Introduction to Acting

Long a favorite of those teachers and students who prefer a clear, uncluttered, straightforward, and non-dogmatic approach to beginning acting, this text is aimed at the neophyte acting student or the general education/liberal arts student who may only take one class in this subject. Its flexible organization allows the teacher to assign the chapters as they appear in the text or in any sequence the individual instructor prefers. Laced with photographs, drawings, theatrical anecdotes, trivia, and quotations that make the material come alive with particular verve, this volume offers not only solid, practical advice but also provides a number of short scenes from important plays and exercises through which the students can practice their craft.

Table of Contents:
Each chapter concludes with “Suggestions for Further Reading.” 1.An Overview: Some Questions Answered. Why Act? Is There an Ideal Actor? Can Actors Be Classified? What Should the Actor Know? What is the “Illusion of the First Time”? Questions and Exercises. 2.Early Acting and Acting Theories. The First Actors. What the Ancients Tell Us. The Decline of the Theatre. The Commedia dell'Arte. Shakespeare and His Actors. The Seventeenth Century. David Garrick: An Actor Speaks. The Great Debate—Emotion vs. Reason. Short Notes on the Heritage of Some Notable Actors. More Actors and Actresses. 3.Stanislavski and Beyond. The “Method.” After Stanislavski. The Director and Freedom for the Actor. Short Notes on the Heritage of Some Notable Actors. More Actors and Actresses. 4.The Body and Stage Movement. How the Body Is Organized. Tension and Relaxation. The Body in Action. Warming Up. 5.Voice and the Actor. One Voice or Many? Factors of a Good Stage Voice. Vocal Production. Projection. Getting the Most from the Dialogue. Vocal Exercises. 6.Getting Around on the Stage. The Stage and Stage Areas. Stage Positions and the Actor. Stage Movement and the Audience. Using Movement. Specialized Stage Problems. Listening. Exercises. 7.Using Improvisation. Improvisations for Larger Groups. Improvisations for One Actor. Improvisations for Two or More Actors. Last-Line Improvisations. 8.Combating Stage Fright. What Is Stage Fright? Some Suggested Causes. Do Experienced Actors Have Stage Fright? What Can Be Done About It? 9.Auditioning and Preparing a Role. The Audition Process. Basic Steps in Developing a Role. Finding One’s Own Approach. Exercises. Ambiguous Dialogue. Monologues. Scenes. 10.Putting the Role Onstage. Rehearsal Guidelines. The Three Vs of Good Acting. Concentration. Getting into the Role. Judging the Actor's Work. Scenes. 11.Style and Other Problems. Comedy and Farce. Tragedy. Period Plays in General. Shakespearean Plays. Sustained Speeches. Central Staging. Scenes. 12.Acting for the Camera. Shooting the Television Drama. Television and the Theatre. Television Acting. Subtlety and Intimacy. Acton and Reaction. Reviewing the Rules. Exercises. A Glossary of Theatre Terms. Index.