List of Exercises
Preface
Part I The Ground: Preparing Yourself
The Exercises and In-Class Performances
A Note On Discipline
Lesson One: The Actor In You
The Skills Of The Actor
The Tradition Of The Actor
The Modern Period
Acting and Your Personal Growth
Summary
Lesson Two: The Creative State
Tension and Excessive Effort
Restful Alertness
Experiencing Wholeness
Relaxation
The Here and Now
Summary
Lesson Three: Centering, Moving, and Gesturing
The Pure Center and the Voice
The Actor's Use of Center
Grounding
Your Changing Relationship to Gravity
Phrasing Movement
Gesture
The Genesis of Gesture
Summary
Lesson Four: Voice
The Voice and Emotion
The Source of the Voice
The Cycle of Energy
Tone Production
The Voice and Inner Dynamic
The Voice and Attitude
Using Your Own Voice
Summary
Lesson Five: Speech
The Process of Speech
Nasal Sounds
Oral Sounds: Vowels and Diphthongs
Oral Sounds: Consonants
Projection
Speech, Context, and Character
Further Training of Body and Voice
Summary
Lesson Six: Dramatic Language
Text and Subtext
Word Choice
Context
Rhythm
Melody
Imagery
Summary
Lesson Seven: Working With Others
The Bodily Center and Relationship
Commitment, Support, and Communication
Transaction and Teamwork
Summary
Part II The Path: Exploring Action
Lesson Eight: The Flow and Shape of Dramatic Action
Aristotle on Action
Action and Reaction: The Life of the Scene
The Shape of Drama
Drama and Conflict
Summary
Lesson Nine: Action for the Actor
Action According To Stanislavski
Action in Life
Internal and External Action
Believability
Indicating
Summary
Lesson Ten: Action, Character, and Emotion
Public Solitude
Dual Consciousness
Action and Character
Action and Emotion
Emotional Recall and Substitution
The Role of Emotion in Performance
Personalization and the Magic If
Summary
Lesson Eleven: The Acting Process: Givens, Needs, Objectives, And Actions
A Scene of Your Own
The Given Circumstances
Needs and Aspirations
Objectives
Defining Productive Objectives
Defining Playable Actions: Verbs
Automatic Actions
Summary
Lesson Twelve: Beats, Through-Line, And Superobjective
The Levels of Action
Scene Structure
Breaking Down The Scene
The Through-Line
The Superobjective
The Acting Process
Summary
Part III The Fruition: Preparing The Performance
Lesson Thirteen: The Function and Elements of Character
Functional and Likeness Traits
Physical Traits
Social Traits
A Note on Style
Psychological Traits
Moral Traits
Economy of Characterization
A Character Checklist
Summary
Lesson Fourteen: The Character's Mind
The Instroke of Reaction
Choice
Automatic Actions
Direct and Indirect Action
Not Doing: Suppression
The Character's Self-Image
Summary
Lesson Fifteen: The Character's Body
The Character's Center
The Flow of Bodily Energy
Physique and Personality
Body Alignment and Character
Summary
Lesson Sixteen: Rehearsing
Auditions
Preparations and Homework
Early Read-Throughs
Exploring the Action
Establishing the Score
Communication in Rehearsals
You and Your Director
Getting Off Book
Summary
Lesson Seventeen: Staging
Directions on Stage
The Scale of Performance
The Groundplan and Setting
Blocking
Summary
Lesson Eighteen: Performing
Shaping and Pacing the Performance
Technical and Dress Rehearsals
Spontaneity
Growth after Opening
The Desire for Success
Your Sense of Purpose
Summary
Afterword: Transformation
Appendix A: Monologue, Scene, and Play Sources
Play Anthologies
Plays
Anthologies for Students of Color
Appendix B: An Acting Checklist
Bibliography
Notes
A Glossary of Acting Terms
Index
