The holidays are fast approaching and with canceled vacations, many of my students have been looking for something to keep them sharp over the break. Why not settle down with a good book? Actors can learn a lot just by reading the works of veterans in the field. Here are eight ideas for the child actor, parent, or teacher to get cozy with over the holidays.
1. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare”
No library is complete without this collection. From the tragedy of “Hamlet” to the upbeat wit of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the Bard has it all. Exploring his signature lyricism can be a great way for kids to keep their acting brains sharp during the holidays. It’s always great for kids to become familiar with old English, and the best place to start is with this hefty collection.
2. “Parenting in the Spotlight: How to Raise a Child Star Without Screwing Them Up” by Denise Simon
Yes, that’s me! When your child wants to become an actor, you may be thrilled and a little scared. I wrote this book to help parents going through the industry alone, to guide them through getting representation, legal and union matters, balancing schoolwork, and much more. I also speak about the lessons children learn to become happy and successful adults while pursuing the performing arts. If you’re a parent with a child in entertainment or a teacher, this book is your ultimate how-to guide. It’s a great gift for anyone looking to help the child actor navigate the ups and downs of entertainment.
3. “Great Scenes for Young Actors From the Stage”
This is a great collection of scenes for teens to work with whenever they want to practice their acting techniques. It’s great for young actors who are still trying to find a technique that suits them, and for anyone looking for some engaging scenes to peruse over the holidays.
4. Great Scenes and Monologues for Children Ages 7–14
This is a companion book to “Great Scenes for Young Actors.” It’s another great collection of previously performed scenes to help children sharpen their technique. It has comedy, drama, and everything else your child might want to practice as they break for the holidays. It’s also a great way for young actors to practice their reading skills with fun scenes that they can connect to.
5. “Scenes/Monologues for Zoom” by Larry Silverberg
Written by my friend and colleague Larry Silverberg, this digital download features scenes to perform on Zoom appropriate for teens, college-age actors, and adult actors. Larry is renowned for his best-selling books on the Meisner approach to acting and this book features his wonderful writing for active and compelling scene work in the digital age.
6. “Actions: An Actors Thesaurus” by Marina Calderone
I’ve included this book on my list of must-haves before but it’s worth a mention again. Acting means TO DO. You cannot play a mood but you can play an action. An essential companion to actors, this thesaurus helps them find actions and active ways to approach their work. It’s a great guide for any actor to have in their back pocket, as it helps break down the ways young actors who struggle can remain grounded and truthful in their work.
7. “The complete TIPS Ideas for Actors” by Jon Jory
Jory, a veteran acting teacher, and producer of over 1,300 plays has brought his expertise in the form of tips for actors. Clear, concise, and direct, his advice to actors nails the aspects of performance on the head. Divided into different categories such as textual study, character development, technique, and strategy, Jory covers a wide range of necessary skills that young actors sometimes forget and need to master. I highly recommend this book for young performers, as they can learn valuable lessons without getting lost in an author’s words.
8. “The Actor and the Target” by Declan Donnellan
This book provides wonderfully specific tips for young actors to understand their craft in a more nuanced way. It works to answer every actor’s essential question: what is acting? And does it in a way that is both witty and insightful. The writing style is best understood by teens and tweens, but it will also make a great gift for anyone looking to get back to basics and revisit exactly what it means to be truthful in your work.
These books serve as helpful guides to push your child to a better understanding of acting and, by extension, themselves. Aside from the books I’ve listed above, it’s always great for young actors to read plays (you can check out my other articles for suggestions on comedies, dramas, and everything in between), and monologues and scenes from performances they can relate to. For anyone looking to keep their minds active over the long break, these works are sure to provide some entertainment and helpful advice while keeping you invested in your craft.
