Singer and Actor: Acting Technique and the Operatic Performer

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec. 22, 2011 - When opera began in the 1500s, it was considered a new theatrical art form, not a new musical art form. Yet, somehow (perhaps due to mass distribution of sound recordings) opera lost its emphasis on theatrical performance, and it remained that way for many decades. Now the pendulum is swinging back. Artistic directors want the whole package: performers who can look the part, sing, and act. But many young opera singers graduate from college without any acting training because these skill sets used to be ignored in the opera business. So how does one navigate the difficult and highly competitive waters of a career in opera without any foundation in one of the key skills?

Amadeus Press is proud to introduce the new acting book for opera performers, Singer and Actor ($19.99) from professional opera singer and teacher Alan E. Hicks. This book demystifies theatrical acting techniques to ensure that operatic singers are equipped with all the tools of today’s successful performers. With chapters on the Stanislavski system of physical action, analyzing the libretto, concentration, obstacles, and objectives, opera performers—whether recent graduates or old pros adapting to the times—will come away with the skills to succeed in today’s opera world.

Alan E. Hicks, in nearly twenty-five years in the arts, has worked as a professional opera singer, award-winning stage director, and teacher of musical theatre and opera. He is a former faculty member of the Actors Studio Drama School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as schools of music across the country. His students have found success from Broadway to network television and from opera to major motion pictures. He lives in Iowa City, Iowa and is available for interview.