An Actor Prepares

Front Cover
Routledge, Apr 28, 1989 - Art - 344 pages
This work is the first volume of Stanislavski's trilogy on the art of acting; it explains the art of acting in semi-fiction form. Fusing psychological realism and expressionism, his exploratory exercises teach actors to evoke past emotions that draw out their vulnerability. Stanislavski here introduces such concepts as the "magic if," "emotion memory," the "unbroken line" and many more now famous rehearsal aids. This classic manual is written from the viewpoint of fictional actors taking lessons from a director (based on Stanislavski). Through the student's mistakes, questions, revelations, and struggles, Stanislavski teaches the actor about the stage, truth, and life itself.

From inside the book

Contents

1 The First Test
1
2 When Acting Is an Art
13
3 Action
35
4 Imagination
59
5 Concentration of Attention
79
6 Relaxation of Muscles
103
7 Units and Objectives
121
8 Faith and a Sense of Truth
139
10 Communion
209
11 Adaptation
241
12 Inner Motive Forces
263
13 The Unbroken Line
271
14 The Inner Creative State
281
15 The SuperObjective
293
16 On the Threshold of the Subconscious
303
Copyright

9 Emotion Memory
177

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About the author (1989)

Constantin Stanislavski (1863-1938), arguably the most influential director in the history of the theater, was the founder of the renowned Moscow Art Theater. A pioneer of psychological realism and improvisation on the stage, he devoted his life to developing the performance techniques now emulated throughout the world.

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