The Monologue Audition: A Practical Guide For Actors Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
(Limelight). A founder of the Atlantic Theater Company, where she now teaches, and an acclaimed director, Karen Kohlhaas exposes what auditors are looking for in The Monologue Audition , the first book of its kind to show actors how to stage monologues using specific, step-by-step directing and acting techniques. Applicable to auditions for theaters, agents, casting directors, and training programs, this is an indispensable guide for any actor looking to master their audition approach.
Paperback: 132 pages
Publisher: Limelight Editions; 1st Limelight Ed edition (September 1, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0879102918
ISBN-13: 978-0879102913
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #183,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #181 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theater > Acting & Auditioning #16433 in Books > Humor & Entertainment
As an actor, I have found this book invaluable to my audition process & relative mental well-being.After reading more acting books than I should have, I found this smart amplification of David Mamet's practical aesthetics a page-by-page, step-by-step relief. Much more than Mr. Mamet's book(s), this one transcends theatrical methodology, posturing and/or academic classification.Kohlhaas shares techniques refined through her influential professional work & teaching at the legendary Atlantic Theatre Company. The New York-born ideas apply just as clearly & constructively to auditions here on the West Coast -or anywhere else, I imagine. They're also helpful in audition scene work and cold readings.Taking a step further, this steady examination of the audition -or interview- process provides a winning approach to any and all analogous situations demanding a good first-impression, stand-alone confidence & persuasive communication.Amid such seemingly powerless circumstances, Karen Kohlhaas shows you why and how to give yourself a break & focus on all the things that are still under your command. "Out of this nettle..." etc.etc.I've recommended it to as many non-actors as actors -anyone faced with a public arena which, to borrow from Mr. Mamet, "if turned on its head," will open up paths of self-direction, self-discovery and betterment.
I had the glorious opportunity to study under Karen Kohlhaas for two years at the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School. She is one of the most inspiring individuals you would ever hope to meet; chiefly because of the practicality of her instruction and the confidence she inspires in her students.There is a quality in her cadence, quite well transmitted into her writing, that gives one a remarkable sense of ease.If you, like nearly all aspiring(and successful) actors, hate the audition process, this text can do divers good for your sanity.To paraphrase Ms. Kohlhass, you are either good at auditioning or not, but when you turn so daunting process on its head, it can be made to serve you.If you do not have the opportunity to experience Ms. Kohlhaas' instruction firsthand, this is an essential document.
I am not one to often rant on about many acting subject books, as most of them are pretty much mediocre or a rehashing of the same old information. The only other books I have deemed worth recommending are Glenn Alterman's Promoting Your Acting Career and Judy Kerr's Acting Is Everything. That being said, this is the only auditioning book you will ever really need. Karen Kohlhaas knows her stuff cold. Right from the first couple of pages you can tell she wrote the book in order to inspire and encourage instead of just presenting a method. This is a mark of a great teacher, which you would expect from one of the founders of the Atlantic Theater Company(ATC) and Atlantic Theater School, where she teaches. It is also worth noting that the Atlantic Theater School, which is part of the ATC, is also one of only 8 studios connected with New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. This top conservatory(NYU) is the reason I bought this book. I saw it as a way to give myself a competitive edge with auditions. All in all, having flipped through this book immediately after receiving it, I found it to be a no nonsense must buy audition text. I feel that just in reading the introduction and preface alone(where I am now) you are very much encouraged and relaxed about monologues and it has everything you need to find, stage(block), and perform them.
I've read this book, and taken two classes with the author. Karen is down to earth, approachable, and her techniques are straight forward, easy to assimilate, and make so much sense. Until I read her book and took her class, I had no idea how to direct myself. This book is a must have for any actor. And if you live in the NYC area, take one of her classes!
I highly recommend this book for any actor out there, new or experienced. The knowledge acquired with this read will not just improve your monologue technique, but also your acting in general. Most acting coaches don't teach this, so you'll be ahead of most of them already. Great material! Thank you very much Karen Kohlhaas
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