With this excellent book, JV Mercanti gives the musical theatre actor a comprehensive, challenging, and completely practical way to not only do the work of acting in a musical, but to kindle the spark of inspiration that makes magic onstage possible. It’s an invaluable contribution to the canon of acting study, and a brilliant opportunity for those of us who are professional theatre-makers to revisit hard-won lessons learned in bracingly fresh ways.

Michael Mayer, Tony Award winning director (Spring Awakening, American Idiot, Thoroughly Modern Millie)

A fiercely lucid guide to a life in the theatre. As luminously practical as it is wise. But what makes this book so special to me is the clear-eyed joy with which it expresses a love of the theater as the study of life - in all its strangeness, contradictions and beauty.

David Leveaux, director Jesus Christ Superstar Live (NBC) and five-time Tony Award nominee

This is an incredibly important book, required reading for all young artists in pursuit of professional work in the musical theatre from a master teacher and director. It also serves as a great refresher for working professionals. JV gives us a how-to manual on how to organically connect to the material and allow our authentic selves to shine.

Erin Dilly, Tony Award Nominee and Musical Theatre Professor

Muscular, empowering and chock full of ways to learn to direct yourself, this essential resource gives those who pick it up the courage to trust themselves and their craft.

Kate Baldwin, two-time Tony Award Nominee

JV Mercanti’s Musical Theatre Acting: A Practical Guide is an absolute essential for any actor, director or theatre-maker at whatever stage in their career. For the emerging, it offers an essential doable guide for building a craft around the work of being a storyteller. For the veterans, it offers necessary touchstones and reminders to the joys of pursuing, nurturing (and even sharing) this craft with others. For all of us, it offers an understanding of the traditions that drew us to this magical work while also pointing us to what else is possible for musical theatre. And the hopeful thing it leaves us with is that it is our individual work that will create those possibilities. I HOPE you get this book.

Chari Arespacochaga, Director and Educator

JV Mercanti has written a most delightful book on how to be a thoughtful, grounded, smart, creative actor. Easy to read and completely compelling, it should be read by everyone in love with the theater who wants to know more and be more. JV truly knows his stuff and shares that wisdom with great humor and intelligence. Get into it!

Emily Skinner, Tony-nominated Actor