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For those of you interested in studying more about "Method" acting, Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio, I have included the following list of my favorite books on the subject, as well as a book or two on the business end of acting. If you would like to purchase one or more of these books online, please CLICK ON THE TITLE of the book(s). I used to make small commission but the Governor of Missouri fixed it so Amazon would no longer work with people in Missouri. I leave the books here anyway because they are important studies for serious actors.
by Nicole Comer This charming and easy-to-read book is a candid, honest & no-nonsense guide for actors with an inside look into the acting “business”. Most acting classes and drama schools teach the craft of acting, but they rarely cover the business. This book gives actors a road map to their career success. A working actress, acting coach, writer and producer shares with you her tips, experiences, stories and reminders about the “business” to help take your career to the next level while always reminding the reader that acting is a business, so you had better put your big-girl and big-boy pants on!
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Lola Cohen (Editor), Martin Sheen (Foreword) The Lee Strasberg Notes reproduces the original teachings of a unique voice in actor training, for the very first time. It is a stunning document in the history and ongoing practice of Strasberg’s Method.
Compiled and edited by Lola Cohen, the book is based on unpublished transcripts of Strasberg’s own classes on acting, directing and Shakespeare. It recreates his theoretical approach, as well as the practical exercises used by his students, and brilliantly conveys his approach and personality.
The book features Strasberg’s teachings on:
•Training and exercises • Characters and scenes • Directing and the Method • Shakespeare and Stanislavski • The theater, acting and actors.
Including a Preface by Anna Strasberg and a Foreword by Martin Sheen, this illuminating book brings the reader closer to Strasberg’s own methods than any other, making it a phenomenal resource for students, actors, and directors. |
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By Uta Hagen
Part Two, "The Object Exercises," offers specific and detailed work for the actor, covering a broad range of problems and circumstances, from making an entrance to using the Fourth Wall.
Part Three, "The Play and the Role," covers how to approach the play and identify with the character the actor will undertake. It also shares practical thoughts and answers the questions young actors ask most.
Uta Hagen's influence endures in many of today's most compelling stage and screen performances. Informative and inspiring, Respect for Acting will bring her timeless techniques to actors and audiences for years to come. |
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By
Konstantin Stanislavski
Until now, readers and students have had to contend with inaccurate, misleading and difficult-to-read English-language versions. Some of the mistranslations have resulted in profound distortions in the way his system has been interpreted and taught. At last, Jean Benedetti has succeeded in translating Stanislavski’s huge manual into a lively, fascinating and accurate text in English.
He has remained faithful to the author's original intentions, putting the two books previously known as An Actor Prepares and Building A Character back together into one volume, and in a colloquial and readable style for today's actors.
The result is a major contribution to the theatre, and a service to one of the great innovators of the twentieth century. |
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ACTING IS
EVERYTHING
An
Actor's Guidebook For A Successful Career In Los Angeles
by Judy Kerr This really is the ultimate guidebook for actors who are determined to initiate and sustain a successful acting career in Los Angeles or in their hometowns. Filled with practical advice, Acting Is Everything helps beginners avoid scams so they can get down to the business of getting work. Written by a renowned acting coach, it helps actors do it right the first time, saving them time, money and heartache. |
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by Ron Gorow
This book is designed to help you develop and refine your perception and your ability to communicate with music—to know what you are hearing and to express your thoughts through music notation or performance.
In this book you will discover: Transcribing techniques. How to maximize your creativity and productivity. How to develop your craft by consolidating techniques. How to read music with your ears. How you can write music without using an instrument. How to write music spontaneously, as your ear guides your hand. How to communicate accurately through music notation. Why you don't need "perfect pitch." |
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by Stuart Stone A career plan for successful commercial actors Aspirants learn the elements, techniques, approaches, insider information and choices that raise them above others in the field. Today's widely-varied commercial spots--dramatic, dialogue-driven, beauty, comedy, niche, children, sports--offer myriad opportunities. Readers learn about:auditions, valuable trade secrets, how to get the perfect headshots, and much much more. About the Author |
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(translated by Elizabeth Reynolds Hapgood) Stanislavski wrote this book to leave to the world a record of his approach to the actor's art. Basically, Tortsov, Artistic Director of a theatre, patiently guides his actors through an understanding of the many hidden resources at their disposal. It's obvious that "Tortsov" is actually Stanislavski, and the "students" are the company members of the Moscow Art Theatre. Very well written, easy to understand, laced with humor and humanity, every actor, regardless of his "method" owes it to himself to read this book. |
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by
Foster Hirsch A most brilliant history of the Actors Studio, by one of the world's foremost theatre historians, with detailed chapters on the "life before the Studio", when Konstantin Stanislavski started his lifelong quest for the answers to the questions that started it all. This is one of the best books of its kind in print. If you're interested in the history of the Actors Studio, you'll find this book salted with rich detail, peppered with intuitive insight and sweetened with crystal clarity. Highly recommended. |
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Edited
by Robert Hethmon As the title implies, this book is transcribed from actual tape recorded sessions at the Actors Studio. It is a valuable resource for those interested in "hearing" Lee Strasberg critique scenes in his own distinguished way. The drawback, of course, is that the reader does not have the advantage of having seen the scenes Strasberg critiques, but anyone with a basic understanding of Strasberg's approach to actor training will gain invaluable insights into problems that have plagued actors throughout the history of the art. To help with that basic understanding, editor Robert Hethmon has included his own descriptions and analyses of the basic elements of Strasberg's "Method" with such clarity that the book is worth reading for that reason alone. |
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Richard Boleslavski Richard Boleslavski, with whom Strasberg studied (saving his notes from class his entire lifetime) assumes a fictional role in this book as a teacher helping a young student address the problems encountered by actors in their life in art. A beautifully written book, laced with humor and invaluable insight. After reading this book, actors might wonder if they need any more than these "lessons" to accomplish their goals onstage. |
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Introduced
& Translated by David Magarshack Long out of print, this book has been reissued. The introduction by David Magarshack is one of the best (and longest) narratives about Stanislavski and his work. It alone is worth the price of the book. In the book, Stanislavki shares his genius with the reader as he writes about "The System and Methods of Creative Art". This is also a great book for students and professionals in Opera, as the master teaches acting for that discipline here. |
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by
Edward Dwight Easty This book covers the basic fundamentals of the "Method": Relaxation, Sense Memory and Concentration, as well as briefly touching on a few other procedures (Affective Memory, Animal Exercise, Justification, etc.) It is recommended as a quick-start primer for those who don't have enough time to spend weeks reading the other books listed on this page. |
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by
David Garfield
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by
Lee Strasberg |
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Compiled
by Toby Cole
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by
Constantine Stanislavski
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By
Shelley Winters
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By
Shelley Winters |
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The Theories, Techniques, and Practices of the Great Actors Of All Times As Told In Their Own Words
Edited
with Introductions and Biographical Notes
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by Edward Dwight Easty (Author) On Method Acting demystifies the "mysteries" of Method acting -- breaking down the various steps into clear and simple terms, including chapters on: Sense Memory -- the most vital component of Method acting Improvisation -- without it, the most integral part of the Method is lost Animal Exercises -- just one way to combat the mental blocks that prevent actors from grasping a character Creating The Outer Character -- so actors can give the freshness of originality to a role while at the same time living the life of the character On Method Acting is also an indispensable volume for directors, designers, lighting technicians, and anyone in the dramatic arts interested in creating a believable and realistic effect in their productions. |
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