Liberation of the Actor

The artist was once a messenger of the gods. Breathing in, the Greek actor was lifted into a realm of thought and inspiration. And breathing out, the will was strengthened. Can modern actors again become messengers through their own power of description and dramatization?

Anyone with an interest in the spoken word, acting, or the future of the theater in general will welcome this book. The author goes beyond simple character study and interpretation to reexamine the forgotten esoteric aspects of acting. Based on Rudolf Steiner's ideas on speech and drama, Bridgmont provides a new basis for the true liberation of actors today.

C O N T E N T S

Preface
Introduction

1. Where is the Actor?
2. Storytelling, Mime, and Gesture: The Foundation
3. The Body as Instrument
4. Effective Speaking in the Theatre
5. The Wind Machine
6. Discovery of Movement in Speech
7. Six Attitudes in gesture and Speech
8. The Sense of Rhythm and Dynamic Speaking
9. Sound and Sense
10. Epic, Dramatic, and Lyric Moods
11. Exercises for Lyric, Epic, and Dramatic Speaking
12 Deductive Drama

Childhood
Epilogue