're studying an art, like acting, it is sometimes frustrating to hear people talk about "craft" and "technique" without getting really specific about what you must actually DO to achieve such things and develop as an artist. People often talk about art as if it is some vague, nebulous, magical thing. And, I guess, it benefits them to talk about it that way. Because then, everyone respects them immensely for being able to do such a thing, and (like a magician) they don't reveal any of their secrets.
This book pulls the veil away. While I don't necessarily advocate relying ONLY on this resource (instinct, other techniques, etc., should all be in an actor's bag of tricks), this book provides clear, actionable directions on how to achieve more specificity in your choices as an actor, how to make your characters more focused, and how to deliver more compelling performances. Based on Stanislavsky's method, the book advises embodying each line with action (and tells you how), LISTENING to your stage-mates, and thinking about the physicality of a role (and tells you how).
What I like best about this book is that it breaks something complicated, like rendering a complex character, down into manageable things you can do to get yourself there as a performer. Bravo!
Book Description
This is the second volume of Stanislaviski's enduring trilogy on the art of acting. The "System" which he describes is a means both of mastering the craft of acting and of stimulating the actor's individual creativeness and imagination. It has become the central force determining almost every performance we see on stage or screen, and still remains today the only comprehensive theory of acting we possess.
In Building a Character Stanislavski discusses with mastery and insight the actor's physical means of expression for realizing character on stage, such as the use of body, movement, voice, tempo, expression, make-up and costume.
Customer Reviews:
A Map for Success.......2007-04-11
For the thinking actor and director, Building a Character is a nice slice of help--mind expanding and approach expanding.
Very Resourceful and Informative.......2007-03-16
This book is very resourceful and informative. It teaches you the true method of the acting craft.
You Think You Know.......2006-01-31
I thought I knew what I was doing on the stage. I knew my lines, I didn't bump into the furniture, what else is there to know? Borrowed this book from a friend and it completely transformed me and everything I thought I knew about acting. Turns out I only thought I knew what I was doing.
Classic.......2005-10-22
This book is the second in Stanislavski's series. Deals with the "external aspects" of the System. A great read, in spite of the poor translation; this book (and the entire series) completely transformed my acting almost overnight, as if a fog had lifted from my eyes. This book/series helped me understand, fundamentally, what I should be DOING onstage. I received numerous compliments on the next role I played after reading this book and several comments on my improvement, etc.
Great advice for actors. Strongly recommended for both actors and directors.
Great Info.......2004-06-26
Wordy with almost painful detail. But a true must-have for those aspiring to acting.
Book Description
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.
Customer Reviews:
Good place to start.......2007-08-29
I sure you've heard it before but don't be fooled by the title.This is a very good place to start if you have never had any training before.One thing I like is the fact that she doesn't play the piano too loudly for the exersizes.The two vocalists sound good too.Allthough the book addresses some pop techniques it seems more geared towards classical.I'm suspicious of methods that try to combine the two,such as Seth Riggs, since they are so completely different.I'm looking forward to Singing for Dummies II.The audio could be a bit louder but I am using a laptop.No big deal.You won't find all the silly endorsments like in the Riggs books.5 stars all the way.
Exactly what I needed.......2007-05-29
I am taking Bengali folk singing lessons. Bengali folk songs demand strong voice and wide vocal range. I tried quite a few different ways to increase my vocal range. Following the suggested instructions in this book, I have gained two notes in the upper side of the range in three weeks. I am also singing much better in the lower range. I feel that I'll continue to make improvements, if I continue to follow Pamelia S. Phillips' suggested techniques. Even though I am more familiar with Bengali music than Western music, I did not have any problem understanding this book. As a matter fact this book has taught me a lot of terms used in Western music. Accompanying CD is a big help.
