Acting Through Song

An impassioned and invaluable guide for actors and students of musical theatre.

In Acting Through Song,​ Paul Harvard takes the techniques of modern actor training – including the theories of Stanislavsky, Brecht, Meisner and Laban, amongst others – and applies them to the fundamental component of musical theatre: singing.

With dozens of exercises to put these theories into practice, and numerous examples from a broad range of musicals, the result is a comprehensive and rigorous acting course for those training in musical theatre or already performing, whether amateur or professional, to realise their potential – and act better.

‘The most methodical, thorough and practical book on the subject that I’ve ever read.’ Daniel Evans, from his Foreword

‘If you want to maximise your potential in this tough profession, this is not just a must-read – it’s your bible.’ Stuart Barr

‘There is good advice in this useful and practical book about how to integrate acting and singing – all supported with suggestions for ways of practising and developing skills‘ — The Stage

‘Revelatory… an important addition to the actors’ library… full of good, practical advice‘ — ReviewsGate.com

‘For anyone wishing to do justice to a musical theatre role, and definitely for those wishing to work in this genre, this guide is a must‘ — Teaching Drama Magazine

Author Biography

Paul Harvard is a musical director, composer, actor, director and lecturer.

His work includes The History Boys (Royal National Theatre), Gondoliers (Apollo Theatre), Piaf, Fiddler on the Roof, Love in a Maze, Dreams from a Summerhouse and The Firebird (all for the Watermill Theatre), Nicked (HighTide Festival), The Fantasticks (Harrogate Theatre), Rwanda (YMT:UK), Trashchrist (Soho Theatre) and Me, Myself and I (Orange Tree Theatre).

Currently Course Leader for BA Acting and MMus Musical Theatre at the London College of Music, he has lectured at many other leading drama schools – notably the Urdang Academy where he was Head of Musical Theatre for four years and where he wrote the degree. He has also taught at Arts Educational, the Drama Centre, City Lit, Guildford School of Acting, Trinity Laban, Italia Conti, Webber Douglas and The Centre (where he was Head of Musical Theatre).

His books Acting Through Song and Audition Songs for Men/Women are published by Nick Hern Books