Finally, a book about acting on the musical stage Ask any director who stages musicals at any level, and you will hear the same: acting is the musical theater gold standard, the skill hardest to find in the audition room. Acting facility almost always separates leading player from ensemble, and, frequently, employed from unemployed. In film or on the dramatic stage, great acting stands in the spotlight. It has its own dressing room. It's paid top dollar and walks the red carpet. Yet in the musical theater just a little acting skill goes a long, long way. With only a measure of dramatic ability, the fine singer with leading man looks will find consistent employment at mid-level, and even top venues. In the largest and most fiercely competitive group in the marketplace, the ingenue capable of speaking dialogue with mere competence rises far above her peers. The skilled ensemble singer/dancer capable of handling bit parts with aplomb, or can be counted on to take over as a reliable understudy, is nearly guaranteed a long career in theater. Almost all big musicals need chorus members that, "act a little." Many musical performers complain about lack of work, yet always is solution the same: learn to speak the libretto-crafted word "Stanislavski Never Wore Tap Shoes" teaches the craft of libretto acting. It is the first such text written for the musical theater, the first penned by a seasoned musical performer, and the first book that addresses the unique acting challenges faced everyday by Show People. Author Burke Moses is a thirty-year stage veteran, and has played leading roles on Broadway, The West End, at most of the major summer stock and regional theaters in America, and has worked across from many of the finest musical theater talents in the world. He is best known for originating the role of Gaston in the original Broadway and London productions of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast." When speaking dialogue on the musical stage, are you guessing or do you KNOW what you're doing? Acting is far more effective and fun when you KNOW Let's learn our craft, shall we?

In Slate Please: The Actor's Ultimate Guide to Audition Preparation, the sought-after Industry maverick Toni Suttie has generously shared decades of accumulated tips for auditioning and preparedness in the Industry (film, television, video game, commercial, industrial and music video). Countless Industry pros have declared Slate Please a "must have" for all actors, from the aspiring to the seasoned pro. If you are not landing callbacks or getting bookings as often as you should, this book is full of essential tool to help you with everything from walking through the audition door through career planning through mentorship. (2nd Edition)

Why a book for ACTORS on the subject of HAPPINESS?

Being generally happy and fulfilled is not only something everyone deserves, it is absolutely essential to the success and longevity of an actor's career. Actors face a unique set of challenges, and no matter what level a career is at, uncertainty, rejection, judgment and disappointment are all part of being an actor. Happiness is often placed in the hands of what happens 'out there'-booking the jobs, getting good reviews, making that money- yet the truth is, circumstances are only 10% responsible for our happiness. 50% is due to our genetics and, most significantly, 40% is in our own hands. "It turns out, happiness is an inside job."

An award-winning book, "How to be a Happy Actor in a Challenging Business: A Guide to Thriving Through it All" takes you on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. You will learn the activities that have been scientifically proven to boost happiness levels, and discover some of the world's most powerful spiritual knowledge on the subject. There are practical, transformational steps that will help you navigate the worlds of stage, film, and television with a foundation of self-esteem and personal power. You will hear stories of Hollywood actors as they have adopted these keys and moved toward happier, more fulfilling lives, and you will be let in on some powerful inside perspectives from four of our top industry professionals-Emmy-winning producer/director David Nutter, Oscar-winning actress Christine Lahti, Emmy-winning casting director Mark Teschner, and Artios-winning casting director/acting coach Risa Bramon Garcia.

""The title says it all . . . This book is really needed in our industry "" - Eric Dawson, Emmy-winning casting director ("American Horror Story, The Mentalist, Glee")

""(Justina Vail is) a fabulous teacher. She reminds us to take a journey-to 'keep growing and learning in the midst of impermanence and unknowing'-a lesson we often forget "" - Margie Haber is a top Hollywood acting coach and author of "How To Get The Part Without Falling Apart."

""Justina explores the psychological, scientific, and even the spiritual aspects of truly being happy and comes up with some of the best advice I've ever heard on the topic. 'Happy Actor' is a must-read for every actor at any stage in their career."" - Mark Atteberry is an award winning actor, photographer and co-author of "The Working Actor's Guide to LA"

""With razor sharp wit and a sensitive hand, Justina's genius approach to the business lies in a formula that is easily applied to most aspects of life. As actors, the challenges we are conditioned to view as mountainous magically diminish with each passing chapter, until we are on a pleasant journey through friendly, manageable terrain. If 'could've', 'would've', 'should've's mean anything, this book tells you that you still can. Read this book and fire your therapist "" - Alex Manette, actor ("The Butler, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Shame, 2 Days In New York, Law & Order and The West Wing.")

