William Esper, one of the leading acting teachers of our time, explains and extends Sanford Meisner's legendary technique, offering a clear, concrete, step-by-step approach to becoming a truly creative actor.

Esper worked closely with Meisner for seventeen years and has spent decades developing his famous program for actor's training. The result is a rigorous system of exercises that builds a solid foundation of acting skills from the ground up, and that is flexible enough to be applied to any challenge an actor faces, from soap operas to Shakespeare. Co-writer Damon DiMarco, a former student of Esper's, spent over a year observing his mentor teaching first-year acting students. In this book he recreates that experience for us, allowing us to see how the progression of exercises works in practice. The Actor's Art and Craft vividly demonstrates that good training does not constrain actors' instincts—it frees them to create characters with truthful and compelling inner lives.

William Esper is a graduate of Western Reserve University and the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York City. Bill trained as both actor and teacher under Sanford Meisner. Bill and Sandy worked closely together for 17 years, during which time Bill served as Associate Director of the Playhouses's Acting Department (1973-1976). Bill founded the William Esper Studio in 1965 and the Professional Actor Training Program at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts in 1977. These two schools are renowned for routinely contributing actors of the highest quality to the International stage and screen.

Damon DiMarco earned his M.A. from the Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts under Bill Esper's tutelage. He has acted professionally on stage, screen, and TV and currently teaches acting and directing at Drew University. Damon's other books include, Tower Stories: an Oral History of 9/11; Out of Bounds (with Roy Simmons); and Heart of War: Soldiers' Voices from the Front Lines of Iraq.

Foreward by David Mamet

Prologue

Bill’s Class

ONE — Begin Again — Empty Your Cup

TWO — The First Exercise — Did You Hear What He Said?

THREE — Repition Continues — Did You Really Hear What He Really Said?

FOUR — Developing Concentration

FIVE — How to Justify Absolutely Anything

SIX — Don’t Gird Yourself to Act; Open Yourself to Receive

SEVEN — Objectives and Expectations: Be Careful What You Want

EIGHT — Action Problems: Awaken Your Inner Criminal

NINE — Scene Work: Private Conversations — Approach the Text and Pick Up Your Impulses

TEN — Farewell to Repition: Don’t Do Anything Unless Something Happens to Make You Do It

ELEVEN — Daydreams, Fantasies, and Your Inner Life: Emotional Preparation

TWELVE — Relationships: I Know He’s Your Brother, but Who Is He Really?

THIRTEEN — The Domestic Exercise: How Are Things At Home?

FOURTEEN — The Second Round of Scene Work: Go Deeper into the Text

FIFTEEN — Final Questions: It’s a Wrap. Now Where Do We Go from Here?

Acknowledgments