Behind the mask, Appel notes, the student is free to create a personality; paradoxically, because the mask hides the self, it enables the student to probe more deeply into himself.
“This book describes, defines, and discusses the mask characterization process, providing the theory behind the exercises and the step-by-step procedure in the organic development of the character from the masks,” Appel notes. The manual is divided into two parts: “The Instructor’s Guide” and “The Actor’s Guide.” There is also an introductory chapter, “The Class Structure,” which explains mask characterization procedures in the classroom, and a sample class schedule may be found in the back of the manual.
This book adds a new dimension to actor training and learning. It is essential to aspiring actors seeking new ways to create honest dramatic characterizations.

Mask Characterization: An Acting Process

Appel, Libby

Humor & Entertainment

Southern Illinois University Press

Performed successfully during the California Shakespearean Festival in Visalia, this play— woven from Shakespearean scenes, songs, and sonnets—presents “Shakespeare’s universal, enduring, fully human values about love” in a “rich Shakespearean tapestry of romance,” state the authors, Libby Appel and Michael Flachmann. The play is organized into two acts containing four dramatic sections “Discovering Love,” “Seeking Advice about Love,” “Having Problems with Love,” and “Finding Solutions to Love’s Problems.” To the right of each page of text is a clear, understandable glossary defining difficult words; at the bottom of these pages occasional longer notes explicate obscure or difficult references; each facing left-hand page contains stage directions. This creates a theatrical prompt-book format, leaving plenty of blank space for recording notes, ideas, and stage directions.

Shakespeare's Lovers: A Text for Performance and Analysis

Flachmann PhD, Professor Michael

Serves both as a script for performance and as a text for high school and college theater and English classes.
This self-contained script brings together different scenes from Shakespeare’s plays to portray women “in all their infinite variety.” Two narrators, a man and a woman, introduce and comment on these scenes, weaving together the different characters and situations.
This book combines literary and theatrical techniques in examining Shakespeare’s women. Its promptbook format provides clear, helpful stage directions on pages facing each of the scenes. Also helpful are concise glosses and footnotes to define difficult words and phrases plus a commentary to explain each scene in its dramatic context.
Other features include sheet music for each song in the play, a bibliography on the topic of women in Shakespeare’s plays, and suggestions for directors who wish to stage the play.

Shakespeare's Women: A Playscript for Performance and Analysis

Literature & Fiction

Dramas & Plays

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Appel, Libby. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Appel, Libby

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Appel, Libby. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Mask Characterization: An Acting Process

Shakespeare's Lovers: A Text for Performance and Analysis

Shakespeare's Women: A Playscript for Performance and Analysis