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An Acrobat of the Heart: A Physical Approach to Acting Inspired by the Work of Jerzy Grotowski
 
 
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An Acrobat of the Heart: A Physical Approach to Acting Inspired by the Work of Jerzy Grotowski [Paperback]

Stephen Wangh (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 19, 2000
A Vintage Original

"The actor will do, in public, what is considered impossible." When the renowned Polish director Jerzy Grotowski began his 1967 American workshop with these words, his students were stunned. But within four weeks they themselves had experienced the "impossible."

In An Acrobat of the Heart, teacher-director-playwright Stephen Wangh reveals how Jerzy Grotowski's physical exercises can open a pathway to the actor's inner creativity. Drawing on Grotowski's insights and on the work of Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, and others, Wangh bridges the gap between rigorous physical training and practical scene and character technique. Wangh's students give candid descriptions of their struggles and breakthroughs, demonstrating how to transform these remarkable lessons into a personal journey of artistic growth. Courageous and compelling, An Acrobat of the Heart is an invaluable resource for actors, directors, and teachers alike.

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An Acrobat of the Heart: A Physical Approach to Acting Inspired by the Work of Jerzy Grotowski + The Empty Space: A Book About the Theatre: Deadly, Holy, Rough, Immediate + Towards a Poor Theatre (Theatre Arts (Routledge Paperback))
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Stephen Wangh is a wonderful acting teacher--. He has distilled his life's study of the actor's body in the creative act into a practical journey for the reader--. Best of all, the book is a useful guide for an actor's daily work in the studio."--Anne Bogart, director

"An indispensable book for anyone studying modern theater--. Stephen Wangh is a master teacher."--Moisés Kaufman, playwright

From the Inside Flap

A Vintage Original

"The actor will do, in public, what is considered impossible." When the renowned Polish director Jerzy Grotowski began his 1967 American workshop with these words, his students were stunned. But within four weeks they themselves had experienced the "impossible."

In An Acrobat of the Heart, teacher-director-playwright Stephen Wangh reveals how Jerzy Grotowski's physical exercises can open a pathway to the actor's inner creativity. Drawing on Grotowski's insights and on the work of Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, and others, Wangh bridges the gap between rigorous physical training and practical scene and character technique. Wangh's students give candid descriptions of their struggles and breakthroughs, demonstrating how to transform these remarkable lessons into a personal journey of artistic growth. Courageous and compelling, An Acrobat of the Heart is an invaluable resource for actors, directors, and teachers alike.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; 1st edition (September 19, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0375706720
  • ISBN-13: 978-0375706721
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Every actor should read this book., December 9, 2000
By 
Damon Navas-Howard (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: An Acrobat of the Heart: A Physical Approach to Acting Inspired by the Work of Jerzy Grotowski (Paperback)
Stephen Wangh, a former student of Grotowski and now a teacher of Experimental theater shares his knowledge in this inspiring and well written book. First of all, I want to say that you really need to have a teacher and be in a group to learn Grotowski's physical acting better. Grotowksi's work can also be very challenging and confussing at times and this book really helps guide you through it. The book follows a group of Stephen Wangh's first students through his training. That is what makes the book better then your average acting text book. You take a journey along with these people while learning the Grotowski method. As an actor I could relate to the actors frustrations and fears and in the book we see them overcome them. The book explains everything from what clothes to wear to voice work. I am glad Wangh added a section at the end of the book about how to deal with and survive acting. Very few people talk about this subject and it needs to be brought up more. I read this book before I was about to start working on a play and it re-inspired me and made me more discplined and focused. Stephen Wang also isn't self centered and basically says that do what you have to do to do the role you're playing good but try this method. The book is very well-thought out and easy to understand. Any actor should read this even if they think they know the Grotowski method.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Teacher with Heart, November 2, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: An Acrobat of the Heart: A Physical Approach to Acting Inspired by the Work of Jerzy Grotowski (Paperback)
Reading An Acrobat of the Heart is the very next best thing to having Stephen Wangh as a professor. The book has a delicate, intuitive approach to acting which is as introspective as it is outwardly provocative. Having been a student of Mr. Wangh I can fully attest to the profound effect this method of exploration has had upon not only my acting, but my knowledge of self. There is something gratifying about a physical and emotional approach to acting that I have never been able to find through either Meisner or sense memory work. An Acrobat of the Heart is like a good cup of tea, you are left a little warmer and a little wiser after.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The (Physical) Acting Bible, May 13, 2009
This review is from: An Acrobat of the Heart: A Physical Approach to Acting Inspired by the Work of Jerzy Grotowski (Paperback)
This is a great find for any actor wishing to find his technique. The book gives a plethora of exercises to free the actor and find the character. The teachings of Jerzy Grotowski were in and of themselves very groundbreaking, but Wangh makes the concepts more teachable while exploring and expanding upon them.
A great tool for a serious actor.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
On the first day of class, the students who have just joined the Experimental Theatre Wing at N.Y.U. enter a long, narrow studio and put down their bags below the north-facing windows. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
exercises corporels, plastique work, vocal choice, scene partner, sounding person, physical choices, acting training, acting teachers, acting work
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Taste of Honey, Top Girls, Tiger Leaps, Pushing Exercise, Dropping-In Plastiques, Image Walks, First Crossing, Lee Strasberg, Sanford Meisner, Weapons Work, Face Tracing, Ryszard Cieslak, Tennessee Williams, Kneeling Backbend, Kristin Linklater, Round-Robin Rivers, Stanley Kowalski, Paper Dolls, Streetcar Named Desire
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