Great for beginners.......2007-03-17
If you don't have the courage or money to go to a teacher, this is a great book. The exercises are easy and encouraging. Although I found that some of the exercises hindered more than opened my range, I know that not every exercise will work for every person and so I skip one here and there and move on. I did learn a great deal from this book and I would buy it again. Although I wouldn't take it as Bible, it is a great starting point. I am not an expert so I really can't give a more thorough review BUT I would recommend that you buy a few books to get more points of view and take something from each.
The biggest problem I have is that the 'for dummies' series does not sell or give replacement cd's. If you lose the CD, you must buy the entire book again. This is ridiculous. If you buy a book with a CD, make plenty of copies so that you have a back up or three.
GREAT BOOK OVERALL.......2007-03-09
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK OVERALL. AS AN ACTOR I HAVE FOUND THE TECHNIQUES HELPFUL FOR MY ACTING. THERE'S A LOT OF THEORY THOUGH (AS WITH ALL DUMMIES BOOKS) SO BE PREPARED.
JAY MADHAV, HOLLYWOOD
amateur's delight.......2007-01-12
I joined a choir...I love to sing but needed help with voice exercises and breathing. I play the cd while I'm driving & do the vocal workouts then. The book is filled with helpful instructions.
Book Description
Demonstrating how offstage performance can be effectively adapted for the theatre, as well as how onstage training can be applied toward leading a full life outside the theatre. ACTING: ONSTAGE AND OFF is a humorous yet informative book that discusses the interplay between life on and off the stage. You'll learn everything from the phases of actor training to body relaxation techniques.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent book for students and teachers of acting........1999-09-08
I HIGHLY recommend this book as a resource for teachers and students of acting and directing. It is clear, concise, accessible and thorough. Barton covers the basics of truth, technique, Stanislavski, warm-ups, physical life, vocal life, rehearsal etiquette, vocabulary, as well as hundreds of useful exercises. In addition, there is a valuable list of scenes appropriate for student actors. My college actors grow tremendously through the application of Barton's simple, clear definition of the basics.
Interesting only when used as a textbook.......1999-08-30
I had to purchase this title for an acting class in college, and there the information and points were usefull, but not in the real world.
Customer Reviews:
El mejor libro para hacer teATRO para niños.......2000-04-08
Este libro, es uno de los más importantes para los credores, profesores y maestros que toienen interes de ahacer teatro con y para los niños. Analiza los mas diversos aspectos del tetaro para niños, dando una información rica e importante. Como havrelo, en donde encontrar materiales, propuestas diversas, fotos, tecnicas, Es importante porque en español no se puede ebcontrar un material tan rico y especializado
Felicidades
ALEJANDRA ZEA
Book Description
This volume completes, with An Actor Prepares and Building a Character, the trilogy in which Stanislavski set down his life's accomplishment.
Creating a Role describes the elaborate preparation that precedes actual performance. Stanislavski here relates the techniques he describes in his preceding books to analyzing specific plays and their roles.
Customer Reviews:
Completes Stanislavski's classic series.......2005-10-22
This is another "must-read" for actors. This is the third and final book in his classic trilogy, and shows how to apply the techniques in his first and second book to creating a role. Very practical; this trilogy completely transformed my acting almost overnight. You do not need to have an instuctor to show you how to use this technique; much of it you can do on your own. Strongly recommended.
Good.......2004-06-26
There is nothing "simple" about acting & this wordy, detailed book will prove it. Though written in so much deep detail that it can be off-putting to some, if you are serious about acting you will learn so much necessary skill from this book.
One Of The BEST!.......2000-03-26
This book shocked me. In buying it I had envisioned receiving an "okay" book. I was so wrong. This book is incredible. I found myself highlighting/making notes/and never letting the book close. This book helps the actor who really, really needs help. It sounds odd, but this book can make you an incredible actor. True, it can't start you in Hollywood! However it provides insight on how to be a great actor, no matter if Hollywood becons. Buy the book, you won't be disappointed! I promise
Average customer rating:
- Very Informative
- any performing artist should read this book...
- Definitely The Bible for actors.
