Acting is Believing - Hardcover

McGaw, Charles; Stilson, Kenneth L.; Clark, Larry D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0495050334 ISBN 13: 9780495050339

Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing, 2006

Synopsis

Emphasizing that "an actor must believe to make his audience believe," ACTING IS BELIEVING remains one of the classic texts in the field of acting. Charles McGaw's and Larry D. Clark's earlier editions influenced generations of actors, and the book has been completely updated by Kenneth Stilson with the hope of inspiring today's future professionals. The Ninth Edition has an expanded theoretical grounding, while providing numerous new and revised exercises to help today's acting student apply the key concepts of a Stanislavski-based training program as interpreted through the eyes of twenty-first century artists.

About this title

About the Author

Kenneth L. Stilson is a Professor of Acting, Directing, and Musical Theatre and former Founding Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance in The Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts at Southeast Missouri State University. As a director, writer, or actor, he has worked in such theatres as the Lincoln Center (New York City), American Academy of Dramatic Art/Hudson Theatre (Los Angeles), Southern Repertory Theatre (New Orleans), Le Petite Theatre (New Orleans), Alabama Lyric Theatre, Stage West Theatre (Ft. Worth), Shakespeare in the Park (Ft. Worth), First Run Theatre (St. Louis), and Missouri's Summer Repertory Theatre. He has also been involved in the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival and the Mississippi Shakespeare Festival. Over the past 28 years at various institutions, Stilson has directed and trained hundreds of actors, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in film, television, and stage, winning several Tony and Obie Awards. He has written numerous award-winning plays and screenplays, as well as published a biography and a range of national and international articles on acting and theatre. Stilson holds both a Ph.D. and M.A. in Theatre from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he studied under the tutelage of Larry D. Clark.

Larry Clark is currently Professor and Dean Emeritus at University of Missouri. He joined the faculty in 1966 as an Assistant Professor of Speech and Dramatic Art. In 1988, after a distinguished career as a teacher of acting and directing, during which he directed dozens of plays, both with his students and for the University of Missouri professional Summer Repertory Theatre, Clark was selected as Dean of College of Arts and Science. During his career as a Professor of Theatre, Clark was active on the national scene and was elected President of all three professional organizations devoted to the educational aspects of theatre. He was an exceptionally well-known figure in the American College Theatre Festival, serving as festival critic for hundreds of plays during its first 20 years. The plays he mounted covered a broad range of dramatic literature from the classics to Sam Shepard. His production of Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" was particularly praised. It starred one of Clark's young students, Tom Moore, who went on to establish a distinguished motion picture career as the popular actor, Tom Berenger. Berenger leads a long list of Professor Clark's former acting students who are now earning their living in motion pictures, the theatre, or both.

Review

"I think that the overall organization of the book is excellent. It guides the student through specific skill-building tasks in terms of the development of the actor's instrument."

"I believe it is the best basic text for exposing student to the Stanislavski System."

"I have used versions of this text for 20 years because I believe it is the best available."

About this edition

• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0495050334
• ISBN 13: 9780495050339
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336