An elegant guidebook for performers on every stage and screen, from the long-time mentor to many of today's biggest names in acting Robert Brustein is a living legend in theatrical circles. A master in the field of acting and preparing actors for their careers, he is the author of a dozen widely used drama school texts, and has cultivated the talents of actors such as Maryl Streep, Marisa Tomei, Debra Winger, Sigourney Weaver, Christopher Walken and Christopher Lloyd. In Letters to a Young Actor, he not only seeks to inspire the multitudes of struggling dramatists out pounding the pavement, but also to reinvigorate the very state of the art of acting itself. Stocked with a wealth of stories about the (now) rich and famous actors he has helped along the way, he brings both passion and a peerless authority to his subject. From a look at why Method acting is not the answer, to the critical importance of paying attention in English literature classes, Brustein's advice is clear, persuasive, and inspiring. Written with the inimitable wit and flair of a true raconteur, Brustein offers the best of his vast experience to those starting our in the field, covering a range of subjects from discovering the true actor within to the matter of finding work.