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Musical Theatre Acting: A Practical Guide
"Musical Theatre Acting is a practical and handy resource to supplement classes and to peruse on one’s own, even in the waiting room before an audition."
- Booklist
Musical theatre performers are akin to Olympic athletes. They need finely tuned minds, bodies, and spirits to perform at a high level, in some cases up to eight times a week. JV Mercanti has trained countless emerging performers in Pace University’s acclaimed Musical Theatre program. His teachings take readers through a journey of mind, body, and spirit as a way of engaging the full self when it comes to creating a performance. His extensive knowledge covers everything from script analysis and character research to auditions and rehearsals.
Musical Theatre A Practical Guide serves as a guide to the musical theatre artist, student, or professional who needs a refresher on how to hone and sharpen their skills while honoring their interpretation of the material. This is a short and accessible roadmap for the performer who knows that success in musical theatre means being part of storytelling that is wholistic and incredible.
Musical theatre performers are akin to Olympic athletes. They need finely tuned minds, bodies, and spirits to perform at a high level, in some cases up to eight times a week. JV Mercanti has trained countless emerging performers in Pace University’s acclaimed Musical Theatre program. His teachings take readers through a journey of mind, body, and spirit as a way of engaging the full self when it comes to creating a performance. His extensive knowledge covers everything from script analysis and character research to auditions and rehearsals.
Musical Theatre A Practical Guide serves as a guide to the musical theatre artist, student, or professional who needs a refresher on how to hone and sharpen their skills while honoring their interpretation of the material. This is a short and accessible roadmap for the performer who knows that success in musical theatre means being part of storytelling that is wholistic and incredible.
192 pages, Paperback
Published November 5, 2024
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May 5, 2025
As a pretty novice actor with a life-long passion for musical theatre I found this book to be both encouraging and informative. I've never received formal training in musical theatre acting so to have a manual with simple practices that anyone could incorporate into their process is extremely helpful. Using his experience as a Broadway director Mercanti provides the reader with a framework through which to view the craft of musical theatre acting. Furthermore, he describes methods and approaches that can refine or deepen "the work." I also found the tone of the book to be kind and inviting to all actors wherever they are on their path.
Mercanti opens the book by describing being a young person who saw his first Broadway show-and like all theatre kids- caught the love bug. Throughout the book he repeatedly stresses that no matter who are and where you come from, you have a unique perspective and a valuable contribution to make to the world of musical theatre. I think this desire to make musical theatre more accessible to people from all walks of life is most exemplified in the chapter titled "Etiquette." Mercanti offers a considerable list of straightforward rules on how to conduct oneself in a theatre working environment. This would be particularly helpful to readers who are green like me and just starting out on their journey :)
Mercanti opens the book by describing being a young person who saw his first Broadway show-and like all theatre kids- caught the love bug. Throughout the book he repeatedly stresses that no matter who are and where you come from, you have a unique perspective and a valuable contribution to make to the world of musical theatre. I think this desire to make musical theatre more accessible to people from all walks of life is most exemplified in the chapter titled "Etiquette." Mercanti offers a considerable list of straightforward rules on how to conduct oneself in a theatre working environment. This would be particularly helpful to readers who are green like me and just starting out on their journey :)
Displaying 1 of 1 review