Theatre

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Do you want to achieve your full potential as an actor?

Discover how to apply “deliberate practice”–a type of practice used by top performers around the world–to turn your weaknesses into strengths.

We all know that becoming a great actor requires hard work, but what specific actions will help you get better?

Perhaps you have spent years taking acting classes without any noticeable improvement.

Or maybe your acting did improve for a while, but you don’t know how to make further progress.

This lack of clarity is likely to lead to dissatisfaction and a decline in your enthusiasm for the craft.

After all, nobody goes into acting aiming for mediocrity.

If this sounds familiar, psychology can help.

For many years, psychologists have been studying the process by which those dedicated to their craft achieve mastery.

The biggest reveal of this exploration has been “deliberate practice,” a process through which you can turn your weaknesses into strengths.

The impact of deliberate practice has been demonstrated by a wide variety of top performers, including athletes, musicians, and chess masters.

Excellence for Actors is the first book to explore the application of deliberate practice to acting. Reading this book will provide you with a new level of clarity about how to reach your full potential.

As you will learn, achieving excellence is not just about hard work, but also about taking the right actions with the right amount of dedication.

Read this book and discover:

• How to achieve mastery over any aspect of your craft
• How to turn your weaknesses into strengths
• How to avoid mediocrity and achieve excellence
• The mistakes actors make when trying to improve
• Practical tools you can use straight away

Short enough to read in an afternoon, yet jam-packed with practical advice, Excellence for Actors will give you the clarity you need to reach your full potential.

Alexa Ispas holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Edinburgh. The books in her Psychology for Actors Series provide actors with proven psychology techniques to thrive and build a successful career.

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By the author of the best-selling Contemporary Monologues for Young Actors!

Following the smash success of Contemporary Monologues for Young Actors, award-winning NYC playwright Douglas M. Parker has created a new volume of unique monologues that allows young actors to explore a broad range of characters, emotions and situations.

Fantasy Monologues for Young Actors offers 52 fun, accessible and inventive monologues that will tap into every inch of an actor’s creativity. Featuring appealing, instantly involving pieces ranging from the comedic to the heartfelt, every monologue is written in contemporary and accessible language. Created specifically for actors and acting students ages 7-14 and for the teachers, directors and acting coaches who work with them..

These monologues feature:

• A broad range of unique circumstances and emotions: comedic, inspirational, heartfelt, lonely, curious, etc.
• Gender-neutral, so every monologue could be performed by a boy or a girl
• Emotional arcs and strong outcomes to challenge your actors and keep audiences engaged
• Modern day topics with contemporary language that really relate to kids today
• Perfect for auditions, as short performance pieces and for use in the classroom

Here are two sample monologues from the book:

FLYING

There’s a scene in Peter Pan where Peter teaches the kids to fly. And the way he does it is, he tells them to think their happiest thoughts. And they do it, and they just start flying. I mean, it tells you right in the book how to do it! So I thought – if they can fly, I bet I can too. So I just started thinking about all the things that made me the happiest. Like the day we picked up my new dog, Rex, from the kennel. And the day I beat my dad at chess – which is also known in my house as the day my dad let me beat him at chess. Or the time my sister gave me a birthday present, when it wasn’t even my birthday. Or when my mom says she loves me. And by the time I was finished, even though I was still lying in my bed, I was flying so high I thought I’d never touch the ground again. And I could look down and see everyone and everything in my life and they were all looking up and smiling and waving back at me . . . I don’t know if there really is a Peter Pan or an island filled with lost boys and pirates and Indians, but it doesn’t matter. Because I know one thing for sure . . . I know how to fly.

PAIL OF WATER

(Your character is either Jack or Jill from the well-known nursery rhyme.)

You make one mistake and people never forget it. Seriously. I mean, yeah, Jack [or Jill] and me went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. And, yes, one of us fell down and broke his crown and yeah, yeah, the other one came tumbling after. And no – we did not bring back any water. We did not succeed in our mission. And, if I was to be totally honest, we also lost the bucket. But come on. It wasn’t like we went up the hill to save the planet from an alien invasion. There wasn’t a baby up there about to be eaten by a bear. It was water. We fell down. We didn’t come back with a pail of water. Someone else got up out of their chair, got a bucket, climbed up the hill and fetched a pail of water. Big deal. Life will go on. And just to set the record straight, I am perfectly capable of fetching water. I personally have fetched hundreds of pails of water, both before that incident and after. So has Jack [or Jill]. It was one time. Sheesh. Maybe it’s time we all moved on.

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This book outlines Ewan’s practical process, which allows the actor to understand their own movement and that of others by exploring one key part of Laban’s work: the ‘Efforts of Action Drive’.

