Book Description
• Foreword by Paul Newman
• Completely revised and updated version of a beloved theater classic
• Clear, practical guide to helping kids ages 8 to 18 get a show up and running
The classic Kids Take the Stage is one of the best-selling Back Stage Books of all time. Now Back Stage is proud to present the completely revised and updated second edition of this indispensable guide to getting young people on stage and helping them create their own shows. For teachers, for parents, for budding actors, emerging crew, and incipient directors—this is the book that shows how to get a production up and running...and have fun in the process. Clear and accessible, Kids Take the Stage outlines a systematic approach to staging, complete with basic lessons in acting, relaxation and trust-building exercises, and improvisations. From first read-through to opening night, from butterflies to bravos, this is the perfect book to help young people realize their creative potential.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding Resource!.......2005-07-20
Though I've been a middle school coach for the past 12 years, I still am interested in getting new ideas to get my young actors/ actresses more involved with the drama process. I also taught a 3 week long Creative Drama class this summer with 3rd-5th graders and the many sound ideas in this book gave me a wealth of activities to choose from.
Whether you're a first time Drama Coach or a long in the tooth coach like me, this book is a MUST BUY! I particularly like how the authors used "famous actor" quotes to help back up the many acting activities in this book. I love the chapter entitled "Rehearsals with Heart" because this idea of treating young actors as people with talents to share comes shining through in EACH chapter! The "Leader's Guide" (near the end of the book) lays out a 10 session "suggested" guide for the novice or the veteran drama person to follow (wonderful idea!)
In a nutshell, THIS BOOK ROCKS and I've now got even MORE ideas to use with my kids when the spring production rolls around this year!
Well Done!
Ralph :)
Lenka puts actions into words.......2001-10-03
I read this book after receiving it at a conference that Lenka Peterson spoke at. In reading the book, I realized that she had put most of the information covered in an 8-hour session plus enough to fill another week of 8-hour sessions. The book truly takes actions and in-person teaching lessons and makes them readily available to anyone anywhere.
Helping Young People Discover Theater.......1999-08-19
In this wonderful new book, Lenka Peterson and Dan O'Connor draw on more that 30 years of experience to reveal how to teach and direct plays with children. Their sophisticated yet accessible guide covers everything form the basics of acting to mounting and staging a production. It includes plenty of child-friendly sample scenes and relaxation techniques for kids. Perfect for established children's theater groups as well as churches, schools and camps, Kids Take the Stage shows how we can help kids realize their creative potential...and, in the process, create a new generation of theater lovers.
- Stage and Screen, bookclub of the performing arts
Helping Young People Discover Theater.......1999-08-19
In this wonderful new book, Lenka Peterson and Dan O'Connor draw on more that 30 years of experience to reveal how to teach and direct plays with children. Their sophisticated yet accessible guide covers everything form the basics of acting to mounting and staging a production. It includes plenty of child-friendly sample scenes and relaxation techniques for kids. Perfect for established children's theater groups as well as churches, schools and camps, Kids Take the Stage shows how we can help kids realize their creative potential...and, in the process, create a new generation of theater lovers.
Bravo!.......1999-08-15
This is a magical book, full of exercises and anecdotes that teach children to celebrate what they have to offer as potential artists, but mainly as human beings. I recommend it to anyone who wants to introduce children to acting and the theater. It is joyful, rewarding, wise and a lot of fun to read. Bravo/Brava!
Book Description
This guide provides a thorough examination of the pointe technique and pointe shoes. Dancers tired of their pointe shoes wearing out too quickly benefit from research that illuminates the shoemaking process and tips that show how to best fit, care for, and custom order their shoes. Interviews with ballet stars Martine van Hamel and Darci Kistler reveal their highly evolved but proven methods of caring for pointe shoes. The basics of the pointe technique, different pointe methods, and the history of pointe are discussed. A handy reference on pointe-related injuries and their remedies is included. This new edition offers the latest information on contemporary designs, materials, products, and suppliers. A sampling of pointe technique schools around the country offers an authoritative syllabus for teachers and students alike.
Customer Reviews:
Terrific Guide for Beginning Pointe Dancers, Teachers & Moms .......2007-07-04
This is a great book for teachers or pre-pointe or pointe dancers. Causes you to slow down and really think about what you are teaching and when a dance should go on pointe. My Moms always ask when their daughter will be "ready" Now I have some recommended reading when the simple answers I give are not quite enough for some dancers and parents.
Excellent Resource For Returning Ballerinas.......2007-05-13
The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training & Technique Second Edition
I purchased this book because I am getting back into ballet after several years out due to non-ballet related injuries. I found a lot of useful information, but there were a lot of things that I also wished that the book had included, or had talked more about.
