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Actions: The Actors' Thesaurus
Actors need actions. They cannot act adjectives, they need verbs. This thesaurus of active verbs helps the actor to refine the action-word until they hit exactly the right one to make the action come alive.
158 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 18, 2024
mad useful not too much content wise
March 18, 2013
Forget all of those annoying, confusing books that try to teach you how to act, this is all you need. If you're serious about acting, this is a great investment to make.
June 21, 2020
I took a course called “acting for business professionals” (Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC)- I bought it after learning how important objectives are when it comes to a speaker wanting to reach an audience. If you can’t articulate what you are seeking from your listener. The foundation for communication is on shaky ground. I’m an English teacher and expect to use it often.
October 21, 2021
Worth it for the verbs alone.
December 9, 2025
Actually just a big book of adjectives. It’s useful just not a ton of content to actually take away any information from
November 7, 2021
Agree with a lot of the theories they posit. I found a few confusing but overall, such a great tool for directors and actors.
May 14, 2025
if you are an actor, you need this book.
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December 1, 2025This would've been super helpful if I had studied it prior to performing my scenes
November 8, 2017
If you are a writer and never heard of actioning, then you need this book. This is a thesaurus of transitive verbs. A transitive verb is one that fits in the sentence: He ___ her, or she ___ him, or I ___ you.
In actioning, actors label each line of dialogue in a script with an action they will be doing as they speak the line. So for example. The actor might be saying: Take your umbrella. But if the verb is love - he will say it and act in a loving way. If the verb is compel, he will say it and act in a forcefully way.
Thinking of a transitive verb that the character is doing while writing a section of dialogue or a section of inner thought works the same way - it will add action to your scene.
In actioning, actors label each line of dialogue in a script with an action they will be doing as they speak the line. So for example. The actor might be saying: Take your umbrella. But if the verb is love - he will say it and act in a loving way. If the verb is compel, he will say it and act in a forcefully way.
Thinking of a transitive verb that the character is doing while writing a section of dialogue or a section of inner thought works the same way - it will add action to your scene.
October 21, 2019
A fantastic resource for me, as a student actor. Actioning is a great way to explore the depths of the text and find ways to bring meaning and life to it in a way that speaks to the audience and inspires your castmates to greater reactions. The more you give, the more you get.
August 17, 2007
If you are an actor, you need this book...amazing!
March 3, 2013
I think this is a nice book for actors to have. It is pretty simple, but it was helpful when I was doing character development and finding objectives for a character.
March 19, 2013
ALWAYS useful. I still use this for rehearsals.
November 19, 2013
This is a great reference tool for the on-the-go actor/actress.
March 25, 2015
Invaluable in assisting directors to quickly translate notes into the actor's language. I keep a copy with me on all projects.
May 21, 2015
So many great words, but there are many that I didn't feel were truly actable actions. But many were.
May 21, 2017
I adore this resource as an actor and a director. I constantly come back to this to help myself and my actors stay centered on specific playable actions. A MUST HAVE.
September 6, 2018
Huge help in understand the tools of drama, I certainly haven't mastered it yet.
February 15, 2019
A must have for actors who are working on a script and trying to figure out their characters motives and tactics!
March 25, 2021
This is an awesome, must-have book for any actor/creative.
The more you use it, the better it’ll get. So start using it now!
The more you use it, the better it’ll get. So start using it now!
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June 23, 2021Not really as helpful as I thought it would be. A friend of mine loves it for teaching Improv.
August 31, 2021
A very useful tool for actors & directors
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August 10, 2011Actor? Essential!
March 12, 2023
I use this specifically as a thesaurus. If you want to explore different tactics (or Meisner “doings”), I think this book is an incredibly useful tool.
Your Meisner teacher, including mine, will probably tell you not to get this book (god forbid you use a word that may not have originated from your gut!). But I actually think it’s even MORE powerful with Meisner bc it offers roots for exploration of a more colorful spectrum of doings.
For example, are you sick of saying “You’re laughing” or “You’re relaxed” in repetition? After exploring synonyms, you may find they’re not just laughing, they’re actually delighted or cheerful. Are they relaxed, or are they actually content or cheerful? I think that specificity is incredibly useful and true to Meisner’s goal of “be accurate”. By just reading this spectrum of behaviors on the page, you’ll start feeling and recognizing them in your scene partner and pulling them “from your gut” on stage.
That being said, you can do that with any thesaurus or simple internet search, you definitely don’t need this book at all to play with this.
Your Meisner teacher, including mine, will probably tell you not to get this book (god forbid you use a word that may not have originated from your gut!). But I actually think it’s even MORE powerful with Meisner bc it offers roots for exploration of a more colorful spectrum of doings.
For example, are you sick of saying “You’re laughing” or “You’re relaxed” in repetition? After exploring synonyms, you may find they’re not just laughing, they’re actually delighted or cheerful. Are they relaxed, or are they actually content or cheerful? I think that specificity is incredibly useful and true to Meisner’s goal of “be accurate”. By just reading this spectrum of behaviors on the page, you’ll start feeling and recognizing them in your scene partner and pulling them “from your gut” on stage.
That being said, you can do that with any thesaurus or simple internet search, you definitely don’t need this book at all to play with this.
November 8, 2021
Books used by the Acting Studio of Chicago
1. Audition - Shurtleff
4. Actions: The Actors Thesaurus - Calderone/Loyd-Williams
5. Freeing The Natural Voice - Linklater
6. The Art Of Acting - Stella Adler
7. The Actor And The Target - Donnellan
8. The Intent To Live: Achieving Your True Potential As An Actor - Moss
9. A Practical Handbook For the Actor - Bruder
10. On The Technique of Acting - Chekhov
1. Audition - Shurtleff
4. Actions: The Actors Thesaurus - Calderone/Loyd-Williams
5. Freeing The Natural Voice - Linklater
6. The Art Of Acting - Stella Adler
7. The Actor And The Target - Donnellan
8. The Intent To Live: Achieving Your True Potential As An Actor - Moss
9. A Practical Handbook For the Actor - Bruder
10. On The Technique of Acting - Chekhov
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May 9, 2022i use this everyday bitches!
March 4, 2023
I carry this with me everywhere I go.
July 19, 2023
An actors staple.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews