#39: My favorites are the alligator and the Panama Canal
Thursday 8/22/24
Today we are going to focus on some favorites! I’ve compiled my favorite books, resources, websites, and even some VERY specific videos for you! Enjoy :)
#1 and the BEST, the MOST, the HBIC - “TIPS: IDEAS FOR ACTORS” by Jon Jory.
This book is how I conduct my whole life as an actor and a coach. I revisit it for nearly every show I do. I think I’m on my 10th copy since 2001. I use it as a workbook/journal even through it is a regular book haha. It’s also great if you are someone like me who has zero reading comprehension skills or always skimmed chapters to get key ideas and then read the last paragraph. Each page is it’s own “tip”. Want to reconnect to tactics? Great… see page whatever. You can also get this at the Drama Book Shop. GREAT gift for any actor for birthdays, holidays, graduations, or just because. There are other versions of “TIPS” like Tips: Teaching the Actor Craft, TIPS: Ideas for Directors, TIPS: Ideas for Auditioning
#2: Music Fundamentals for Musical Theatre EXCELLENT EVERYONE SHOULD OWN! This book offers a series of lessons in music fundamentals, including theory, sight-singing and aural tests, giving readers the necessary skills to navigate music and all that is demanded of them, without having had a formal music training. It focuses on the skills required of the musical theatre performer and draws on musical theatre repertoire in order to connect theory with practice. Plus a website to accompany!
#3: Non-Glare Sheet Protectors for AUDITION BINDER! These are the ones you want. They are top load and have a little texture. For some reason these are so hard to find in a store.
#4: Post-It Tabs These are the best ones to use for your AUDITION BINDER. They are thick and not made of actual post-it paper. They are sturdy and long! You can write in nice marker lengthwise and move the tab wherever you move your music. The regular post-it paper ones feel like “one time use”. Just trust me here. Use these lol.
#5: HEAVY DUTY RING LIGHT I have done the leg work with ring lights ok. I’ve had small ones, tall ones, all of varying prices. This one is NO CONTEST the best. It’s like $70ish instead of $20… but I went through 5 or 6 $20 ones and should’ve just purchased a good one to begin with. Great gift or essential tool for any actor or student. Comes with a carrying case.
#6: New Play Exchange - great resource I believe $12-$15 for the year - free downloads of most plays.
#7: Company - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable I loved this chaotic roundtable discussion that includes Raul Esparza and Lonny Price on COMPANY.
#8: Stephen Sondheim introduces COMPANY (1972, London) The man himself on COMPANY! Sorry for 2 Company videos - I just love hearing him talk and hearing people talking ABOUT Company.
#9: West Side Story Symposium with Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins If you’ve got 70 minutes to listen. The greats. The titans.
Dreams Don’t Die
Julie