Acting techniques from the masters: Michael Shurtleff
The Importance of Being Honest: Acting Techniques from the Masters
The following are excerpts from Dr. Mary Schuttler's class on the masters of acting technique.
Summary of Michael Shurtleff's contributions
Michael Shurtleff is famous for his “TWELVE GUIDEPOSTS to ACTING:
1. Relationships - how to create them on stage.
2. Conflict - what are you fighting for?
3. The moment before - how to start a scene.
4. Humor - why jokes don’t work.
5. Opposite - finding the hidden tension in your scene.
6. Discoveries - making things happen for the first time.
7. Communication and competition - reaching the other actor.
8. Importance - locating the dramatic score.
9. Find the events - what is really happening in the play?
10. Place - create it on a bare stage.
11. Game playing and role playing - play them for reality.
12. Mystery and secret - adding wonderment to the scene.
Biography of Michael Shurtleff 19??-
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“When Barbra STREISAND, Robert REDFORD, Lily TOMLIN (a native of Detroit), Bette MIDLER, and Dustin HOFFMAN got their first breaks Michael Shurtleff was there.” - back cover Audition by Michael Shurtleff |
Web Bio: Charles Gordon Michael Shurtleff was born on July 3, 19 , in Oslo Norway, to Charles Joseph and Ruth Matheson-Shurtleff. After graduating from Austin High School in Chicago, Illinois, Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lawrence College. He then went on to study at the Yale University School of Drama, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree. Shurtleff served in the U. S. Army during World War II.
Before beginning his career in theater Michael Shurtleff worked as both a teacher and court reporter. He started work in the theater as a casting director and production assistant for William Hammerstein in 1957 through 1960, working on musicals for the New York City Center. Shurtleff served on Broadway as casting director on David Merrick Productions including “Gypsy” (1959), “Irma La Douce,” “A Taste of Honey,” “Becket,” and “Do Re Me” (all 1960), “Carnival!” (1961), “Stop the World I Want to Get Off” (1962), “Oliver!” (1963), “1776” (1969), “Jesus Christ, Superstar” (1971), “Pippin” (1972), and “Chicago” (1975). In 1963 Shurtleff became President of Casting Consultants NYC. This casting organization, under the reign of Shurtleff, has been responsible for casting “Any Wednesday,” and “Anyone Can Whistle” (both 1964) just to name a few.
In addition to casting the films “All the Way Home” (1963), “The Sound of Music” (who could forget the awesome performance by Julie Andrews in the 1965 Best Picture?!), “The Sand Pebbles” (1966), and the film version of “Jesus Christ, Superstar” (1973), Shurtleff wrote screenplays and directed “Call Me by My Rightful Name” (stage 1963, film 1973). He also cast the critically acclaimed television series starring George C. Scott and Cicely Tyson, “East Side/West Side” (1963), and the brilliant casting of Dustin Hoffman as the lead in the film “The Graduate” (1975). The role was intended for a “Robert Redford type” and this unconventional casting paved the way for many talented actors who weren’t necessarily good looking by Hollywood’s standards.
Dancer-choreographer-director Bob Fosse said that Shurtleff’s book, AUDITION (1978), is “absolutely indispensable to any aspiring, or even mildly ambitious, actor. There is NO book of which I am aware that gives an actor such first-rate, clear-cut, no-nonsense advice.”
audition by Michael Shurtleff
- Relationship (Describe the Relationship.)
- Conflict (In one sentence, state what you are Fighting For.)
- The Moment Before (Detail the Moment Before the scene starts.)
- Humor (Describe the Humor in your scene or monologue.)
- Opposites (Point to an example or two of the use of Opposites.)
- Discovery (Find at least three moments of Discovery.)
- Communication (Highlight the moment of Communication in your scene or monologue.) and Competition (What are you right about and what is the other character wrong about? How should the other person Change?)
- Importance (Highlight the most significant moment of Importance in the scene or monologue.)
- Find the Events (What is an Event that happens in your piece that changes your relationship?)
- Place (How does Place affect your behavior?)
- Game (What is the name of the Game in your scene or monologue?) and Role Playing (What is your Role in the play?)
- Mystery and Secret (Describe a moment of Mystery and Secret you use from the text.)
student exercises for Michael Shurtleff
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Beginning Acting Exercises |