ACTING MAGIC is a comprehensive guidebook that takes the aspiring actor from beginning steps to a high level of performance excellence. The book breaks down all the components of acting into simple and engaging chunks so that even the youngest students can apply them on the stage. Games, stories, exercises, illustrations, handouts, and teacher's keys guide the actor to discover everything the pros know. The extensive glossary of theater terms and the in-depth history of theater completes the book as a perfect study and performance text.

Stanislavski’s ‘system’ has dominated actor-training in the West since his writings were first translated into English in the 1920s and 30s. His systematic attempt to outline a psycho-physical technique for acting single-handedly revolutionized standards of acting in the theatre. 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. This Routledge Classics edition includes a new Foreword by the director Richard Eyre.

It is my contention that we each have within us an unlimited potential that can be tapped into at any time. All we need to do is get out of our own way and work from our special place within: our original authentic selves, our own magical craziness, free from ego. As actors, we can all become the actor that we want to be, if only we can put this aspect of ourselves in the driving seat. Most of the 'methodologies' or 'systems' were developed to help actors who, for one reason or another, couldn't access their own authentic abilities. I believe that this is pre-set within us. In the first part of this little book I will reveal: What is meant by 'The Magic of Acting' Why the methodologies are merely clinical, paint-by-numbers systems without our own original 'Magic' How we can access this special place most of us have forgotten Why there is no such thing as 'the Character' How we can develop a sense of place and understand 'where we are' right now, both inside and out And how all this applies to our acting. In the second part of the book, we will look at how to operate in the industry, with basic advice for the new actor and a reminder for those returning to acting after a break. This is not just another 'how to do' acting manual. It is about 'how to BE'.

Acting: The Basics 3rd Edition is a dynamic response to recent societal and entertainment industry changes, focusing on inclusion, diversity and equity, and the actor's trajectory from training to rehearsal to performance on stage and screen, with hands-on tools and global perspectives. The book offers vital ways of building a practical acting toolkit, through breath, body, voice, emotions, imagination and spirit. We begin with a socio-cultural look at actor as magician, storyteller, healer and social changer. Throughout, there are insights from Black, Indigenous, First Nations, South/East Asian, intercultural and feminist practitioners, together with methods focusing on disability and accessibility, intimacy directives, mindfulness and intersectionality. Key 'canonical' figures still feature (e.g., Stanislavsky, Meisner, Brecht and Suzuki) with re-visioned perspective. Scattered throughout are post-COVID insights, plus expanded sections on screen acting (including self-tapes) and Shakespeare. This book is useful for beginner or expert, as it's always helpful getting back to basics. Because the author is both an actor and an actor trainer, the tools are steeped in user-friendly application. At the same time, transferable skills (e.g., dynamic listening and empathy) are shown as relevant to everyone. With a glossary of terms and useful online suggestions (including blogs, videos and podcasts), this is ideal for anyone learn anew about the practice and history of acting, or to take their acting and teaching into new terrain.

Acting from the Ultimate Consciousness is Eric Morris's fourth popular book on the art of acting. His previous works have established him among the foremost innovators in the world of drama. His system, based on the Stanislavsky method but going far beyond it, begins with an exploration of consciousness and the instrumental needs of the actor and expands to dozens of practical techniques that enable the actor to utilize the full range of his talent. With complete sections on characterization, rehearsing and ensemble, this is a book that all stage or screen actors--beginning to advanced--should read, absorb and practice.

This work revisits the golden age of theatrical magic and silent film to reveal how professional magicians shaped the early history of cinema. The author treats cinema and stage magic as overlapping practices that together revise our understanding of the origins of motion pictures and cinematic spectacle.