Acting and Singing with Archetypes

The journeys in Acting and Singing with Archetypes are based on the Voices of the Archetypes and Myths workshops that  Frankie Armstrong has conducted throughout Europe, Australia, and the  United States. Primarily geared toward theatre teachers, directors, and  theatre workshop leaders, this groundbreaking, interactive book – with  an accompanying CD – shows actors and singers how to expand their  creative choices by taking journeys to find the archetypes within  themselves.

Archetypes are universal essences that we all  recognize: the Mother, the Lover, the Trickster, the Spiritual and  Temporal Leader. Each one is not a fully developed character but rather  its essence – images, forms, voices, bodies and psychological elements –  around which a performer can organize a portrayal and begin full  character development. The first part of the book contains sixteen archetype journeys. Each archetype journey is  accompanied by preparatory explorations for the voice, body, and  imagination. The CD, sung by Ms. Armstrong, provides songs and examples  of vocal ornamentation to prepare and assist the journeyer. The second part of the book contains suggestions on how to apply the discoveries to real acting  situations, explaining how to use the archetypes in the creation of  multifaceted characters and in classroom explorations such as mask  making, improvisation, monologue, scene and song work, and devising  theatre.