Acting the Song: Performance Skills for the Musical Theatre »

Tracey Moore is an actress and singer who appeared in the national Broadway tours of Camelot and Ragtime, as well as many other productions. The former head of voice and movement at Florida International University, she lives in New York City.

Allison Bergman, a director, dramaturg, writer, and educator, is a former artistic director of Broadway on Sunset and the cofounder of the West Coast Musical Theater Conference. She lives in New York City.

Acting the Song offers a contemporary, integrated approach to singing in musicals that results in better-trained, smarter performers everyone wants to work with. Directors, teachers of musical theater, and students-including actors, singers, or dancers-will find time-tested advice, exercises, and worksheets for all skill levels. This book guides readers through musical theater elements, classroom workshops, and the world of professional auditions and performances. Chapters cover:

—Singing and acting terminology
—Modern microphone use
—"Legit" singing and belting
—Vocal and physical warm-ups
—Body movement and gesture
—Finding subtext
—Creating a character
—Personalization
—Song structure
—Interpreting music and lyrics
—Risks and spontaneity
—Collaborating with other actors
—Keeping a performance fresh and new

Teachers and students alike will appreciate the sections for beginning, intermediate, and advanced performers. Everyone involved in musical theater, from new students to working professionals, will benefit from this rich resource. Additional teaching materials and downloadable worksheets are available at www.actingthesong.com.

Introduction     vii
The Elements
Overview     1
Voice     3
Expressive Singing
Musical Theatre Style
Microphones
Singing Terminology
Vocal Warm-ups
Suggested Reading
Body     15
Actor Neutral
Protection and Imbalance
Physical Warm-ups
Power and Energy
Gesture and Movement
Suggested Reading
Acting     28
Permission to Play
Storytelling
Given Circumstances
Subtext
The World of the Musical
Acting Terminology
Personalization
Suggested Reading
The Classroom
Overview     41
Workshop One: Beginning     46
Choosing Material
Preparing the Song
Integrating Body and Voice
Finding an Emotional Connection
Acting the Song
Student-as-Character
The Acting Questions
The Impetus to Sing
Suggested Reading
Worksheets
Workshop Two: Intermediate     85
Interpreting Text
The Third Acting Question
More Integration
The Action Score
The Tactic Score
Working from the Want
Worksheets
Workshop Three: Advanced     141
Transitioning from Self to Character
The Fourth Acting Question
Research
Imagination and the Actor's Contribution
The Moment Before in Context
Character Arc
Advanced Integration
Dance Readiness
Risks and Spontaneity
Collaborating with Other Performers
Worksheets
Master Class     187
Some Basics of Diagnosis
Identifying and Addressing Performance Issues     187
Practical Use
Overview     207
Audition     210
Before the Student Enters the Room
Once the Student Is In the Room
After the Student Leaves the Room
The Callback
No Callback
Suggested Reading
Worksheets
Rehearsal     248
A Collaborative Process
The Big Picture
Preparation for Rehearsal
During Rehearsal
The Final Weeks of Rehearsal
Suggested Reading
Worksheets
Performance     279
Strangers in the Room
Physical Care and Stamina
Collaboration, Continued
Understudies, Replacements, and Standbys
Consistency and Keeping it Fresh
Living on Stage
Conclusion     291
Permissions     292
Contributors' Biographies     295
Authors' Biographies     299
www.actingthesong.com     301
Index     302