This complete, stage-by-stage, working process has been developed through more than thirty years of work with actors in the studio. Clear instructions for practical exercises are woven throughout the book, as well as exciting ways to apply the work in rehearsal, performance and on set. This allows the actor to learn and apply Laban’s Efforts for themselves. Full video and audio resources allow the reader to experience the practical work in action.

‘Vanessa Ewan’s work with Laban and the Efforts, as you will find in this inspired book, provides performers with an incredibly fertile foundation from which to create. She has found an astoundingly practical way of applying Laban’s work to the quest of being a fully embodied actor. You will find tools in this book that will open door after door to your own creativity and awaken you to the endless possibility of what you can create on stage and on screen.’ Andrew Garfield, actor

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Imagine if you could learn your lines in half the usual time yet feel confident they will roll off your tongue when needed.

Memorization for Actors provides you with a range of practical psychology tools and a bullet-proof memorization process that will put you miles ahead of the competition.

Read this book and discover:
• How you can become a master at learning your lines
• Simple tricks to learn more lines in less time
• Advanced tools to turbo-charge your memorization process
• Proven strategies to remember your lines in high stress situations
• When to schedule your memorization sessions for maximum effect, and more…

Short enough to read in an afternoon, yet jam-packed with practical advice, Memorization for Actors will transform your acting career.

Alexa Ispas holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Edinburgh. The books in her Psychology for Actors Series provide actors with proven psychology techniques to thrive and build a successful career.

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Does your child dream of being on television?
Are you determined that your child escapes the perils of early stardom?
Are you wondering how to get started?

Casting Director Michael Shurtleff, author of Audition, was famously quoted as saying, “The first step to a better audition is to give up character and use yourself.”

His student and talented character actor in his own right, Mike Kimmel, has translated that truth into a series of books that will help hone the skills of a young actor and help them understand how to handle and explore stage and film. Monologues for Kids and Tweens is a collection of 100 original comedy and drama scripts on a wide range of topics. Each piece may be performed by actors of any gender. No props or costumes are required.

As Eva C. Nusbaum says, ”These short pieces acknowledge – and rightly so – that kids live in imperfect families in an imperfect world.” They touch on:

• loss (The Comfy Red Chair,)

• consequences (Green Bananas,)

• shame (Little People,)

• duty (New Old Sneakers,)

• nostalgia (Little Magic Donut Seeds

The monologues are clean, family-friendly, and include positive messages, life lessons, and ethical questions for young people written between the lines. These are monologues they’ll remember you by. Ultimately, these monologues can help parents and teachers encourage positive attitudes and behaviors in our young performers – and their classmates and audiences as well. Appropriate for film, television, and theater training and performance.

As Jack Klugman said, “Acting is a craft, and you must learn it.” Get started with The Young Actor Series and give your young artist the best chance of becoming a professional actor and a well-balanced, empathetic human being.

Praise for Monologues for Kids and Tweens

”Mike has a real gift for writing while keeping his monologues concise and memorable.” – Will Wallace, Director, Producer, Actor and Acting Coach

”It makes for a nce addition to any young actor’s “tool box.” – Nicole Connor, Talent Agent, Central Artists Talent Agency

”Finally, a monologue book that is introspective and yet able to be expressed believably through the art of a child.” – GiGi Erneta, Actress, Radio and TV Host

”Kimmel has crafted a great selection of pieces varying in tone and subject that are perfect for the young performer….It’s so refreshing to have a compilation of monologues that support good values and personal growth for the child’s development, both as an actor and as an empathetic human being.” – Misty Marshall, Executive Director, Empowerment thru Arts, Sony recording artist and American Idol semi-finalist

Study acting as you grow with The Young Actor Series – build your acting skills now in preparation for studying with tomorrow’s Stella Adler, Uta Hagan, or Constantin Stanislavski.

1. Acting Scenes for Kids and Tweens

• Monologues for Kids and Tweens

• One-Minute Monologues for Teens

• Scenes for Teens

• Monologues for Teens

These books can be used in any order by acting students in the correct age group.

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Older and Wiser: A Guide to Starting Your Acting Career After 50 is a comprehensive guidebook for individuals who are interested in pursuing an acting career later in life. The book offers practical advice, insights, and encouragement to help readers overcome age-related challenges and build a successful acting career.

The book begins by discussing the mindset and attitude needed to succeed as an actor at any age. It encourages readers to let go of self-doubt and limiting beliefs, and instead focus on their strengths and passion for acting.

The guidebook then delves into the technical aspects of acting, such as the Meisner and Stanislavski techniques, which are explained in layman’s terms. The book also covers the practical aspects of building a career, including finding auditions, creating a portfolio, and networking with industry professionals.

The book emphasizes the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of rejection and setbacks. It also provides guidance on how to maintain physical and mental well-being to sustain a career in the industry.

Overall, “Older and Wiser” is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to pursue their passion for acting later in life. It provides a roadmap for building a fulfilling career and encourages readers to embrace their unique talents and abilities.

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