Audition: Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part [Paperback]

Michael Shurtleff (Author), Bob Fosse (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003

The casting director for Chicago, Pippin, Becket, Gypsy, The Graduate, the Sound of Music and Jesus Christ Superstar tells you how you can find your dream! Absolutely everything an actor needs to know to get the part is here: What to do that moment before, how to use humour; create mystery; how to develop a distinct style; and how to evaluate the place, the relationships and the competition. In fact, Audition is a necessary guide to dealing with all the "auditions" we face in life. This is the bible on the subject.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What a book! Yet it's so simple that you learn without feeling it happen. Thank you, Michael; we needed it."—Joshua Logan --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Michael Shurtleff has been casting director for Broadway shows like Chicago and Becket and for films like The Graduate and Jesus Christ Superstar. His legendary course on auditioning has launched hundreds of successful careers. Now in this book he tells the all-important HOW for all aspiring actors, from the beginning student of acting to the proven talent trying out for that chance-in-a-million role!

"What a book! Yet it's so simple that you learn without feeling it happen. Thank you, Michael; we needed it."--Joshua Logan --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 187 pages
• Publisher: Walker & Company (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802772404
• ISBN-13: 978-0802772404
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,663 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theater

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most critical must read, June 7, 2001

By 

J. Remington "John Remington" (Adams, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Audition (Mass Market Paperback)

Whether one is an actor, director, writer or teacher, Shurtleff's book is simply a critical must read. Shurtleff who spent many years as a top casting director possessed an absolute love for the brave souls who dare to place themselves on the stage. His ultimate legacy to his beloved craft is this indispensable "How To" bible.

Much has been written already about his twelve guideposts, and I have nothing new to add to those already glowing (and well deserved) comments. What I did find most illuminative and refreshing is his comments on how to behave at the job interview. It is in this chapter that this book becomes helpful to even the non actor. In this chapter/section, Shurtleff urges all people to realize that ultimately the pressure in the job interview is on the employer and that a good prospect will immediately put the interview board at ease. All too often actors become so self centered and fail to realize that their performance is really about their audience, not them. The same is true therefore of the job interview. It is about the employer, not the employee.

As a teacher, Audition has been most helpful to me as it has provided objective certainty to an area filled with far too many subjective judgements. In other words, Shurtleff has helped define the skills and tasks necessary to train actors in a manner that will help them transition successfully from the educational venue to the professional market. He has given us clear, active objectives to teach toward.

In Audition, Shurtleff articulates what constitutes good, effective acting. Once that becomes defined clearly, then success becomes not a nebulous ideal, but rather a concrete proposition.

If this is not in your theatre library, it is time you add it now.

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It works. It creates actors. It simply works., February 4, 2003

By 

Brian's Dad (Los Gatos, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Audition: Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part (Paperback)

I had no acting experience. None. Not even in school plays.

I got into acting on a lark, as a hobby. I had been studying and auditioning for about three years with no success, and very little progress.

An instructor recommended this book. I read it, and then read it again. All of a sudden, things that had been drilled in my head during acting classes finally started to make sense. Within the following 6 months, my skills grew in a series of leaps, and I began booking at auditions. Not a lot, not yet. But the sudden increase in my abilities was astounding.

I am still not a great actor. But this book helped me get out of the "student" mode and into the "working" mode. Well worth it.

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've nearly worn my copy out with use!, May 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Audition (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is an INVALUABLE resource. And I'm not a traditional actor, I'm an opera singer. I had to read this for a class on (what else?) auditioning, and loved it so much that I finished it the first day of class. Shurtleff's 12 Guideposts, carefully applied to just about any performance (I use them for arias, art songs, etc), can help create something nuanced and fascinating. As if the guideposts weren't enough, Shurtleff gives wonderful ideas on the nitty-gritty of auditions (how to present your past experience, what to wear, etc). I just can't say enough good about this book. When I perform an operatic scene that I've run through the 12 guideposts, I get comments like, "You're a great actress! You really have a theatrical flair!" Boy, does that feel good. I'd give this thing six stars if I could. I hate to even tell other people about this book, because then everyone can gain my edge.