If you have absolutely no experience in ballet, or are not taking any training or don't have an experienced ballerina handy to answer questions, this book is going to be a bit confusing. It is excellent for giving you contact information and company and product reviews for ballet gear providers. However, I did notice that the information contained in the book on some of the companies and their products, particularly regarding pointe shoe sizing, differed markedly from the information provided by the company/manufacturer on their on websites. I would not rely only on the information contained in this book if you are going to purchase pointe shoes using this information. If you are going to order via the internet or mail order, please take the time to either visit a store for a personal fitting, or else contact the manufacturer via telephone, e-mail, or look over their website. Just by chance, I had recently purchased a new pair of pointe shoes by one of the makers listed, and had I used the book's size guide, I would have purchased shoes that were no where near the correct size.
It is an excellent resource for those that are taking class and have instructors to turn to for further explanation, or those that have some degree of en pointe experience. I do wish that the dance sequence sections had been a little more detailed; that section was a big disappointment as I found it was not anywhere near as marvelous as it had been billed.
Overall, there's just no real substitute for an en pointe class with a real, live, knowledgeable instructor in front of you to answer questions. Yet, I wouldn't just write this book off, and I don't think it was a waste to purchase it. It does highlight some good points and information, but it could be a whole lot better--and more complete.
Everything you need to know.......2006-02-27
A really thorough guide to every pointe shoe there is out there, a great history of the technique, and lots of advice on pointe work. A great purchase for anyone interested in pointe work, but there's perhaps so much information on different shoes that it could be confusing for beginners.
A remarkable manual and examination of ballet dancing .......2004-11-13
Now in a new and expanded second edition, The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training, & Technique is a remarkable manual and examination of ballet dancing pointe shoes, and the methodologies used by professionals. Choreographic experts Barringer and Schlesinger apply their years of knowledge and personal experience in the world of fitting and training with pointe shoes to matter-of-factly present how dedicated and athletic individuals achieve remarkable feats of grace and balance. Packed with detail, The Pointe Book is as comprehensive as can be covering everything from different types of shoes to the hazards of learning to walk on one's toes to resources for help with pointe-related injuries and much more. Highly recommended for anyone with a professional or casual interest in the world of ballet.
The pointe book.......2004-07-30
I have found this book very interesting to read, and somewhat helpful. The book is American based which means that not all the information is relevant to an Australian reader such as myself. The second half of the book presents detailed pointe classes which are very helpful, but if you are not familiar with all the terminology you will need a ballet dictionary to use the information. Over all I have found this book interesting and helpful from a student point of view but also think it would be a good read for anyone who loves ballet.
Book Description
The more than 70 dance activities included in this handbook give educators the tools to use dance in their classrooms, gyms, and playgrounds. Combining theory with practice, this introduction to dance history and terminology provides a foundation for the lesson plans tailored for physical education, kinesthetic learning, and arts education contexts. Although complete on their own, each lesson plan can be customized to fit into any curriculum. Appendices on equipment and dance-education networking resources are included, along with a specialized index categorized into age-appropriate dance activities, sample lesson plans, and group dances.
Customer Reviews:
A little inaccessible, but very helpful.......2000-09-25
I bought this book looking for some help in making basic Classical and Romantic tutus. The book is dominated by illustrations, and the instructions could have been written a little more clearly -- but after re-reading them very carefully, I decided that all the information I wanted was actually there. It's just a little inaccessible.
The book describes how to make basic garments (tutus, leotards, etc.) without a pattern, and then has lots of illustrations to show how you might modify them for particular styles and dances. So, to get any use out of this book, you'll need to buy some cheap material, and draft your own patterns with the help of the book and perhaps a little trial and error. If you absolutely have to be provided with a proper pattern, you'll need to look elsewhere for it. Even so, the example illustrations may be helpful in adapting a basic costume to suit a particular dance, once you've obtained the basic pattern elsewhere.
The content of the book is just as old as I am -- first published in 1975 -- which is probably why Lycra (tm) isn't mentioned in the book at all! So if you're determined to use Lycra, you'll have to figure out for yourself what differences it will make to the design and construction.
Overall, this is a very good book which could really use a new revision to take account of new materials, and to make the text a little more accessible.
How to dress dancers: how do you dress dancers?.......2000-06-15
I went to the library to get this book out when I needed to make costumes for my daughters dance recital. It was an amatuer production of Swan Lake; so I needed some help making the classical tutus. Unfortunately, the book hrdly helped at all. The pictures and/or instructions were very hard to understand, and Iam no oaf so I do understand a lot. But this? I didn't understand at all. They did have some very nice ideas for costumes, I thought.
Book Description
A detailed guide for parents of children (ages 5-18) on entering the wonderful world of acting.
Customer Reviews:
great starter book!!.......2006-08-13
I bought this book because my little brother decided that he wanted to enter this crazy industry and become an actor. I bought it because it never hurts to have a guide to look back at, plus, maybe there was some info in regards to kids that I already did not know. This is a great book. That only reason I gave it a four is because I did not really learn something new, but then again, I plan on working in the entertainment industry once I graduate so I already know alot in regards to breaking into it. But it is a great book. Also, it's an easy ready. Seriously, I read it in less than 45 minutes (and that's with me watching tv at the same time).
