The Actor's Scenebook Scenes and Monologues From Contemporary Plays

by Schulman, Michael; Mekler, Eva

• ISBN13: 9780553263664
• ISBN10: 0553263668
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1984-05-01
• Publisher: Bantam

Summary

Here is wonderful, up-to-date material for scene study, selected from the best plays from recent theater seasons. More than 20 monologues for both men and women, carefully chosen to display the widest range of dramatic ability, are essential for auditioning actors. A large selection of parts for woman provide exciting opportunities to sharpen acting skills in roles that brought accolades from New York's toughest critics. More than 80 scenes in all, many previously unpublished, allow every actor, professional, amateur or student, to choose from either smart, sassy, often outrageous comedy or deeply moving dramaa unique, balanced collection of the most successful contemporary plays. 84 fully playable scenes with story notes. Monologues from the best new playsincluding Agnes of God, Sly Fox, Key Exchange and Nuts. The best contemporary selection of scenes for womenmore than 50 in all.

Author Biography

Having taught acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and at The Actors Studio, Michael Schilman now teaches at his own workshop in New York City. He has also written and directed a number of plays for Off and Off-Off Broadway theatre. He is director of The British-American Acting Academy, a school with braches in New York and London, dedicated to the synthesis of the best of British and American acting techniques. He is also chairman of the theatre department of The Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts. In addition to his theatrical career, he is a clinical and research psychologist who has held assistant professorship at Fordham and Rutgers universities. His Ph.D. is from the City University of New York.

Eva Mekler is both a playwright and former actress who has performed on and off Broadway. Trained in psychology, with master’s degree from New York University, she devides her time between her work as a clinician and writing. She is also editor of The new Generation of Acting Teachers.

Table of Contents

Overcoming Stage Fright	xiii
Scenes for One Man and One Woman
Barefoot in the Park	3	(9)
Neil Simon
Talley's Folley	12	(6)
Lanford Wilson
California Suite	18	(7)
Neil Simon
Key Exchange	25	(4)
Kevin Wade
The Prisoner of Second Avenue	29	(7)
Neil Simon
Romantic Comedy	36	(5)
Bernard Slade
The Dresser	41	(4)
Ronald Harwood
Whose Life is it Anyway?	45	(3)
Brian Clark
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	48	(7)
Edward Albee
The Woolgatherer	55	(4)
William Mastrosimone
Betrayal	59	(4)
Harold Pinter
Vieux Carre	63	(5)
Tennessee Williams
Bedroom Farce	68	(4)
Alan Ayckbourn
Table Settings	72	(3)
James Lapine
The Collector	75	(5)
David Parker
Duet For One	80	(9)
Tom Kempinski
Hopscotch	89	(6)
Israel Horovitz
The American Clock	95	(3)
Arthur Miller
Modigliani	98	(6)
Dennis McIntyre
Anne of the Thousand Days	104	(4)
Maxwell Anderson
Awake and Sing!	108	(3)
Clifford Odets
Caligula	111	(3)
Albert Camus
Waiting for Lefty	114	(5)
Clifford Odets
Jimmy Shine	119	(5)
Murray Schisgal
The Runner Stumbles	124	(4)
Milan Stitt
Gigi	128	(3)
Anita Loos
Ondine	131	(3)
Jean Giraudoux
Come Back, Little Sheba	134	(4)
William Inge
Innocent Thoughts, Harmless Intentions	138	(7)
John Heuer
Scenes for Two Women
Agnes of God	145	(3)
John Pielmeir
Crimes of the Heart	148	(4)
Beth Henley
The Gingerbread Lady	152	(7)
Neil Simon
Uncommon Women and Others	159	(2)
Wendy Wasserstein
On Golden Pond	161	(5)
Ernest Thompson
Album	166	(6)
David Rimmer
A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking	172	(4)
John Ford Noonan
Lunch Hour	176	(5)
Jean Kerr
Table Manners (from The Norman Conquests)	181	(9)
Alan Ayckbourn
The Great Nebula in Orion	190	(3)
Lanford Wilson
A Delicate Balance	193	(3)
Edward Albee
Laundry and Bourbon	196	(6)
James McLure
Once a Catholic	202	(4)
Mary O'Malley
My Sister Eileen	206	(4)
Joseph A. Fields
Jerome Chodorov
Everything in the Garden	210	(5)
Edward Albee
Everybody Loves Opal	215	(5)
John Patrick
My Cup Ranneth Over	220	(6)
Robert Patrick
The Faculty Lounge	226	(4)
Michael Schulman
Teach Me How to Cry	230	(5)
Patricia Joudry
Scenes for Two Men
Chapter Two	235	(4)
Neil Simon
True West	239	(4)
Sam Shepard
Mass Appeal	243	(5)
Bill C. Davis
Say Goodnight, Gracie	248	(5)
Ralph Pape
Da	253	(4)
Hugh Leonard
Geography of a Horse Dreamer	257	(4)
Sam Shepard
G. R. Point	261	(4)
David Berry
Loose Ends	265	(3)
Michael Weller
Lone Star	268	(5)
James McLure
Scapino!	273	(4)
Frank Dunlop
Jim Dale
Galileo	277	(4)
Bertolt Brecht
Mr. Roberts	281	(4)
Thomas Heggen
Joshua Logan
Luther	285	(5)
John Osborne
Teahouse of the August Moon	290	(4)
John Patrick
The Andersonville Trial	294	(5)
Saul Levitt
Scene for Three Characters (and a Narrator)
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby	299	(8)
David Edgar
Charles Dickens
Monologues for Women
A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur	307	(1)
Tennessee Williams
Agnes of God	308	(1)
John Pielmeier
The West Side Waltz	309	(2)
Ernest Thompson
Nuts	311	(1)
Tom Topor
Death Comes to us All, Mary Agnes	312	(1)
Christopher Durang
Stops Along the Way	313	(2)
Jeffrey Sweet
A Sea of White Horses	315	(1)
Peter Dee
The Faculty Lounge	316	(2)
Michael Schulman
It's been Wonderful	318	(2)
John Patrick
Love is a Time of Day	320	(1)
John Patrick
Waiting for the Parade	321	(4)
John Murrell
Monologues for Men
Sly Fox	325	(1)
Larry Gelbart
Key Exchange	326	(1)
Kevin Wade
Indians	327	(1)
Arthur Kopit
Lone Star	328	(1)
James McLure
Still Life	329	(2)
Emily Mann
Romantic Comedy	331	(1)
Bernard Slade
The Faculty Lounge	332	(2)
Michael Schulman
Fathers and Sons	334	(1)
Thomas Bade
Teach Me How to Cry	335	(2)
Patricia Joudry
A Prayer for My Daughter	337
Thomas Babe