The Stage Actor's Handbook

About the Author

Michael Kostroff is an established stage and television actor best known for his five seasons on HBO’s The Wire. He is also an instructor, director, and writer. He is the author of Letters from Backstage and Audition Psych 101, and the co-author of Answers from “The Working Actor.” Kostroff served as an advice columnist for the weekly publication Backstage and is a frequent guest speaker at theatre schools, theatre companies, and universities. He is the creator of the popular Audition Psych 101 workshop, which he’s presented all over the country. On stage, Kostroff has played a host of iconic character roles, including Max Bialystock, which he covered on the first national tour of The Producers, and the comic villain Thénardier, a role he played on two national tours of Les Misérables.

Julie Garnyé is a singer, actress, director, voice teacher, producer, and writer. She appeared in the roles of Jennyanydots and Grizabella in the national tour of Cats and originated the role of Martha Dumptruck in the developmental readings of Heathers: The Musical. Other appearances include Les Mise´rables, Chicago, and Mamma Mia, all at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. She was an original cast member of the first national tour of the Broadway hit musical Come From Away. Garnyé regularly teaches two masterclasses—The Vocal Intensive Workshop and Know the Business of Show—which she has presented at Harvard University, Studio School, Santa Clara University, and many other theatre schools and theatre companies in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.