Review ‘Stephen Wangh tackles an important but rarely discussed aspect of performance teaching. He brings a particular set of hard-won insights based on extensive teaching and personal experience, and doesn’t shy away from teasing out the difficult personal lessons drawn from that experience.’ – Anthony Jackson, University of Manchester, UK ‘…readable, interesting and makes a useful contribution to education and training…Wangh is interested in the inner dynamics of teaching and the processes by which teachers can promote – or undermine – creativity. So he discusses ways of bringing out diffident students or helping those who need to, to shed some of their inhibitions and learn to be more open-minded. He is also strong on dealing with matters such as race, judgment and resistance – all issues which apply to performing arts teaching at any stage or level. So there’s something here for drama teachers of all sorts. I was especially taken, given what noisy places many classrooms are, with his thoughts about listening and silence.’ – Susan Elkin,The Stage, UK 'In his 40-plus years of teaching actors, Stephen Wangh has admirably earned the title of Master Teacher. I have had the pleasure of experiencing his mastery in a variety of contexts and can attest to his extraordinary yet humble ability to empower students...The Heart of Teaching seems to me an invaluable guide as well as an essential provocation. Not only is it a welcome and timely one, but more importantly one that is able to provide inspiration and encouragement when teachers inevitably face the 'travails' of teaching.'  – Bryan Brown, Theatre, Dance and Performance Training '[The] process of empowerment cannot be reduced to a series of pedagogical steps to be mastered and applied uniformly to every student. On the contrary, every student's circumstances are unique, constituting only an invitation to improvise within a student-oriented framework, and Wangh guarantees nothing. The author is as forthcoming about his mistakes and failures as he is about his successes. No doubt his success is due, in part, to innate ability and an empathic personality. But Wangh's teaching is also marked by a generosity of spirit, humility, and compassion, and his reflections on teaching certainly reward the reading.' Scott Phillips, Theatre Topics 'As someone who experienced Wangh’s teaching firsthand as an undergraduate acting student and having since dedicated myself to theatre historiography and performance studies, I found a strong resonance in the pedagogical philosophy expressed within The Heart of Teaching. Simultaneously recognizable and surprising, the scenarios and tactics Wangh discusses will challenge new and seasoned teachers to continue playing and experimenting with the art of pedagogy.' ― Will Daddario, TDR: The Drama Review About the Author Stephen Wangh is a playwright, director and acting teacher. He has taught at Naropa University and Emerson College (https://files.nyu.edu/sw1/public/), and is Arts Professor Emeritus at New York University. He is the author of An Acrobat of the Heart: A physical approach to acting inspired by the work of Jerzy Grotowski.
E**L
Presence Enlightens
Stephen Wangh presents elements of teaching that do not have simple answers. He dives right into the sticky areas, the uncomfortable issues, that create inner conflict in the teacher. The sorts of things all teachers struggle with and can't talk about. By creating space for the issues to unpack he sets the stage for your own drama to find its feet in the world and learn to walk. This is not a book of quick fixes but an invitation to deep inner exploration of both self and student, which gives you the ability to begin to create your own maps of human relationship and to pass that skill on to your students. It's an invitation to be present and to be human and to be yourself. Well worth the price. It applies to all teachers and all students.As a student I have always had issues with all my teachers. The teacher student relationship is complex and intimate in unexpected ways. Essentially as a student I am often reweaving my soul. I am grateful for clarity in vulnerability that helps me see the other side. I highly recommend this for students too.
K**R
Thought provocative and encouraging
In this usefull yet concise book the author speaks about many different educational issues, gives advice how to deal with some of them. The style of this book is very intimate and impressionistic. It is a true and meaningful conversation.
J**K
Well worth one's time!
I absolutely loved this book. I have been teaching for more than 30 years and this was the first book I encountered that focused exclusively on teaching theatre. I fully appreciated the tone and approach taken in the book by the author. A great read!
D**K
A Unique Resource
Wangh is a treasure for American Theatre. He has been trained by the giants of theatre we only teach about now and he was worked with all the current stars of directing, acting, and teaching theatre. As an earlier reviewer mentioned, there just are not many books about teaching theatre. And usually they fall into the trap of talking about what theatre is like in their particular setting or institution. Wangh goes deeper. I have used this class in a college level Theatre Teaching Methods course, and it lead to rich discussion and fantastic connections to my students' experiences in the classroom (both as students and as student teachers).Can't recommend highly enough.
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