Long a favorite of those teachers and students who prefer a clear, uncluttered, straightforward, and non-dogmatic approach to beginning acting, this text is aimed at the neophyte acting student or the general education/liberal arts student who may only take one class in this subject. Its flexible organization allows the teacher to assign the chapters as they appear in the text or in any sequence the individual instructor prefers. Laced with photographs, drawings, theatrical anecdotes, trivia, and quotations that make the material come alive with particular verve, this volume offers not only solid, practical advice but also provides a number of short scenes from important plays and exercises through which the students can practice their craft.