- Absolutely essential read
- Excellent not only for actors but for any performing artist!
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An Actor Prepares
Constantin Stanislavski
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Building a Character
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Acting: The First Six Lessons. (Theatre Arts Book)
ASIN: 0878309837 |
Amazon.com
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
Book Description
An Actor Prepares is the first volume of Stanislavski's enduring trilogy on the art of acting. Fusing psychological realism and expressionism, his exploratory exercises teach actors to evoke past emotions that draw out their vulnerability. Stanislavski here introduces such concepts as the "magic if," "emotion memory," the "unbroken line" and many more now famous rehearsal aids. This classic manual is written from the viewpoint of fictional actors taking lessons from a director (based on Stanislavski). Through the student's mistakes, questions, revelations, and struggles, Stanislavski teaches the actor about the stage, truth, and life itself.
Customer Reviews:
Very Informative.......2007-03-16
This book is very informative and resourceful. It teaches you the true method of acting.
any performing artist should read this book..........2007-03-06
the magic 'if' can transform worlds for you...the grand Master Stanislavski in a rough interpretation brings you his mystery of acting..has any acting technique been more misrepresented then 'the method'? ..read how MR S wanted to reach actors, how they went about rehearsing...how they realized their most important job was being true to the playwrights words..much to Anton Chekov's delight..how they built layer upon layer of developing a character..I think this book will enhance any artist, hold magic over them and let them develop their own magic 'if'..what if I was a king? what if I was a world famous dancer? what if I can make any dream come true? what if?
Definitely The Bible for actors. .......2006-02-21
I had to buy this book for an acting class I am currently taking in college. If you were to open my book, you'll notice the bright color of my highlighter. It is highly informative and intellectually stimulating for those who want to be actors, or people who are simply interested in acting.
Absolutely essential read.......2005-10-13
This book is an absolute MUST READ for all actors. I am convinced that no-one should be allowed on stage until they have read this book.
Stanislavski's ideas form the basis of most modern acting techniques, as well they should. Before I studied Stanislavski, I had always felt there was something lacking in my acting and could never quite figure out what; I discovered it when I studied Stanislavski.
My one complaint is that the translation is bad. The translator was NOT an actor, and many cuts were made to the original text. This has resulted in many confusions about what Stanislavski actually said.
Excellent not only for actors but for any performing artist!.......2004-12-04
Stanislavski himself says, "My system is for those who have a creative nature. It's for the talented". On stage or on a movie set you have to be believable. All musicians should read this book (or any performing artist in that matter). It would be a priceless benefit for them... For instance, many soloists these days are displaying an unnatural, forced "phrasing". If they were asked to speak the way they play, the result would be so fake or even funny that they'd realize it in a flash.
Customer Reviews:
Clear up your mistaken ideas about acting!.......2001-05-10
The Stanislavski System: The Professional Training of an Actor has been the soul of my acting teaching for 30 years. It is based on the later evolved vision of the great master teacher, as revealed to Eugene Vakhtangov and also to Sonia Moore, herself a master teacher. The approach here is clear and usable, and de-mystifies American pre-occupation with emotional substitution techniques dominant since Lee Strasberg's distortions based only upon Stanislavski's early work. This approach is accessible for young actors and is encouraging to the nurturing of their talent and development. It encourages emotional honesty without being improperly invasive, so it is good resource material for public school acting teachers and advanced students, as well as acting students from college to conservatory to proprietary school.
Time to act!.......2000-07-26
This is a great book- much more simplified than any I've seen! It concentrates a lot on physical action, a definite necessity for budding actors (or old fogies trying to get back into it!). A pleasurable read!
