Between Director and Actor : Strategies for Effective Performance

Rating:
Summary: An invaluable problem-solving guide
Review: Expertly co-written by Mandy Rees (who teaches acting, movement, and voice at California State University - Bakersfield) and John Staniunas (professional director, actor, and Associate Profess at the University of Kansas teaching directing, acting, and musical theatre), Between Director And Actor: Strategies For Effective Performance is an invaluable problem-solving guide especially intended and recommended for directors and actors of both professional and amateur theatrical performances. Between Director And Actor is a highly practical troubleshooter compendium filled from cover to cover with notes and advice for vocal and physical clarity; adding depth and variety to personal performances; addresses common rehearsal problems; and offers straightforward sit-down conversations with fellow professional directors and actors. No school theatre department, community theatre, or professional acting/directing reference collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of Between Director And Actor.

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a practical book with solutions!
Review: I picked up this book on a jaunt to NYC and have fallen in love with it. The simple format of this book uniting actor and director is a godsend. It focuses on the note sessions of a run through, and how to 1. better communicate with the actor, 2. how to solve the problem both from the director's and the actor's viewpoint. The chapters focus on such areas as Structuring the Scene, Vocal/Physical Clarity, Depth and Variety and Pace and Flow. The author's give you sample notes that might be used, followed by what the actual problem to be faced with a detailed explanation and ends with both a strategies section for the actor and more details/thoughts for the director. As a director, I found the format quite forthright and artistic. I would love for all of my actor's to use this book. It will so open up lines of communication between the two as well as give the actor very usuable ways to try to solve the issues. I am thiking of making this mandatory reading for my advanced classes!