The Actor's Menu Whets Appetite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sue Novinger
Phone: 818-264-9606
E-mail suenovinger@comcast.net

The Actor’s Menu Whets Appetite

Long time acting teacher and coach, Bill Howey, has chosen a food metaphor to organize his new book, THE ACTOR’S MENU: A Character Preparation Handbook (204 pages.) Howey’s tempting “menu” of acting techniques is changing how actors develop their characters. And this dynamic perspective is resonating with actors and acting teachers around the world.

Leading the list of new concepts is Howey’s Hidden Acting Agenda: A pre-condition to acting that causes actors to flinch and fail. This condition is what prevents an actor’s personal and affecting choices from reaching the audience.

Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) calls the book: “Brilliant.” Stephen Peithman, Editor of Stage Directions Magazine, says: “The Actor’s Menu by Bill Howey is one of the latest and best to pick from.” Jean Schiffman of Back Stage West writes: “Howey presents a no-nonsense reconstruction of that often misunderstood concept: character.”

Actors can easily adopt the workable, applicable step-by-step recipe that makes any actor more successful. After removing any Hidden Acting Agendas, creating a character is just like preparing the ingredients for a gourmet meal.

Acting books often do not explore the unique qualities of the individual actor as Howey does. Yet, acting is about combining the actor’s personal ingredients in order to present a potent character.

The Actor’s Menu prepares actors to discover or rediscover powerful acting ingredients so they can create their own personal acting menu. Actors also discover or rediscover their acting goals, review their decisions about acting and most importantly, uncover their acting problems.

Steve Howey (Van on the WB’s Reba) exclaims, “I’m one of the stars of the Reba television series because of the two years I studied at the Bill Howey Acting Workshop using The Actor’s Menu.”

The Actor’s Menu: A Character Preparation Handbook by Bill Howey
ISBN 09753102-2-4 Compass Publishing $14.95 US, $20.95 Canada
Pub date September 2005. Distributed by IPG (800-888-4741, ipgbook.com)
Available in bookstores nationwide or at http://www.actorsmenu.com

For more information E-Mail: suenovinger AT comcast DOT net
Or Request a Review Copy

File Under "Books About Acting"

Colorado Acting Coach Publishes Book

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sue Novinger
Phone: 818-264-9606
E-mail: suenovinger AT comcast DOT net

In his new book The Actor’s Menu: A Character Preparation Handbook veteran Colorado acting coach Bill Howey takes an inventive approach that actors can use to create effective performances.

The Actor’s Menu is available in bookstores and online at actorsmenu.com

The Actor’s Menu teaches a personal, active approach to discovering and developing a character. According to Howey, “I use a menu as the metaphor for a method of developing a character, encouraging actors to discover the characters and stories within themselves”. He leads actors through developing their own actor’s menu from which they can draw. Howey’s “Menu Style” emphasizes the strengths and unique qualities of the individual actor, allowing them to readily build a character from the choices they have developed through the use of his book.

Bill Howey brings 25 years of experience as a teacher, producer, director and filmmaker to the pages of The Actor’s Menu. His continuing acting workshops have formed the basis for the book. Howey has worked as an acting coach on a number of TV series, and tutors public speakers and business executives, as well. He is the father of Steve Howey who plays Van on television’s Reba and stars in the motorcycle racing movie Supercross.

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The Actor’s Menu: A Character Preparation Handbook, by Bill Howey
204pp
published by Compass Publishing
Acting Book Distributed by IPG (800-888-4741 ipgbook.com)
ISBN 09753102-2-4
Price: $14.95 US, $20.95 Canada