|
Books > Arts & Architecture > Performing arts > Individual actors & performers
'Julius Caesar is, simply, Shakespeare's African play' John Kani In
2012, actor Paterson Joseph played the role of Brutus in the Royal
Shakespeare Company's acclaimed production of Julius Caesar -
Gregory Doran's last play before becoming Artistic Director for the
RSC. It is a play, Joseph is quick to acknowledge, that is widely
misunderstood - even dreaded - when it comes to study and
performance. Alongside offering fascinating insights into Julius
Caesar and Shakespeare's writing, Joseph serves up details of the
rehearsal process; his key collaborations during an eclectic
career; as well as his experience of working with a majority black
cast. He considers the positioning of ethnic minority actors in
Shakespeare productions in general, and female actors tackling so
seemingly masculine a play in particular. Audience reactions are
also investigated by Joseph, citing numerous conversations he has
had with psychologists, counsellors and neurologists on the subject
of what happens between performer and spectator. For Paterson
Joseph, his experience of playing Brutus in Julius Caesar with the
RSC was a defining point in his career, and a transformative
experience. For any actor or practitioner working on Shakespeare -
or for any reader interested in his plays - this is a fascinating
and informative read, which unlocks so much about making and
understanding theatre from the inside.
Audiences everywhere fell in love with Marlee Matlin as the deaf
student-turned-custodian in Children of a Lesser God, a role for
which she became the youngest woman ever to win a Best Actress
Oscar. Since then, she has become an inspirational force of nature
- as a mother, activist and role model - in addition to playing
memorable roles on popular television shows, such as Seinfeld, The
West Wingand The L Word, and competing on Dancing with the
Stars.Now, in I'll Scream Later, Marlee shares the story of her
life. Marlee takes readers on a journey of her life, from the
frightening loss of her hearing at eighteen months old to the highs
and lows of Hollywood, her battles with addiction, and the
unexpected challenges of being thrust into the spotlight as an
emissary for the deaf community. She candidly shares for the first
time the troubles of her youth, the passionate and tumultuous
two-year relationship with Oscar winner William Hurt that led to a
stint in rehab, and her subsequent romances with heartthrobs like
Rob Lowe, Richard Dean Anderson, and David E. Kelley. Written with
uncompromising honesty and humour, Matlin's story is an
unforgettable lesson in having the courage to follow your dreams.
"If you saw Mark Damon in a tux at the 55th Annual Academy Awards
you probably wouldn't picture him in a toga. If he flashed his
dazzling smile at his wife, Maggie, your first thought wouldn't be
"Oooh, vampire fangs." But Mark played a beast and a vampire, rode
across the desert in a toga as the son of Cleopatra, walked the
streets of Toledo as a Spanish king named Peter the Cruel and
cleaned up the West as two Spaghetti Western cowboys named Johnny.
As an actor he played a hero, a rebel and a fool in over fifty
teenflicks, Spaghetti Westerns and swashbucklers. As a producer and
film distributor, he was involved in the success of over 350 films.
Teen idol, singer, film director, writer and producer, astute
businessman, inventor of the foreign film sales business - by 1983,
Damon had pursued almost as many careers as a tomcat has lives..."
- From Cowboy to Mogul to Monster Twenty-five years later, Mark
Damon continues to reinvent himself in the film business. His is a
NeverEnding Story.
