Notes to an Actor - by Ron Marasco (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Do you have any notes for me?" Actors always ask for notes on their performance, and they will take them from just about anyone. Ron Marasco's Notes to an Actor grew out of the actor's profession. In his years as an actor, scholar

Book Synopsis

"Do you have any notes for me?" Actors always ask for notes on their performance, and they will take them from just about anyone. Ron Marasco's Notes to an Actor grew out of the actor's profession. In his years as an actor, scholar, and teacher of acting, Mr. Marasco found that most acting books were either outdated classics that were rarely read, or quasi-textbooks that actors only "skimmed." So he developed Notes to an Actor, a compact, user-friendly book geared specifically to the way actors work. The book is based on the innovative idea that notes, given one on one, are the essential tool of creative learning.

Review Quotes

"It is, hands down, the best book I have ever read on the art of acting...the writing is direct, smart, brief, and practical." --Kelly Younger, Kellyyounger.net

"I think this is the best book on acting I've ever read." --Kirk Douglas

"Ron's advice and tools on acting are incredibly astute, thought provoking, refreshing, and inspiring. I wish I'd had this book in my back pocket before many an audition." --Neve Campbell, star of The Company

"Notes to an Actor is inspiring, transforming and absolutely fun. This brilliant book will be a cherished favorite of actors and artists until the last star falls from the sky." --Beth Henley, Pullitzer Prize-winning playwright

"Finally, the definitive book on acting. Ron Marasco will make you a better actor!" --Patricia Clarkson, two-time Emmy Award Winner and Academy Award Nominee

"Notes to an Actor is a conversation with an actor about his art, filled with insight and great stories. It is the best summary of notes for someone looking to be a truly 'complete' actor." --Colin Hanks, star of Orange County and King Kong

"Hands down, the best book I have ever read on the art of acting and actually gave me a lot to think about as a playwright. The writing is direct, smart, brief, and practical. Even better, there are no long stories about the author's acting career or personal anecdotes that read like an autobiography rather than a guidebook. It's organized by topics actors (and writers) really want to understand. Can't recommend it highly enough." --Kelly Younger, award-winning playwright, author of I Think You Think I Love You, and member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre and Dramatists

"This is a helpful book for both actors and directors at every skill level. It tells them where to go and, most importantly, how to get there." --Bernard Sahlins, author of Days and Nights at The Second City

"Ron Marasco is everything a young actor could want in a coach, a director, or a guru. His advice is practical and broad-ranging, his experience is extensive, and his stories about the business are often very funny. Notes to an Actor is a smart, useful, and even wise guide for living the actor's life." --Curt Columbus, Artistic director of the Trinity Repertory Company

"Truly unique among acting resources...an insightful, invaluable, and definitive work....Essential." --Choice Reviews

"There certainly is no shortage of books on acting, but Ron Marasco's Notes to an Actor takes a different approach than most. Notes to an Actor reads like a conversation between a director and actor, making it a more enjoyable read than most acting books. Highly recommended." --Stage-Direction.Com

"The most practical book about acting that I have ever read....while it looks to be very useful to an actor, it is also fascinating for anyone who attends the theater...a great, simple read." --Maria Knapp, About.Com

"Useful both to those seeking to further their development as actors and to those for whom acting has long been a profession, this is an insightful, invaluable, and definitive work." --Choice Reviews

"A witty, easy-to-read compilation of all the essential acting tips and tools that every actor should carry in his or her back pocket." --Instantcast Blog

About the Author

Ron Marasco is an actor, director, and chairman of the theatre department at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He has written for the movies and as an actor has appeared in films and television shows.