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Oct 10, 2019 · People Who Voted On This List (7) 74 books based on 7 votes: Rewrites by Neil Simon, Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews Edwards, Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent by J...
Aug 15, 2012 · The staff of New York City's Drama Book Shop assembled this list of inspiring biographies and memoirs of theater and film people. From the legendary Eleonora Duse to the wild-living Jack Nicholson ...
- Backstage Staff
The 20 best theater biography books recommended by Stephen Fry, Arlan, Kirkus, Ken Bruce, Nina West, Paul Feig, Grant Show and James Gunn.
- Fiction Books About Actors
- Memoirs and Biographies About Actors
- Nonfiction Books About Actors
Beautiful Ruins
“A dazzling, yet deeply human, roller coaster of a novel, spanning fifty years and nearly as many lives. From the lavish set of Cleopatrato the shabby revelry of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Walter introduces us to the tangled lives of a dozen unforgettable characters.”
Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates
“Joyce Carol Oates boldly reimagines the inner, poetic, and spiritual life of Norma Jeane Baker—the child, the woman, the fated celebrity and idolized blonde the world came to know as Marilyn Monroe. In a voice startlingly intimate and rich, Norma Jeane tells her own story of an emblematic American artist—intensely conflicted and driven—who had lost her way.”
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
“A wunderkind young set designer, Emi has already started to find her way in the competitive Hollywood film world. Emi is a film buff and a true romantic, but her real-life relationships are a mess. But then a mysterious letter from a silver screen legend leads Emi to Ava. Ava is unlike anyone Emi has ever met.”
Bossypants
“From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately half hearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon. Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we’ve all suspected: you’re no one until someone calls you bossy.”
Drama: An Actor’s Education by John Lithgow
“Lithgow brings the theatre worlds of New York and London to life as he relives his collaborations with renowned performers and directors including Mike Nichols, Bob Fosse, Liv Ullmann, Meryl Streep, and Brian De Palma. At once hilarious and reflective, Dramapulls back the curtain on the making of one of our most beloved actors.”
Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson
“In this meticulously researched gem of a book, Wasson delivers us from the penthouses of the Upper East Side to the pools of Beverly Hills, presenting Breakfast at Tiffany’s as we have never seen it before—through the eyes of those who made it. Written with delicious prose and considerable wit, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.shines new light on a beloved film and its incomparable star.”
Acting in Film: An Actor’s Take on Movie Making
“The man who’s hypnotized the camera lenses for a quarter of a century reveals the most closely guarded secrets on script preparation, working with the director, forming a character, voice, sound, and movement. Pearl by pearl he lays out the Caine wisdom on everything from set politics to set decorum.”
An Actor Prepares by Konstantin Stanislavski
“Stanislavski’s simple exercises fire the imagination, and help readers not only discover their own conception of reality but how to reproduce it as well. Stanislavski’s innovative contribution to modern European and American realistic acting has remained at the core of mainstream western performance training for much of the last century.”
The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer
“With candor and wit, Fischer lays out what it takes to establish yourself in the profession. Fischer’s inspiring guidance will make you feel like you have a trusted friend who’s made the journey and has now returned to walk beside you, pointing out the pitfalls as you blaze your own path toward the life of a professional actor.”
- Heather Bottoms
Oct 15, 2022 · Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green. Mary Rodgers (1931–2014) was the daughter of one composer and the mother of another. And not just any composers. Her father was Richard Rodgers, perhaps the greatest American melodist; her son, Adam Guettel, a worthy successor.
Apr 15, 2020 · O’Neil’s book is the most thorough guide to all the practical elements actors should know. He has published multiple editions to keep up with the ever-changing industry of show biz, so look for the fifth edition to get the latest tips. This is by no means an exhaustive list and only represents the books that have made an impact on yours truly.
Jan 24, 2024 · "As a concise study of the American theatre, this work explores the past and present by looking at major aspects of theatregoing in America over the past 250 years. Diverse topics include plays On and Off Broadway, ticket prices, critics, playwrights, awards, musicals, actors, theatre groups and organizations, and theatre publications."
