Choice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

Alhough it does include some information on the University/Resident Theatre Association (URTA), The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), and auditions for graduate school, this is a how-to book aimed at young actors rather than a book explaining "why" something should be done. In recent years, a great number of titles on auditioning have been published, but few focus on the adolescent actor as this one does. Well organized and clear, this informative book covers and advises on all kinds of audition situations and will be excellent for those serious about becoming actors. Unfortunately it lacks visuals and would have profited from the addition of photography, but even without such features this guide is complete and comprehensive--loaded with exactly the type of advice young actors need, understand, and will want to incorporate in their audition techniques. The appendixes, though brief, are also helpful. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Aspiring actors in secondary school and the first year of college. J. H. Conger III Northern Kentucky University

School Library Journal
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 9 Up-More than just a nuts-and-bolts auditioning book, this title is meant to help high school and college students hone their skills in preparation for a career on the stage, with the audition being just one part of the process. It is a practical guide, with chapters on training, background skills, how to select and prepare material for an audition, cold readings, musical theater, and supporting materials such as resume and head shots. A revised edition of the author's Audition Handbook for Student Actors (Burnham, 1985), it adds more introductory-level acting material, more practical exercises, resources and references for younger actors in high school, and Internet resources. Chapters are well organized into subtopics, and important ideas are in bold italics, making them easy to skim. However, the writing is so engaging that it is a pleasure to read straight through. Ellis speaks to his readers as a trusted advisor or coach. Exploration exercises and questions for review and reflection at the end of each chapter make this a useful textbook for an acting course. Several sample audition pieces are included, and resources for college auditions and scholarships are appended. Acting teachers looking for a text and students looking for a useful and inspiring guidebook will welcome this title.-Sonja Cole, Briarcliff Middle School, Mountain Lakes, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.