Actors at Work

Tichler, casting director and artistic producer at New York’s Public Theater, has encountered the top tier of America’s actors. Writing with playwright Kaplan, she interviews 14 of them on the craft of acting. While she doesn’t shy from asking personal questions, the real meat is revelations about careers and the unique approach each artist takes to a script. While many are formally trained, Estelle Parsons sums up a shared attitude toward schooling: “Study! How can you study acting?” Lessons in voice, script analysis and body movement are helpful tools, but experience is the best teacher. As Meryl Streep notes, no one technique can help a performer tackle diverse roles. The book is best at chronicling different working methods, while revealing the life of an actor. Dianne Wiest and Patti Lupone reveal a refreshing honesty, willing to expose their failures and weaknesses. Frances Conroy and John Lithgow carry the valuable lessons of live theater into the disjointed process of film acting. Kevin Spacey, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Kevin Kline describe the intensely delicate work involved in creating a character. For actors, directors and anyone who appreciates the art form, these interviews are priceless. (Aug.)