Acting

Acting: An Introduction to the Art and Craft of Playingdiscusses both the theory and practice of acting while placing the actor center stage as the crucial artist in the theatre. This text examines the underlying issues of acting and describes potential approaches to meet these challenges. Practical, experiential examples of applying the vocabulary are provided, but the book is not overloaded with exercises. The text identifies and clearly states the four fundamental actions and four basic tasks that form the basis for acting, focusing the student's energy for playing physically, vocally, imaginatively, and emotionally. Topically organized chapters examine the underlying processes and theories of the acting process through an open and descriptive approach and provide clear and concrete exercises to facilitate student development and understanding. Provides a descriptive rather than prescriptive approach to the acting process, helping students develop and explore their understanding.Features two intermissions, "The Theatrical Illusion" and "An Actor's Warm-Up," at the conclusion of Part One, providing a theoretical and practical summary that prepares students for working on the stage. Includes practical, experiential exercises throughout to facilitate student's development of skills and understanding of how the acting process works.Provides analytical tools such as outlines for text analysis, structural analysis (play and scene structure) and character analysis to help students feel empowered to make their own choices regarding how, with what kind of material, and with whom they may work. Examines the role of emotion in the acting process providing an effective and concrete discussion of how to utilize natural feelings that may arise in the process and the controversies surrounding some common ideas in the field.Includes references toWeb-based and traditional text resources throughout the book to support and expand upon the ideas and exercises in each chapter and to help students further explore each topic.