The Student Actor Prepares (Book)

Acting for Life

The Student Actor Prepares is a practical, interactive approach to a student actor’s journey. Each chapter includes acting principles, their importance to the process, and workbook entries for emotional work, script analysis and applications to the study of theatre. Topics cover a brief history of the art of acting and how the study of acting can be an advantage in numerous occupations; an actor’s discovery of emotional work; movement and mime practices for the actor; vocal practices for the actor; solo improvisational study; script analysis for the individual actor; rehearsal tips; monologue work; original solo work; audition information; working with an acting partner or in a production; acting resources; and research topics. 

Edition

The Student Actor Prepares is a practical, interactive approach to a student actor’s journey. Each chapter includes acting principles, their importance to the process and workbook entries for emotional work, script analysis and applications to the study of theatre. Topics cover a brief history of the art of acting and how the study of acting can be an advantage in numerous occupations; an actor’s discovery of emotional work; movement and mime practices for the actor; vocal practices for the actor; solo improvisational study; script analysis for the individual actor; rehearsal tips; monologue work; original solo work; audition information; working with an acting partner or in a production; acting resources; and research topics.

Gai Jones, founder of California Youth in Theatre, taught theater at El Dorado High School in Placentia, CA, for thirty-four years.

Prologue 

Creative (CI) and Reflective Inquiry (RI) Journey 
Brief History of Theatre Acting 
Theatre Vocabulary for the Acting Student: Top One Hundred and Sixty Essential Words 
Theatrical Humor 
Reading Plays 
Closure for The Student Actor Prepares: Acting for Life: Prologue

Chapter One: Introduction to Theatre Acting 

Unlimited Potential 
Skills Developed by the Acting Process 
Actor’s Personal Autobiography 
Natural Talents and Aptitudes 
Acknowledging your Uniqueness 
Positive New Experiences 
Dealing with Inhibitors 
Dealing with Negativism and Rejection in the Acting Biz 
Winning Attitudes 
Closure for Chapter One: Theatre Acting

Chapter Two: Creativity

Introduction to Creativity
Definition of Creativity 
Say Yes to Creativity 
Various Types of Creative Thinking: Brainstorming, Intuition, and Left Brain Right Brain 
Tips on How to Increase your Creativity
Experiences to Increase your Creativity 
Left Brain/Right Brain Experience 
Thinking Outside the Box 
How an Actor Benefits by Thinking Creatively
Using Both Left and Right Brain Thinking in Acting 
Closure for Chapter Two: Creativity 

Chapter Three: Movement 

Introduction to Movement 
Definition of Movement 
History of Movement Training 
Introduction to Relaxation for Movement 
The Bow
Video Recording as Part of your Rehearsal Process 
Preparation for Actor’s Character Stance and Movement 
Stage Stances and Movement 
Introduction to Mime Study for the Actor 
Closure for Chapter Three: Movement 

Chapter Four: Vocal Work 

Introduction to Vocal Work
Taking Care of your Voice 
Warm-Up for Vocal Experiences 
Vocal Vocabulary and Assignments 
Song Lyrics for Vocal Work 
Shakespeare for Vocal Interpretation 
Closure for Chapter Four: Vocal Work

Chapter Five: Improvisation 

Introduction to Improvisation 
Definition of Improvisation
History of Improvisation 
Why an Actor Studies Improvisation 
Vocabulary Used in the Study of Improvisation 
Difference between Giving a Speech and Solo Improvisation Performance
Difference between Ad Lib and Improvisation 
How an Actor Uses Improvisation
Basic Principles of Improvisation 
Warm-Ups for Improvisations 
Solo Improvisation 
Closure for Chapter Five: Improvisation 

Chapter Six: Acting and Script Study 

Introduction to Acting 
History of Acting: Mechanical to Method 
Master Acting Teachers 
Acting Vocabulary 
Reading and Analyzing a Script from an Actor’s Point of View 
Character Biography for a Monologue from a Play 
Closure for Chapter Six: Acting and Script Analysis 

Chapter Seven: Monologues 

Introduction to Monologues 
Definition of a Monologue 
History of the Monologue
Monologue Vocabulary
Why an Actor Studies Monologues 
The First Day: Monologue for Analysis and Staging 
Warming Up 
Keeping it Real and in the Moment—Not Indicating 
Staging 
Memorizing Monologues 
Musical Theatre Lyrics as Monologues

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