A good book for the method actor........1996-10-21
This book is made and talks about the teachings of the great Konstantin Stanislavski, a name you should know if you are an actor. It has chapters outlining the Method, and it'll help your acting abilities galore
Book Description
Widely recognized as the most complete and rigorous text of its kind since it was first published in 1942, Speak With Distinction is an invaluable resource. It presents a comprehensive study of the sounds of Spoken English in their most important phonetic environments. This most recent revision also adds much material for comparisons of speech sounds; suggestions for accurate, efficient and conversational ways of combining the sounds into connected utterance; indications that foster a working knowledge of two dialects of speech (General American and what Mrs. Skinner called Good Speech for classic and elevated texts); and beginning material to show application of the principles of Good Speech to well-written texts. Some important additions to the book are the extensive Glossary and Index, abundant guides to pronunciations, new sections featuring such details as the complete "Ask-List" of words, a program for the elimination of glottal attacks of vowel and dipthong sounds, greatly expanded practice material of phrases and sentences, and an updated Chart showing several levels of phonetic transcription and spelling equivalents in current usage. Speak With Distinction can be used in several ways: as a primary educational textbook for both the beginning and advanced actor; as a supplementary textbook for teachers and students who have their own methods and agenda for study; and as a reference book for teachers, speech coaches and directors.
Customer Reviews:
Speech book not voice book.......2007-08-08
This is a great book for the speech student, although I would not rely on it for vocal production. That was never the intension of this text. Skinner has made the understanding of the International Phonetic Alphabet accessable to the average speaker and the experienced actor alike. The text consists of a very,very basic breakdown for the creation of each phonome and some great practice sentences, but very little is said or done about creation of sound, connection of voice to breath, resonation and everything else which helps to create proper phonation and pitch range and the portions on the difference between broad, narrow, and very narrow transcription are not put together well and difficult to understand. The above are mentioned in passing and never delved into, so the student has little to go on. It is not that she says anything "wrong" about phonation, it's just passed over very quickly. A good text for the academic linguistic or accent and dialect teacher but not for the actor without the guidence of an instructor.
Misguiding book title and image.......2007-08-04
This book item is not only improperly titled but also has the incorrect image. It is so misguiding that one might think they are purchasing the actual paperback version of the real book together with the cassette. But NO! It turns out to be a tiny booklet of like 40 pages. I would have purchased some other item if this is not so misguiding.
Essential reference volume for pronounciation.......2007-06-01
There is no other book like this. For actors, teachers, public speakers, or anyone who wants to work on an accent or remove one, this is a one-of-a-kind, vital resource.
A MUST.......2007-05-26
I was thrilled to discover that "Speak with Distinction" had been reprinted and was available. My copy, acquired when I was a student of Edith's at Carnegie Tech, and is little more than bound together mimeographed pages, was barely useable. At Elocution Solution we find it an invaluable resourse when working on voice and speech improvement with actors and other professional voice users. Edith was a master at providing detailed decriptions for the production of speech sounds, with extensive practice materials. Although it focuses on speech for classical theater, e.g. lack of postvocalic r's, it is also useful for acquiring general American speech.
Incredible Guide to Excellent Voice and Diction, but be ready to practice!.......2006-11-06
I feel that voice and diction is the missing link in many people's arsenal of skills. You may have a college education, but who really looks at your resume? But everytime you open your mouth, you are being judged unconsciously by those you are speaking to. If you have read "Pygmillion," or seen "My Fair Lady," you get the idea. But changing your vocal image is very difficult, and takes tremendous effort. I personally believe it can be quite rewarding. For proof of this, look at how many successful professional actors have worked on their voice and diction. And the source they seem to refer to most often is Edith Skinner's classic, "Speak with Distinction".
This work goes into great depth and detail on proper the proper pronounciation of Standard American English. If you are looking to develop you speaking skills to a high level of sophistication for either the stage, acting, business, or personal development, this is the best book I have found so far in my 3 year search... Endorsed by many great actors, this work emphasizes practice through drills. It is not a quick read, although you could use it for spot improvement in more abbreviated form. Highly recommended for those who are serious about diction improvement and willing to put in many hours of practice.
The only thing that could be improved is the audio portion is currently only available on cassette, it would be nice if it was offered on CD.
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