I told my Wednesday Act Live Now Act4fun class that I would send some actor book recommendations at class last week and I realized my other friends and improv actors might want the list as well.
Here they are, with a short description and my Amazon Affiliate link to purchase each if you are intrigued:
An Actor Prepares–Stanislavski: Told in a first-person story format, it reads like a novel, yet each chapter reveals common sense tips to create a more lifelike character. First in his famous trilogy of acting books.
https://amzn.to/3XMnSeL
To The Actor–Michael Chekhov: This teacher is probably my favorite because he combines the physical with the mental imagination to create fully-embodied characters.
https://amzn.to/3TvB9po
A Challenge for the Actor–Uta Hagen: This is a very pragmatic book, focused on solving problems that the actor often encounters when receiving a role.
https://amzn.to/3ZyCYFI
The Actor’s Art and Craft–William Esper: This gives an in-depth look at Meisner Technique, which is so much more than its Level 1 Repetition Exercise that made the technique famous.
https://amzn.to/3TvBcl4
Audition–Michael Shurtleff: This famous NY casting director gives no-nonsense advice for actors looking to create impactful characters and scenes, whether they are auditioning or not. His guideposts are mandatory reading for the professional actor.
https://amzn.to/3MJItKm
Enjoy! These are my first round, if you finish them or want more let me and I will steer you towards some others, depending on your specific interest. I’ve read a lot of acting books, seeing as I have both a BFA and MFA in Theatre!