Actor's Craft

DAVID KRASNER is Dean of the School of the Arts at Dean College, USA. His publications include American Drama, 1945-2000: An Introduction, Theatre in Theory, 1900-2000: An Anthology and the Errol Hill Award-winning Resistance, Parody, and Double-Consciousness in African American Theatre, 1895-1910.

'Experienced in a whole host of techniques and processes, Krasner leads the reader on a path of discovery through the world of actor training and back to its origins...Overall An Actor's Craft is a must read for anyone exploring Stanislavski's ideas on psychophysical acting, or those with a keen interest in Method Acting or the development of its concepts.' - Theatre Topics 'I have to say I own most books ever written on acting, and this is the one I would recommend to anyone! It takes the most important elements from all the Method acting teachers and creates a sort of manual that will actually give you results! David Krasner draws from Meisner, Strasberg and Adler in many of these exercises, but also from Maria Knebel and Keith Johnstone. For me it was like he'd scanned my brain for the techniques I found most useful from each acting-path and put them together in a book for me! I am so thrilled with this book and as an acting teacher I will be drawing on it again and again!' - Customer review on amazon.co.uk 'I need another acting book like a hole in the head, but once I started David Krasner's book, I couldn't put it down. Like Krasner's teaching, there is a well thought out clarity that is easily accessible to actors and teachers.' - Milton Justice, Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre, Los Angeles, USA 'An Actor's Craft is a clear-eyed, practical, and inspiring look at what it takes to excel at performance. The acting theory that Krasner details here is essential reading for students, enthusiasts, and professional practitioners. I apply many of the techniques and ideas I've learned from Krasner - such as the Six Basic Actions - in my own rehearsal room.' - Alex Timbers, Artistic Director, Les Freres Corbusier

• Introduction: What is Acting?PART I: PREPARING MIND AND BODYPreparation: Relaxation, Concentration and BreathingVocal and Physical DynamicsPersonalizing: Sense and Emotion MemoryPART II: PASSION AND INSPIRATIONSecrets and SourcesPhysicalization and Analysis Through ActionActions and Six Basic ActionsImprovisation and Jazz ActingPART III: PERFORMING THE ROLELiving Through and Interstitial ScenesLying and DenialThe Role: Psychological Gesture, Homework and RehearsalConclusionBibliographyBrief Biographies of Key Acting Teachers.