Clues to Acting Shakespeare (2^nd Edition)

by Wesley Van Tassel

American actors and students don’t have to fear Shakespeare anymore!

Through a series of inspiring, easy-to-follow exercises, an acclaimed director and drama coach shows both novice and experienced actors how to break down the verse, support the words, understand the images, and use the text to create vibrant, living performances. This popular guide has now been revised and expanded to include the unique challenges facing teachers and their students in performing Shakespeare’s works, as well as time-tested tools for overcoming these obstacles.

Chapters cover all the skills needed for effective delivery: correct breathing, scansion, phrasing, structure and rhythm, caesaura, and more. For text analysis and character interpretation, both classical British training and American methods are explored. In addition to ongoing, long-term practice exercises, the book offers a one-day brush-up section to address immediate concerns of working actors cast to play Shakespearean roles.

“Beautifully conceived and executed. This is the kind of helpful instruction aid, both detailed and clear, for which both students and teachers constantly clamor. Clues to Acting Shakespeare is a no-brainer purchase for acting collections in all libraries.”
—Library Journal

“The scope and quality of this book boggles the mind! It will be an excellent addition to the .eld.”
—Sanford Robbins, director and head, Professional Theater Training Program, University of Delaware