Synopses & Reviews
The Actor at Work, 10/E
Robert Benedetti
This Fortieth Anniversary edition of Benedetti’s classic and comprehensive introduction to acting continues to provide wide-ranging insight into the techniques and demands of acting today. Centered on the concept of action, The Actor at Work covers all of the major skills of the actor, including voice, speech, movement, analysis, and role-playing. This tenth edition will help you uncover and develop the actor within yourself using many ideas from contemporary psychology and various physical and spiritual disciplines, as it encourages self-discovery through participatory activities and exercises.
The New and Classic Features of the Tenth Edition
- Combines Stanislavski's “Method” with techniques drawn from contemporary psychology to teach you a broad range of approaches to the acting process.
- Emphasizes the personal responsibility, sense of purpose, personal discipline, and the ethics needed to succeed in acting.
- Provides insight into the demands of various performance environments from the actor's point of view, with three new chapters on the qualities of good dramatic language, the techniques of rehearsal, and staging.
- Includes several exercises for voice and textual work, and a foreword by Cicely Berry, OBE, Hon. D. Litt., Voice Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
What Reviewers Are Saying about The Actor at Work
“. . . it goes beyond any trends and focuses on communicating the basic craft and art of the actor. This is an excellent introduction to the process of acting.”
–Denise Gillman, Christopher Newport University
Synopsis
'For more than thirty years, the highly acclaimed The Actor at Work has offered readers a thorough look at the underlying principles of the acting process. Centered on the concept of action, The Actor at Work covers all the major skills of the actor, including voice, speech, movement, analysis and role-playing. Using many ideas from contemporary psychology and various physical and spiritual disciplines, this text helps readers uncover and develop the actors within themselves, as it encourages self-discovery through participatory activities and exercises. '
Synopsis
Reviewer Praise for Benedetti's
The Actor at Work As I have been going over this text again and again attempting to make some sort of meager offering to make it better, I have fallen in love with this text all over again.
Rick D. Anderson, Kirkwood Community College
I feel that Robert Benedetti's book is an excellent overview of all principles required for the beginning actor.
William Gelber, Texas Tech University
I have always considered Benedetti's textbook to be an excellent resource for any teacher of acting.
Lori Horvik, North Dakota State University
This is a book with the potential to transform the novice actor.
Matt Tomlanovich, Southern Methodist University
Benedetti's language is just sophisticated enough to make the subject matter feel important and yet it's not so complex or abstract that it becomes tiresome or overwhelming.
I think it is the best text on the market for non-majors that manages to be sophisticated enough for majors.
Rebecca Hilliker, University of Wyoming
Benedetti's exercises are challenging and fun, and don't ask more from the student than they are comfortable doing.
Nancy Silva, American River College
In my opinion The Actor at Work remains the best acting text on the market. Having examined numerous other acting texts, I continue to be amazed at the clarity, substance, and quality of Benedetti's text.
George Sorensen, Texas Tech University
The exercises are terrific and support the text very well. I am amazed at how quickly my students respond to the exercises and 'catch on' to the intent.
William Hutson, Creighton University
Synopsis
This edition marks the 40th Anniversary ofthis classic and comprehensive introduction to acting. With this new edition, Benedetti continues to provide wide-ranging insight into the techniques and demands of acting today. Centered on the concept of action, The Actor at Work covers all the major skills of the actor, including voice, speech, movement, analysis and role-playing. Using many ideas from contemporary psychology and various physical and spiritual disciplines, this text helps the reader uncover and develop the actors within themselves, as it encourages self-discovery through participatory activities and exercises.
Table of Contents
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