"This work abounds with anecdotes of the eccentricities of celebrated actors, and contains many curious reminiscences connected with the stage for the pat twenty-five years. It also contains a variety of laughable stories and comic scenes, comprising incidents, funny anecdotes, and mirth inspiring adventures." -- Title page, 1853.

Fictional account of an actor's life at the beginning of the 19th century.

Jenna Fischer's Hollywood journey began at the age of 22 when she moved to Los Angeles from her hometown of St. Louis. With a theater degree in hand, she was determined, she was confident, she was ready to work hard. So, what could go wrong? Uh, basically everything. The path to being a professional actor was so much more vast and competitive than she'd imagined. It would be eight long years before she landed her iconic role on The Office, nearly a decade of frustration, struggle, rejection and doubt. If only she'd had a handbook for the aspiring actor. Or, better yet, someone to show her the way—an established actor who could educate her about the business, manage her expectations, and reassure her in those moments of despair. Jenna wants to be that person for you. With amusing candor and wit, Fischer spells out the nuts and bolts of getting established in the profession, based on her own memorable and hilarious experiences. She tells you how to get the right headshot, what to look for in representation, and the importance of joining forces with other like-minded artists and creating your own work—invaluable advice personally acquired from her many years of struggle. She provides helpful hints on how to be gutsy and take risks, the tricks to good auditioning and callbacks, and how not to fall for certain scams (auditions in a guy's apartment are probably not legit—or at least not for the kind of part you're looking for!). Her inspiring, helpful guidance feels like a trusted friend who's made the journey, and has now returned to walk beside you, pointing out the pitfalls as you blaze your own path towards the life of a professional actor.

"Jack Garfein's book is a touching reminder of our early attempts at creating theater without artifice. It is good to know that he is still working hard at it."---Ben Gazzara --

Ever wondered how Ryan Gosling rose to stardom? One of Hollywood’s newest heartthrobs, Ryan Gosling has become somewhat of a mythological figure in the film industry, charming women and making men jealous with his rugged good looks and disarming and apathetic personality. Although the film star has recently struck box office gold with a string of comedy and action hits, the actor has also honed his acting chops through more reserved and awards-worthy performances. All but Gosling’s most hardcore fans forget that the suave actor was once a wide-eyed and goofy child star that struggled to find his way in Hollywood, before finally bursting onto the mainstream scene in 2004’s dreamy romance film The Notebook. For more interesting facts you must read his biography! Grab your biography book now!

This introduction to the history of work in America illuminates the many important roles that men and women of all backgrounds have played in the formation of the United States. A Day in the Life of an American Worker: 200 Trades and Professions through History allows readers to imagine the daily lives of ordinary workers, from the beginnings of colonial America to the present. It presents the stories of millions of Americans—from the enslaved field hands in antebellum America to the astronauts of the modern "space age"—as they contributed to the formation of the modern and culturally diverse United States. Readers will learn about individual occupations and discover the untold histories of those women and men who too often have remained anonymous to historians but whose stories are just as important as those of leaders whose lives we study in our classrooms. This book provides specific details to enable comprehensive understanding of the benefits and downsides of each trade and profession discussed. Selected accompanying documents further bring history to life by offering vivid testimonies from people who actually worked in these occupations or interacted with those in that field.

The Actor's Workbook is an essential workbook for actors, actors in training and teachers of acting and drama. The workbook and video provide a clear, step-by-step guide to learning techniques in acting. The book presents a system of exercises which will develop core acting skills, offers techniques for developing an authored role and models for devising new work. These techniques are based on the practices of Konstantin Stanislavski and his recent theatrical descendants including Uta Hagen, Sanford Meisner, Michael Chekhov and others. The exercises in the book are outlined in a student-centred approach, offering not only in-class exercises, but also pre-class exercises, educational frameworks, teaching-tips, suggested texts through which to apply the work, follow-up exercises and suggestions for further reading in each chapter. Enabling and guiding the actor's sustainable, communicable, believable transformation into an imagined reality, this workbook is filled with powerful and precise acting tools, each underpinned by a rigorous and well-explained philosophy of practice. The Actor's Workbook includes video of the author teaching the exercises, with professional actors demonstrating the techniques to be learned.