Acting Action

"A book for breakthroughs! It presents comprehensive techniques and tools with warmth and humanity; myriad diagnostic and performative keys are shared in a thoughtful, approachable, and deeply relatable manner. A compelling read that translates into practical, dynamic touchstones for building an active and fulfilling craft--all illuminated by the joy the author so clearly finds in delving into the ineluctable, elusive magic of stage and screen performance.--Kathleen Chopin, Emmy Award-winning casting director A comprehensive and clear-eyed distillation of some of the core tenets of acting technique, O'Gorman's primer beautifully demystifies the craft for young actors. Finally someone has re-articulated some of the substantial contributions of Lloyd Richards and Earle Gister to our understanding of what acting is. This is an important addition to the canon of material for actors in training.--Gregory Wallace, Lloyd Richards Professor in the Practice of Acting, Yale School of Drama Acting Action: A Primer for Actors is a gem! O'Gorman distills such complex information into learn-able (and teach-able) bites. The result is a delicious meal for anyone who wants a real technique to guide his or her path to artistry as an actor.--Mary Lou Belli, Emmy Award-winning television director Hugh O'Gorman has pulled together his lifetime of experience as actor and acting teacher--not to mention as a soccer player--into a wonderfully comprehensive, eminently readable book on acting in general, and on acting training and work on scene and character. The synthesis between Stanislavsky, Earle Gister, and Michael Chekhov is truly remarkable, and the progression of the exercises is just right. It is a tremendously rewarding treasure house of professional guidance for actors, teachers, and directors alike.--David Zinder, international theatre director and author of ""Body, Voice, Imagination"" I wish I'd had this book when I started teaching acting thirty years ago. Hugh O'Gorman is omnivorous. I've never known someone so hungry to understand--and explain in the most practical terms--acting technique and training from every possible angle. He's read everything remotely related to the field, and he's developed an approach to training that's broadly comprehensive and cohesive, analytical and intuitive--one that honors the wisdom of master teachers, many of whom he's studied with. Acting Action is practically its own syllabus. In 10 chapters, its author lays out every aspect of actor preparation--all adding up to a highly effective approach to playing action onstage. This book is one-stop-shopping for teachers of acting.--Amy Herzberg, associate artistic director, TheatreSquared, co-executive director, National Alliance of Acting Teachers, Distinguished Professor, Head of MFA Acting, University of Arkansas"