(Applause Acting Series). This foray into the deeply serious and deeply funny (sometimes at the same time) world of life after 40 focuses primarily on scenes that depict the struggles of contemporary characters to come to terms with disappointment and obsolescence or to redeem their lives from the mistakes or miscalculations of their youth. It draws heavily on American classics like Long Day's Journey into Night, Death of a Salesman, The Price, Glengarry Glen Ross, Fences, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, as well as more recent classics-in-the-making like August: Osage County, Good People, and God of Carnage . There is also ample representation from British playwrights like Harold Pinter, Tom Stoppard, Simon Gray, and Peter Nichols, whose work also explores this territory of growing older in a society obsessed by youth and novelty.

"The reigning (and often brilliant) king of enervation in experimental theater."--"The New York Times"

With his deadpan aesthetic and an ever-innovative body of work, Richard Maxwell has written a quasi-study guide to the art of making theater. This illuminating volume provides a deeper understanding of his work, aesthetic philosophy, and process for creating theater.

Richard Maxwell is a playwright, founder of the Cook County Theater at Illinois State University, artistic director of New York City Players, and resident writer at New Dramatists. Maxwell has received a Guggenheim Fellowship and Obie Award, and his plays have been commissioned and presented in over sixteen countries.

This second volume of the best monologues from the Best American Short Plays series features a diverse selection drawn from the outstanding works from many of today's best American playwrights. In these monologues the playwrights capture much of the flavors feelings and thoughts of American culture over the past several decades. The result is a collection of taught engaging monologues offering fascinating perspectives. They are written with an eye toward the stage that makes them excellent source material for actors young and old alike. And they offer a freshness and directness that make them excellent companions for readers attracted to good often quirky and always engaging contemporary literature.THIncluded in this volume are monologues by Billy Aronson Bruce Bonafede Victor Bumbalo Clay McLeod Chapman Yussef El Guindi Steve Feffer Catherine Filloux Daniel Gallant Madeleine George Willy Holtzman Paul Kuritz Neil LaBute Dano Madden Theodore Mann Donald Margulies Susan Miller Lavonne Mueller Joyce Carol Oates Carey Pepper Joe Pintauro Michael Roderick Murray Schisgal Paul Selig and Nicky Silver.

EBest Monologues from Best American Short Plays Volume OneE is a must for actors of all ages a beginners as well as seasoned veterans a and belongs in the libraries of all theater teachers looking for new and exciting material for their students. The monologues in this volume are excerpted from the outstanding series Best American Short Plays an archive of works from many of the best playwrights active today presenting taut engaging single-character pieces that range from zany comedy to poignant tales of love and loss. Each monologue includes a short introduction and a reference identifying where to locate the entire play should anyone choose to pursue production beyond the monologue. Long or short serious or not this collection is must-have material for anyone interested in acting. The monologues also succeed as excellent companions for the casual reader.THIncluded in this volume are monologues by Liliana Almendarez James Armstrong Billy Aronson Clay McLeod Chapman Migdalla Cruz Laura Shaine Cunningham Eileen Fischer Jill Elaine Hughes Julia Jarcho Zilvinas Jonusas Adam Kraar David Kranes Neil LaBute Daniel Frederick Levin Bruce Levy Carey Lovelace Carol K. Mack Dano Madden Peter Maloney Joe Maruzzo Mark Medoff Susan Miller Julie Rae (Pratt) Mollenkamp Rick Pulos Ronald Ribman Murray Schisgal Pamela Sneed and co-writers Polly Frost and Ray Sawhill.

Thousands of young people set their sights on becoming professional actors each year, hoping to get a foot in the door with a solid resume built in high school, college, and local theatre company productions. But competition for parts is fierce, and no list of credits is complete without competency in the classical works of Shakespeare. Will Power guides both professional actors and aspirants through a lively 21-day rehearsal process leading up to the day of an actual audition or performance. Actors need never again be confused about where to begin or how to follow through when developing a Shakespearean role. Clear stepping stones have been laid out before them-by Shakespeare himself. Even seasoned actors, familiar with verse, are fascinated when they learn about the acting clues and stage directions embedded in the original First Folio text of Shakespeare's work, in the form of particular punctuation, capitalized letters, and spelling. Putting actors on their feet in dynamic and fun rehearsals, this practical guide helps them develop the 7 Cs of acting: commitment, concentration, conditioning, control, confidence, courage, and clarity while also demystifying how to perform these these magnificently crafted plays.

