Acting for the Stage

Anna Weinstein is the Series Editor for PERFORM. A writer and editor with over fifteen years of experience in educational publishing, she received her MFA in Writing for the Performing Arts from the University of California at Riverside--Palm Desert and her BA in Communication Studies/Performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She teaches introductory and advanced screenwriting at Auburn University, and she is a frequent contributor to Film International, where she publishes interviews with award-winning female directors in her series "Diva Directors Around the Globe."Chris Qualls is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Auburn University, where he teaches voiceover acting, acting for stage and screen, and introduction to theater. He received his MFA in Acting from the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and his BA in Communication Studies/Film from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has worked as a voiceover actor for thirty years. His research and creative work focus on the integration of classical and nontraditional approaches to Shakespeare in performance, theater and media for social justice, and voice acting. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

"Every young actor anticipating a fulfilling life in the theater can benefit mightily from this book. There's lots of wisdom and helpful, practical advice here. It's up-to-date and comprehensive. The variety of perspectives helps to clarify the daunting, maybe overwhelming, prospect of entering this oh-so-demanding yet oh-so-rewarding field. A welcome addition to the PERFORM series. Thank you, Anna and Chris!"--Eric Forsythe, Head of Directing, University of Iowa Theatre, IA, USA"The most comprehensive and impressive collection of useful real-world advice about thoughtfully pursuing a career in the theater I have read in a very long time. If you are looking for one book that will improve your prospects and positively change your theatrical future, this is it." --Guy Roberts, CEO & Artistic Director, Prague Shakespeare Company, Czech Republic"Required reading for any business class on acting. An invaluable book for anyone looking to peer into the real world of the working actor. Easy to read, with a wide array of working artists talking about how to live and breathe acting. This book could radically change your career. I wish someone had handed this to me 20 years ago!"--Richard Robichaux, Head of Acting, Penn State University, PA, USA

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTSINTRODUCTIONCHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTEDMOVING TOWARD YOUR DREAMBig Buttery Acting and Developing Business RelationshipsAn Interview With Richard RobichauxHOW TO BREAK INAn Agent’s PerspectiveAn Interview With Kay HiltonTRAINING AND RESPECTING THE WORKA Director’s PerspectiveAn Interview With David HammondAUDITIONING FOR SHAKESPEAREBy Joe FaloccoIS A RESIDENT THEATER COMPANY FOR YOU?An Interview With Richard RoseBy Amanda NelsonCHAPTER 2: STICKING IT OUTTRAINING YOUR VOICE FOR THE JOBAn Interview With Bob CorffESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND HABITSFor the Working ActorAn Interview With Jordan LundTHIS IS NOT MY BEAUTIFUL HOUSE!A Semi-Imaginary Interview With Berliner Ensemble Actor Laura TratnikBy John CrutchfieldWHEN IT FEELS IMPOSSIBLEAn Interview With Regan LintonBy Jason DorwartA DIALOGUE ABOUT THE ART OF WORKING AS AN ACTORBy Kate Kramer and Elizabeth StevensCHAPTER 3: FINDING SUCCESSTHE TRIPLE CROWN OF ACTINGThe Road to Winning an Oscar, Emmy, and TonyAn Interview With Ellen BurstynCAREER STRATEGIES FOR PERFORMING ARTISTSBy Amy GuerinYOU’RE SUCCESSFUL! NOW WHAT?An Agent’s PerspectiveBy Richard LucasEXPANDING YOUR VIEW OF SUCCESSNotes from the Acting CoachAn Interview With Scott FieldingNOT STANDING ON CEREMONYHow To Be an Amateur in the TheaterBy Phillip L. BeardCHAPTER 4: GETTING AHEADCREATING A CONTEMPORARY LANGUAGE FOR THE STAGEAn Interview With Caden Manson and Jemma NelsonBy Emeline JouveWORKING IN CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENTAn Interview With Lisa KovachSOCIALLY CONSCIOUS THEATERActing as a Vessel for ChangeBy Christina Rodriguez de ConteTHE ACTOR WHO WRITESAnother Tool for Your ToolboxBy Robert HedleyA LIFE IN THE THEATERBy Harriet Power CHAPTER 5: STARTING AGAINUNDERSTANDING YOUR AUDIENCEBy Kirsty SedgmanBEGINNING ACTING LATER IN LIFEAn Interview With Mary Ann ThebusBy Anna HozianMANAGING REJECTION, DISAPPOINTMENT, AND SETBACKSBy Carl Menninger and Lori Hammel1,000+ STAGE PERFORMANCESAn Interview With 100-Year-Old Chemancheri Kunjiraman NairBy Akhila Vimal CSUCCESS AND THE RESET BUTTONA Moving TargetBy Deric McNishTEACHING ACTING IN PRISONSLessons From the Actors’ Gang Prison ProjectAn Interview With Sabra WilliamsINDEX