Emmy Award-winning actress Sharon Gless tells all in this
laugh-out-loud, juicy, "unforgettably memorable" (Lily Tomlin)
memoir about her five decades in Hollywood, where she took on some
of the most groundbreaking roles of her time. Anyone who has seen
Sharon Gless act in Cagney & Lacey, Queer as Folk, Burn Notice,
and countless other shows and movies, knows that she's someone who
gives every role her all. She holds nothing back in Apparently
There Were Complaints, a hilarious, deeply personal memoir that
spills all about Gless's five decades in Hollywood. A
fifth-generation Californian, Sharon Gless knew from a young age
that she wanted to be an actress. After some rocky teenage years
that included Sharon's parents' divorce and some minor (and
not-so-minor) rebellion, Gless landed a coveted spot as an
exclusive contract player for Universal Studios. In 1982, she
stepped into the role of New York Police Detective Christine Cagney
for the series Cagney & Lacey, which eventually reached an
audience of 30 million weekly viewers and garnered Gless with two
Emmy Awards. The show made history as the first hour-long drama to
feature two women in the leading roles. Gless continued to make
history long after Cagney & Lacey was over. In 2000, she took
on the role of outrageous Debbie Novotny in Queer as Folk. Her
portrayal of a devoted mother to a gay son and confidant to his gay
friends touched countless hearts and changed the definition of
family for millions of viewers. Apparently There Were Complaints
delves into Gless's remarkable career and explores Gless's
complicated family, her struggles with alcoholism, and her fear of
romantic commitment as well as her encounters with some of
Hollywood's biggest names. Brutally honest and incredibly
relatable, Gless puts it all out on the page in the same way she
has lived-never with moderation.
Judy Garland was an entertainment icon whose performances on stage,
screen and television had a tremendous impact across decades and
media. This film-by-film study of her work follows her progression
from pig-tailed child to a top motion picture star, with such
timeless classics as The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St Louis, and A
Star is Born. Garland's talent and versatility as an actress are
explored through each of her movie roles. More than just a
reference filmography, this work examines how Garland's talents
were realized and understood by producers and the world. It
analyzes the star's relatonships with various co-stars and
directors and details how she balanced her painful insecurities
with her often focused and driven approach to her work. Through the
context of her work on film, Judy Garland's innate and enduring
star power is readily appreciated and acknowledged.
Peter Lorre described himself as merely a 'face maker'. His own
negative attitude also characterizes traditional perspectives which
position Lorre as a tragic figure within film history: the
promising European artist reduced to a Hollywood gimmick, unable to
escape the murderous image of his role in Fritz Lang's M. This book
shows that the life of Peter Lorre cannot be reduced to a series of
simplistic oppositions. It reveals that, despite the limitations of
his macabre star image, Lorre's screen performances were highly
ambitious, and the terms of his employment were rarely restrictive.
Lorre's career was a complex negotiation between transnational
identity, Hollywood filmmaking practices, the ownership of star
images and the mechanics of screen performance.
Actor Richard Burton conquered British theater as Hamlet in 1953 at
the Old Vic, and, after a series of theatrical triumphs launched a
film career that earned him seven Academy Award nominations among
other awards and tributes. This bio-bibliography captures the
significant events of his multimedia performances in theater, film,
television, radio, and recordings as well as the excitement of a
tumultuous and rich life off-stage with Elizabeth Taylor. This is a
comprehensive reference guide to Burton's international career,
including his performances in 28 professional stage productions, 60
films, and many performances for television, radio and recordings.
Additional features include a biography and a chronology of the
important events of his life, and a comprehensive annotated
bibliography that includes a list of magazine and newspaper
articles that illustrate and disclose the notable moments of his
life.
FLIGHT BEYOND THE STARS What is it you want? We struggle to become
successful, to achieve. We learn as children to "wish upon a star."
Flight Beyond the Stars suggests new heights to dream of, to
desire, and to achieve. In a competitive and specialized society
Dr. Kelsey offers expanses and freedom. The author believes and
shows how the tangible, the here and now, is the take-off platform,
for knowing and creating the journey to the metaphysical realities
which the soul craves: self-satisfaction, right relationships,
fulfillment, and a sense of truth and beauty in existence. Seeing
clearly what is in front of one, transports to the beyond. The book
illustrates story of places and things to help the reader focus on
their value. Objects become talismans to cherish and experiences
become testaments of a genuinely appreciated life with all of its
challenges. It is as if the balance of negative and positive create
the space necessary to see clearly for the flight. Crossing the
equator and yet coming home to a known, genuine self is the
journey. In paperback: "About the Author" at end of book in both
books. In the paper back, flaps info will follow "About the
Author."
|
|