An Actor's Task: Engaging the Senses

An Actor's Task: Engaging the Senses

An Actor's Task provides a framework for studying the dual arts of acting: inhabiting a character both physically and psychologically. Actors at all levels can use this book to explore, develop, and review the sensory tools and training that enable them to be the best versions of themselves and, ultimately, to bring that understanding of "self" to their art. Innovative new exercises and selected classics--updated for today's students--comprise more than 100 exercises. Introductions to each exercise explain its aims and benefits. Clear step-by-step prompts provide guidance. Debriefing sections engage actors in reflection on what they have experienced and learned. This inspired text is equally suited to classroom use and individual study. "Through a series of engaging exercises, this book filters out the complexities of various acting techniques and offers up an appealing hands-on approach." --Tonya Pinkins, Tony Award-winning actress "Directors, teachers, and aspiring performers will find Baron Kelly's  An Actor's Task: Engaging the Senses  full of both innovative and familiar acting exercises. . . . Kelly pulls from numerous foundational acting coaches including Constantin Stanislavsky, Sanford Meisner, Uta Hagen, and Michael Chekhov. The result is a handy guide to turn to when seeking inspiration or fleshing out lesson plans. Part performance manual, part instructor toolbox,  An Actor's Task  is a convenient reference tool for any theater practitioner.      "Kelly presents over 100 neatly packaged and thoroughly explicated exercises for the actor. Complex concepts such as breath control, emotional memory, and concentration, and imagination are explored systematically and succinctly. . . . At the end of each exercise, Kelly poses what he refers to as 'self-monitoring' questions.       "Kelly's focus on self-monitoring sets his book apart from similar works such as  A Practical Handbook for the Actor . A clear and concise focus on studio-style activities grounds Kelly's book in the classic actor training style.      " An Actor's Task  affords opportunities for actors both diving into initial exploration and those looking to enhance existing skill-sets. Kelly's book is engaging, informative, and thoroughly useful." —Melissa Miller, in  Methods: A Journal of Acting Pedagogy Baron Kelly is an internationally recognized critic, historian, practitioner, and scholar. In addition to his long list of acting and directing credits, he is Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and Director of the African American Theatre Program at the University of Louisville.