5 Technique Books that EVERY Actor Needs Now

Written by Michelle Evans

February 9, 2018

As a director, teacher, and private acting coach, I am always looking for ways to help my students connect with their work. With so many acting techniques out there, it can be confusing for a student to know what techniques they should start with. Though I could give you a list of 30+ books to read and study, below are the 5 “must have” books that every actor should read. These books will not only give you a comprehensive acting foundation, but they are easy to read and understand and can be relevant to your career. So, if you don’t have one or any of these book in your library, hop on over to the bookstore or online and grab your copy today. Your acting career will thank you!

The Complete Stanislavski Tooklit by Bella Merlin

For most people deciding to train in acting, their road often begins with Stanislavski. His book, An Actor Prepares, is a theatrical staple and can often leave students a little confused on exactly how to apply his teachings to their craft. That is where The Complete Stanislavski Toolkit comes in handy. This book, by Bella Merlin, is not only an easier read, but more applicable for today’s theatrical students looks to start a solid acting foundation.

Get the book here.

Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen

As an actress, director, and teacher, Uta Hagen brings a life of exploration to her work, Respect for Acting. This book combines vivid stories along with exercises for the actor to apply to their work. This book does a wonderful job of helping actors get into their character and create real moments.

Get the book here.

Audition by Michael Shurtleff

In his book, Audition, Michael Shurtleff not only talks about the industry and the audition process but most importantly he teaches his 12 Guideposts. These guideposts are true gems for every actor! Written like a transcript of his classes, this book is both entertaining and helpful for anyone wanting to dig deeper into their character development and those that want to change things up with tired old audition material.

Get the book here.

Actioning and How to Do It by Nick Moseley

This book just popped on the scene last year and it has already become a favorite of mine. Actioning helps to clarify every moment or thought that a character has in the script. This book gives step-by-step examples of not only how to apply the process but gives sample text so you can see first hand how to do it. It is easy to read and follow and you can quickly take the thoughts and actions of your character to the next level. A great sidekick to this book is Actions: The Actors’ Thesaurus by Marina Caldarone & Maggie Lloyd-Williams. It is literally a book filled with action words to use while actioning!

Get the book here.

The Power of the Actor by Ivana Chubbuck

In The Power of the Actor, Chubbuck takes the works of some of the masters of acting technique and brings them into focus for the modern actor. She breaks it down into 12 steps for the actor to follow for a real and deep connection. The book also gives examples of breaking down a script using her script analysis process. A very handy book that is easy to reference and comprehensible for the modern actor.

Get the book here.



Need some advice? We’ve got you covered.

Michelle J. Evans is a sought after private acting and college audition coach based out of the Atlanta area. She has had a long career as a performer, director and instructor and is currently on staff with The Performer’s Warehouse. Michelle spends most of her time to training high school and college aged performers on how to have successful careers in the performing arts. You can find out more about her and upcoming projects at www.michellejevans.com.