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Today is:
RESOURCES FOR THE ACTOR
What follows are a list of books, magazines, videos and links that any actor will find helpful.
- Michelle's List of Books on Musicals
- Andy's Other Suggestions for Aspiring Actors
- Books of General Interest
- Books on Film
- Indispensible Internet Information Sites
- Other Good Internet Information Sites
Michelle's List of Books on Musicals
My partner at work, Michelle, offers the following as indispensible books for anyone wanting to act in Musical Theatre
REQUIRED READING...
ON SINGING ONSTAGE by David Craig
The best book for analyzing a song and breaking down a performance, written by a true musical theatre pro. (He was married to one of Broadway's greatest comediennes, Nancy Walker.) Read it again and again. It's always good to return to the basics
 BROADWAY MUSICALS: SHOW BY SHOW, 4th edition by Stanley Green
A chronology of the musical theater, including synopses, song lists, leading players, and various trivia. Great to have on hand with so many revivals being done these days.
GOOD TO HAVE...
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MUSICAL THEATER by Stanley Green
A reference book that lists shows, stars, composers, directors, and important songs in alphabetical order. It's outdated, since it was published in 1976, but valuable to have when "you just can't remember what show that old song is from."
FOR THE MUSICAL FANATIC...
NOT SINCE CARRIE: 40 YEARS OF FLOPS by Ken Mandelbaum
Ah� The ultimate geek book. The best flop musicals (till 1991) described, analyzed, and fondly remembered. Over and over, you'll say to yourself, "What were they thinking?!"
 OPENING NIGHTS ON BROADWAY by Steven Suskin
 MORE OPENING NIGHTS ON BROADWAY by Steven Suskin
Actual reviews from opening nights throughout the years. Almost too much information! But fascinating for the musical theater history buff. Did you know the original Oklahoma! got mixed reviews?!
THE MAKING OF NO, NO, NANETTE by Eric Dunn
A diary of the backstage fights and fun that went on during the 1971 revival of Nanette. Hilarious, catty, and too true!
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 The New York Agent Book: Getting The Agent You Need For The Career You Want by K. Callan
K Callan is best to known to most as Superman's mother in the LOIS AND CLARK series. However in her spare time, Callan has crafted the best and most practical books for Actors/Writers/Directors who are seeking representation. The books have listings of all franchised agencies, are frequently updated, and feature strategies and advice gleaned from the agents themselves. INDISPENSABLE. No actor looking for representation should be without it. Other helpful books of hers to check out are:
How To Sell Yourself As An Actor.
The Los Angeles Agent Book: Getting The Agent You Need For The Career You Want.
The Script Is Finished: Now What Do I do?
Directing Your Directing Career.
 The Back Stage Guide to Casting Directors by Hettie Lynne Hurtes
A recently updated guide to Casting Directors and their thoughts on actors. A few of the more important NYC Casting Directors are included.
 How To Be A Working Actor by Mari Lyn Henry
My boss, Jim, highly recommends this one. A much more exhaustive study of what this site just touches upon. Henry used to be the Director of Casting for ABC and is now a personal manager. The book is scheduled to be reprinted in an updated version in June of 2000 and is not mostly available in used-book stores and specialty shops.
 THE ROSS REPORTS
THE listing of all talent agents and casting directors on both coasts. The starting point for any mailing.
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 Hot Seat : Theater Criticism for the New York Times, 1980-1993 by Frank Rich
Respected by some and reviled by others, Rich was the most influential theatre reviewer of our time. His reviews could often make or break a production. Perhaps the last theatre critic to wield such power, HOT SEAT is a collection of his reviews for the Times and are a chronicle of one of the most dynamic periods in American theatre history. Fascinating to read, and filled with essays on the changing state of Broadway and beyond, it's well worth a read.
 The Artists Way by Julia Cameron
Not an acting book per se, this book has been recommended to me by more people in the industry than I can count. It's sort of a 12 step program for unleashing your creative energies or something like that.
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The Devils Candy by Julie Salamon
A study of how the film Bonfire of the Vanities was made and the nightmare it became. A classic examination of the confrontations between taste and ego in film-making. Riveting.
 A Pound Of Flesh by Art Linson
The producer of The Untouchables examines, explains and eviscerates the film-making process in Hollywood. A true insiders look at modern movie making.
Producing, Financing and Distributing Film by Paul A, Baumgarten
The most concise legal and business guide to film-making I have ever read. Straightforward and complete. No one trying to make an Indie should be without it.
 The Complete Film Production Handbook by Eve Light Honthaner
A practical handbook to film production. Inside are schedules, budgets, forms, and everything else to create the paper structure for a film. Also indispensable. The money you spend on this will probably save you ten times as much in production.
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 PLAYBILL.COM
Undeniably the best source for Theatre information in the known world. If you want to know what's happening from the Stock Circuit to Broadway, you'll find it here. Extensive resources include help-wanted sections and theatre listings. THE BEST.
 BROADWAY.COM
In a real challenge to the supremacy of Playbill Online, comes Broadway.com. Easily the most sophisticated site devoted to the Great White Way, it offers interviews, and multimedia features lacking in the better known Playbill site. It also offers Ken Mandelbaum's Broadway gossip, which while accurate only about half the time, is nonetheless fascinating.
And
The dueling trade mags of the Biz. I think the Reporter has a more informative site, but Variety tends to be a bit more independent. Both offer nice summaries of the major stories du jour.
 THE INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE
Offers a nice summary of the day's stories from a variety of sources. Also has the most extensive filmography in the world.
The bible of the novice actor. Useful and practical articles on everything from temping to resumes. A good place to start, but every actor's fondest wish is to never need to read it again.
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The following sites were kind enough to link to me almost from the beginning and are worth checking out for their wealth of online information. When in quotes, the descriptions are taken from the sites themselves.
The ActorSource Homepage
"The ActorSource Homepage is the most extensive acting related homepage on the internet. The ActorSource Homepage is a page that can be used by anyone from the beginning actor to the seasoned veteran. This page contains information on how to get started from step one, all the way to the top."
The Mad Screenwriter
A massive collection of links covering everything from Acting to Music to Film and of course screenwriting. And they gave me an award!
Castlist.Org
"Castlist.org is an online resource dedicated to the education of young actors. Whether you're an experienced actor or just trying to prepare for your first audition, Castlist.org can help!"
The Actor's Cafe
Professional Aussie Actor Matt Norman's site "On this site you will find One of The BIGGEST actor library's in the world. Also you will be able to add your own URL to your own actor page or resume, and you can also join The Actors Cafe's mailing list which is only for Actors in the industry. Remember Its All Free...!!!"
Caryn.Com Acting Resources
"This site was created for actors by an actress who intimately understands the unique challenges faced by those souls brave enough to pursue careers in this business. Cited in Backstage West and Indiewire as one of the most useful career resources online, you can rest assured, this site will get you to the information you need. Knowledge is power"
The Actors Page
NY Actor Darnell Green created this site "so that actors could have a place on the web to network and share experiences. In my 15 years of experience, I have found this to truly be a business of contacts. The more contacts you have, the more opportunities you get. So lets all help each other."
AWOL: Acting Workshop On-Line
"This is the place for beginning actors and actresses to learn about acting and the acting business. For actors and actresses aspiring to become professional or for those who want to take their avocation to the highest artistic level possible. Periodically, new "lessons" and relevant links will be posted for you to study, learn, practise, and get more info about acting" A HUGE amount of links.
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More to Come!!
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