""Be happy with yourself. Then be a happy actor. Justina shows us how. (This book is) a breath of fresh air that's all about enjoying the journey. Because having a successful career is all about the journey. It never ends. Book a job. Finish a job. Need a job. Repeat. Why not make it a happy journey?"" - Anthony Meindl, artistic director of Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop.

""Justina Vail has articulated some of the best kept secrets of longevity and joy behind all great acting. . . Her insights are hard won and spot on. . . Lessons from a true Master."" - Jeffrey Marcus is a Hollywood actor and acting coach.

The First Play is SAN DIEGO DATE, a two character play for a man and woman; a sailor and a hooker. It is set in Anita's apartment. The sailor, Jerry, claims he is just in from West Pac, an exciting time in San Diego, which is a big navy town. The local hookers are doing a booming business. Jerry seems a bit naive. Anita, the hooker, actually seems protective of him. But it turns out that Jerry has an agenda of his own, and so does Anita. The play runs, depending on production values, anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five minutes. SAN DIEGO DATE has been produced at Yale University; off-Broadway in New York; in San Francisco; San Diego and in several other cities around the country. The second play is THE PINT, set in a Dublin pub. It is a play for three Irish men and one American woman; all in their late twenties and early thirties. Two friends and the bartender are watching a soccer match on TV when in wanders Anna; so out of her element that it's a wonder she has the nerve to enter a pub. Only something horrific could have caused her to act so out of character. Anna and Tommy, one of the men at the bar, shyly begin to connect; then the event that drove Anna into the pub is uncovered. The question is, just how necessary has that tentative connection become to both of them? The play runs, depending on production values, anywhere from twenty to thirty minutes. THE PINT has been produced in San Francisco, San Diego, Missoula and New Haven.

Acting is a tool for freedom of expression and choice, a mirror of possibility for humankind. Acting is a powerful medium for reflecting authenticity in the human experience.

Hollywood Actors Studio is dedicated to providing excellent and distinct training and to promoting the actor as artist in the community.

The Studio is a safe, fun and supportive environment for artistic discoveries and personal growth. We train people in revealing their true talents and realizing their potential.

Our purpose is to offer top-notch acting, self-expression and public speaking training programs to enhance communication and liberate the individual's creativity and expression.

We deliver clear distinctions via tools and techniques, which bring lasting advancements in artistic expression, growth and development, personal effectiveness and passionate communication.

In this book, you will find distinctions in the craft of acting which aim at giving acting a context as an art form that can be learned and practiced, not a vague talent that some people are born with and others not.

This manual is designed to facilitate your understanding, study and pursuit of acting as a craft.

You will also find in it definitions and insights about the basic language and terminology of the craft as well as clarifications on fundamental concepts and ideas.

By developing a clear understanding of the craft, and by creating a healthy context for the study of acting, it is much easier to develop and become skilled and competent. It also helps develop respect for acting as a craft and an art form-something that can touch, affect and communicate with people.

The worst enemies of actors are not the job market, Hollywood, corrupt and incompetent agents or producers. Competition is not the fundamental problem either. Breaking into the various fields of acting is extremely difficult but I don't believe anyone truly thinks that acting is easy.

Lack of skill and competence and the willingness to become competent and effective as an actor is what stops the majority of would-be actors. Lack of tenacity and endurance are also major factors.

Other traps and limitations that can affect the pursuit of acting negatively are:

Self-defeating thoughts

Tension, struggle and lack of flexibility

Self-consciousness or chronic timidity

Lack of stage manners or body control

Improper use of imagination

Low level of skills: too few tools and techniques to draw from

Inadequate communication skills

Lack of professionalism, concentration and/or focus

No passion, desire or will power

Unresolved personal issues

Destructive habits and un-released negativity

Noise Pollution (loud music) can drive people mad, literally. This monologue has been written for performance. As you read, you become embroiled in the anguish of the confessor. It is almost autobiographical in that the writer was experiencing a problem with her neighbour's loud music at the time. It was written as a sort of therapeutic piece to make sure that the ending did not actually happen. Or did it? Confession would be suitable for any aspiring actor/actress as an audition piece or as a solo acting performance.