Whether you're an actor, writer, dramaturg, or director who wants to better understand the dynamics of the one-person show or join the legion of solo folk, The Solo Performer's Journey is the perfect companion for what promises to be an expedition inside your artistic self.

Creating Solo Performance is an innovative toolbox of exercises and challenges focused on providing you – the performer – with engaging and inspiring ways to explore and develop your idea both on the page and in the performance space. The creation of a solo show may be the most rewarding, liberating and stressful challenge you will take on in your career. This book acts as your silent collaborator as you develop your performance, by helpfully arranging exercises under the following headings: Beginnings Creating character Generating material Using your performance space Technology Endings Collaboration Exercises can be explored in sequence, at random or according to your specific needs and interests as a performer. By enabling you to create a bespoke formula that best applies to your specific subject, area of interest, style and discipline, this book will become an indispensable resource as you produce your solo show.

Extreme Exposure presents extensive excerpts from the works of more than 50 solo writer/performers, along with prefatory notes to each extract.

SOLO PERFORMANCE ON STAGE by Ronald Rand, Goodwill Cultural Ambassador and world-acclaimed solo performer in 25 countries takes the reader on an intimate journey into the organic process of creating your own solo performance on stage through the 'Art of Transformation' using Stanislavsky's "Method of Physical Actions." The theater is a transcendent communication of the human spirit, flowing from the passion of all those creating in collaboration with each other. Transformation is the embodiment of our joy of being alive. Christopher Plummer calls SOLO TRANSFORMATION ON STAGE "An unforgettable journey of passion, insight and discovery!" Stephen Lang writes in his Foreword "An astonishing outpouring of energy and experience. Ronald Rand brings a way to seek out a greater realization of what life means to you, putting into words what every actor feels in their heart; that what we do is as crucial to life as bread, fire, or salt. A noble and useful book." Step inside Ronald Rand's two-hour transformation into Harold Clurman - how a solo performance is born, takes off and literally changes the face of the world! Experience his insightful experiences with Stella Adler, Harold Clurman, and Jerzy Grotowski, and life-changing 'moments of depth' from some of the world's memorable performers including Cicely Tyson, Paul Robeson, Ira Aldridge, James Earl Jones, Sidney Poitier, Laurette Taylor, and Marlon Brando. SOLO TRANSFORMATION ON STAGE offers over twenty inspiring interviews by performers who have created their own solo plays including Adrienne Barbeau, Billy Crudup, Olympia Dukakis, Eve Ensler, Hershey Felder, Marga Gomez, Julie Harris, Stephen Lang, Tony Lo Bianco, Laurence Luckinbill, Angelica Page, Christopher Plummer, Elizabeth van Dyke, and Ben Vereen. SOLO TRANSFORMATION ON STAGE will speak passionately to experienced actors and students alike, and become an invaluable resource for postgraduate students of theatre and performance, acting lecturers and teachers, and all lovers of theater.

Michael Nichols shares personal experiences and technical know-how from over 30 years as a live performer. In a straightforward conversational voice, he lays out a dynamic vision for how to make a living and have fun being a solo musician.

In The Musician's Way, veteran performer and educator Gerald Klickstein combines the latest research with his 30 years of professional experience to provide aspiring musicians with a roadmap to artistic excellence. Part I, Artful Practice, describes strategies to interpret and memorize compositions, fuel motivation, collaborate, and more. Part II, Fearless Performance, lifts the lid on the hidden causes of nervousness and shows how musicians can become confident performers. Part III, Lifelong Creativity, surveys tactics to prevent music-related injuries and equips musicians to tap their own innate creativity. Written in a conversational style, The Musician's Way presents an inclusive system for all instrumentalists and vocalists to advance their musical abilities and succeed as performing artists.

Rock star, crowdfunding pioneer, and TED speaker Amanda Palmer knows all about asking. Performing as a living statue in a wedding dress, she wordlessly asked thousands of passersby for their dollars. When she became a singer, songwriter, and musician, she was not afraid to ask her audience to support her as she surfed the crowd (and slept on their couches while touring). And when she left her record label to strike out on her own, she asked her fans to support her in making an album, leading to the world's most successful music Kickstarter. Even while Amanda is both celebrated and attacked for her fearlessness in asking for help, she finds that there are important things she cannot ask for-as a musician, as a friend, and as a wife. She learns that she isn't alone in this, that so many people are afraid to ask for help, and it paralyzes their lives and relationships. In this groundbreaking book, she explores these barriers in her own life and in the lives of those around her, and discovers the emotional, philosophical, and practical aspects of The Art of Asking. Part manifesto, part revelation, this is the story of an artist struggling with the new rules of exchange in the twenty-first century, both on and off the Internet. The Art of Asking will inspire readers to rethink their own ideas about asking, giving, art, and love.