Acting: From First Audition to Final Bow

by Bruce Carroll

“[A] good book filled with awesome basics for someone who it just getting into the industry.”
~Rafal Cwiok


“A charming introduction to the world of acting. From preparing for auditions to learning about rehearsals and stage setup, this book includes everything you'll need to know for getting into the world of acting.”
~Rebecca


“I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in acting. This books is a great introductory tool if you are exploring the world of acting. The author takes you through each step of the process and gives plenty of details, making it easier for the reader to follow along. He goes through words and terms that are often used when auditioning, rehearsing, and performing. This book will prepare any actor/actress for their big debut!”
~Deena M. Paglini


“The information is solid and the author is a director with 30 years or so under his belt, something not to be passed up.”
~Cy Wyss


Perhaps you saw the notice for auditions at your local community theater and can hardly wait to try out. Or maybe you’ve already been in a production or two and want to take your acting to the next level. Or you could be wondering what the director means when she says things like, “Cross up left,” “Pick up your cues,” or “Cheat out.”


If you are a beginning actor, this is the book for you! Here you will find the advice and tips that will give you an edge over other beginning actors. You’ll learn about stage navigation, performance space and how to develop a character. Here you’ll find the secrets of a memorable audition. Included are exercises to get you off your seat and performing. From the moment you first step “on” in a performance until the echo of your last line has died in the audience’s ears, From First Audition to Final Bow will help you nail the part.

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First published February 10, 2015

Reviews

[Ann Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A charming introduction to the world of acting. From preparing for auditions to learning about rehearsals and stage setup, this book includes everything you'll need to know for getting into the world of acting. It's presented in a clear and easy to read manner. I think this would be a great piece for high schools to give to students who have decided to try out for the play/musical.

[Cy Wyss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acting: From First Audition to Final Bow is a nonfiction book about the process of being involved in a stage play. The author takes you from preparation for your audition (but makes no claims about how you might have found that audition), through rehearsal and the play run, to closure. Afterward, there are chapters with tips and cheats for the stage, and finally a useful glossary worth at least scanning. The book is short which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. It is an advantage because the pace is quick and there is no "fluff" or boredom. It is a disadvantage because you're left wanting more --- more discussion, more frame of reference. References, in fact, are a weak point of the book because there does not appear to be a bibliography. A nonfiction book should at the very least have a list of further reading.

I would still recommend this book to anyone wanting to get into stage plays. The information is solid and the author is a director with 30 years or so under his belt, something not to be passed up. I wished there were more anecdotes from those 30 years, however. They would have added to overall length but would have more than made up for it in terms of making this book appealing to a wider audience. As it is, there is some humor but very little else for the non-specialist. If I had someone I knew who wanted to get into stage acting I would tell them to read this book as a decent, quick start guide, I feel it would be especially appropriate for teens and young adults first getting into acting, for example.

[Rosalind Gibb · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Acting: From First Audition to Final Bow" does exactly what it says on the cover. The author guides the reader through each stage, offering insider tips, anecdotes from his own experiences, and practical exercises at the end of each chapter.

Carroll, a professional magician who has acted in and directed numerous plays in his home state of Louisiana, writes clearly and I enjoyed his engaging, lively tone. He has enough authority to get useful points across, but not to the extent it becomes too highbrow or distant.

I am not a would-be actor, though as a theatregoer I am fascinated by the craft, and I would have loved to discover more about the wider context of the acting world. The odd fact the author threw in, for example why Michael Frayn called his play "Noises Off", was entertaining and I'd have enjoyed more of these.

But as a simple, practical beginner's guide it is a well-written, concise book packed with plenty of useful tips and tricks, plus a glossary.

I received a complimentary copy of the text of this book in exchange for an honest review.