A Must For Parents And Kids Alike.......2003-04-22
I Have been in show buisness for over 20 years, and my greatest fear has always been parents [paying too muchy for] acting teachers, photograghers and agents. This book will prevent that from happening. And save you many hours of frustration and regret. If your starting out, and even if you've been at it a while, this book is a MUST. Simple and straight forward.
Right on the MONEY!.......2003-04-12
As the mother of a young performer and a producer and performer myself, I am familiar with all the pitfalls, perils and pluses of having a child in "the biz". Lucia has accurately addressed the most important issues and then some. This is a MUST READ for anyone contemplating getting their child started in the business. Run, do not walk and buy this book. This book is easy to understand and covers all the major topics needed to make good decisions. Thank you Lucia it is about time someone wrote this book!!
Acting Up: How to Get Your Kid in the Biz.......2003-04-05
This is a great resource for parents whose kids are eager to tap into their talents. In detailed and nicely organized chapters, it covers everything from how to deal with your child's aspirations and dreams in the business world to how to find and deal with representation. It's comprehensive, easy to follow and most importantly, stresses the "fun" factor for kids. Stage moms beware! This is a MUST READ for every parent with a future star in the family or a very expressive child.
Great How To!.......2003-03-07
This great "how to" book provides the information you need to get your children into show business. Clear, succinct information....and forms to walk you through your own experience.
Customer Reviews:
Great teacher resource.......2005-05-24
This book offers short audition and workshop scenes for elementary and middle school students. Scenes can also generate some good discussion sessions related to problems young people deal with everyday - moving, winning and losing, divorce, death in the family, etc.
Yuck!.......2001-08-13
I found the monologues to be very immature and boring in this book. I couldn't even finish it, because it was so lame. Fairbanks should stick to acting and not writing.
This is a great book if you're looking for short monolouges........1999-01-06
This is an awsome book if you're looking for a short monolouge. The selection is really good and it has monlouges that can apply to both girls and boys. There are dramatic and comedy scences in here. This book is great for young actors.
Book Description
Lots of kids want to be actors. Thousands of them. Millions of them. The ones who are serious need a copy of Acting A to Z. Industry insider Katherine Mayfield explains exactly what it’s like to be an actor, including what kind of training the young person will need, comparisons of the different types of acting, how to find work, how to prepare for an audition, and what to expect during rehearsal. There’s also tons of helpful information on unions, casting directors, headshots, resumes, and much more. Reassuring without being patronizing, Acting A to Z is the one book that every aspiring child actor needs.
Customer Reviews:
Great!.......2004-07-13
I've been doing a lot of searching online about acting. I found some but I decided to get a book which I hoped would be more trutful and more exact. Well, it was! It gave information about a LOT of stuff. It seemed to be more about theater then movie acting but it was still a great book! Recommended reading: 12-20
Good introduction.......2004-07-05
I received this book as a gift. I had already been acting for a while, so some of the subjects I was already aware of. The book is a relatively quick read, but enjoyable. It covers basic things, like headshots, resumes, etc. I was most impressed by a small list of colleges with an excellent performing arts program. It covers a lot of topics, but nothing too thoroughly--like I said, a good beginner's book to open up the world of acting to someone who is unfamiliar with it. If you are looking for an in-depth history, technique, etc., this is not a wise choice. This is a fun book overall, and it definitely covers a lot of material.
basic.......2002-12-28
Helpful but basic
If your looking for a little more humor and an easy to follow proactive guide with sound information try picking up a copy of Twelve Step Plan to Becoming an Actor in LA. It has been the top pick in NY this winter.
Sandy Lopez
NY
Great book for beginning actors.......2001-09-01
I thought that this was a great book. Some stuff was really stuff that you would already probably know if you were serious about acting but I guess it's an ok book for beginners. It did help me a little.
A good book for aspiring actors.......2001-01-18
This book is pretty good. Some of the chapters were a little off the subject, but for the most part this is a must-have.
This book takes you step by step, through the whole process. It tells you how to present your resume, what type of photo's you should have made of yourself, and how much it will cost to be a working actor.
The second chapter, "BASIC TOOLS OF THE ACTOR" tells how you can use your body as your tools. The book lists warm up exercises that you can do to prepare yourself for an audition or play. There are vocal exercises and more.
In the tenth chapter it tells how some agents and casting directors like to scam amuater actors. It tells how to avoid them and how to get out of a situation like that. It says to trust your feelings when you feel uncomfortable about something. You should get this book if you want to know how to begin acting.
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Acting & Auditioning
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On Stage: Theater Games and Activities for Kids
101 Drama Games for Children: Fun and Learning with Acting and Make-Believe (SmartFun Activity Books)
Break a Leg!: The Kid's Guide to Acting and Stagecraft
Show Time: Music, Dance, and Drama Activities for Kids
101 More Drama Games for Children: New Fun and Learning with Acting and Make-Believe (SmartFun Activity Books)