"I call this book The Intent to Live because great actors don't seem to be acting, they seem to be actually living."
-Larry Moss, from the Introduction
When Oscar-winning actors Helen Hunt and Hilary Swank accepted their Academy Awards, each credited Larry Moss's guidance as key to their career-making performances. There is a two-year waiting list for his advanced acting classes. But now everyone-professionals and amateurs alike-can discover Moss's passionate, in-depth teaching.
Inviting you to join him in the classroom and onstage, Moss shares the techniques he has developed over thirty years to help actors set their emotions, imagination, and behavior on fire, showing how the hard work of preparation pays off in performances that are spontaneous, fresh, and authentic.
From the foundations of script analysis to the nuances of physicalization and sensory work, here are the case studies, exercises, and insights that enable you to connect personally with a script, develop your character from the inside out, overcome fear and inhibition, and master the technical skills required for success in the theater, television, and movies.
Far more than a handbook, The Intent to Live is the personal credo of a master teacher. Moss's respect for actors and love of the actor's craft enliven every page, together with examples from a wealth of plays and films, both current and classic, and vivid appreciations of great performances. Whether you act for a living or simply want a deeper understanding of acting greatness, The Intent to Live will move, instruct, and inspire you.

"From the Hardcover edition."

This book forms the basis for a new approach to the art of speech as inaugurated by Steiner. This course is filled with insights that lead to a deeper understanding of the forming of speech and the art of acting.

(Applause Acting Series). Lawrence Harbison has selected 100 terrific monologues for women from contemporary plays, all by characters between the ages of 18 and 35 perfect for auditions or class. There are comic monologues (laughs) and dramatic monologues (no laughs). Most have a compelling present-tense action for actors to perform. A few are story monologues and they're great stories. Actors will find pieces by star playwrights such as Don Nigro, Itamar Moses, Adam Bock, and Jane Martin; by exciting up-and-comers such as Nicole Pandolfo, Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, Crystal Skillman, Greg Kalleres, and Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig; and information on getting the complete text of each play. This is a must-have resource in the arsenal of every aspiring actor hoping to knock 'em dead with her contemporary piece after bowling over teachers and casting directors alike with a classical excerpt.

Geraldine Chaplin is the most distinguished actor among Charlie Chaplin's children. Through her collaborations with major international film directors, she has created a striking performative presence across international cinema. Her acting also evokes, with varying levels of self-consciousness and in shifting cinematic contexts, the memory of her father's screen performances. This book analyses the distinctive screen art of Geraldine Chaplin and uncover parallels between her performances and her father's work on film. Through this method, this star study explores the rich and surprising relationships between art cinema and silent film comedy, and between modernist and classical cinematic performance. It offers a long overdue appreciation of Geraldine Chaplin's own remarkable screen achievements, all the while shedding new insight into the art of Charlie Chaplin through the singular prism of his daughter's bold work.

Through a study of the actress' films, records and writings, Gerda Taranow reconstructs the rigorously developed artistry that lay behind the superb performances. Analyzing each histrionic element and discussing repertoire she shows how Bernhardt adapted the techniques learned at the Conservatoire and in the theatre to her own particular strengths and limitations. Originally published in 1972. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Analyzing the relationship between dramatic action and the controversial art of acting, William Worthen demonstrates that what it means to act, to be an actor, and to communicate through acting embodies both an ethics of acting and a poetics of drama.

Originally published in 1984.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Forty-five complete mime routines for performers of all ages, adaptable to audiences of different types. This book may be used as a class text or a library resource. In addition to the wide variety of routines are technique suggestions and ideas about makeup, props, staging, where and when to perform, and teamwork! Routines for solo and ensemble presentation.