Have you ever sat in a darkened theatre and couldn’t take your eyes off one radiant performer as they drew you into their real yet imaginary world? If so, you were experiencing performance synergy, also known as the ‘It’ Factor – that magical, ephemeral energy that has defied explanation, until now.​
Welcome to Find Your ‘It’ Factor. This informative, instructional and inspirational handbook is so much more than a guide to dynamic musical theatre performance. It’s a dive into the intrinsic and extrinsic elements that shape each of our unique and wonderful selves, regardless of age or profession. Here you will find techniques, tactics, and tips for unlocking and living our most free, authentic, generous, and joyful lives, on stage or off.
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These pages also contain the collected wisdom from many of Australia’s top actors and creatives, including contributions from Philip Quast, Marina Prior, Georgina Hopson, Ainsley Melham, Jemma Rix, Carolyn O’Connor, Nancye Hayes, Lucy Maunder, Tyran Parke, Simon Phillips, Sharon Millerchip, Tony Sheldon, Michael Ralph, Jason Langley, Luke Hunter and Michael Tyack. ​Enjoy!​​​​​​​​
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Find Your 'It' Factor
A guide to dynamic musical theatre performance
What is the 'It' Factor?
We all know it when we see it. We talk about people having ‘It’, losing ‘It’, and imagine that ‘It’ is some external gift or power bestowed by the gods, or perhaps the product of good genes. Some children seem to have bags of ‘It’, grabbing opportunities to perform or “own” the space they inhabit, and ‘It’ can seem like a personality trait. As adults, this magical ‘It’ is considered a golden ticket to success. ‘It’ is what gets you noticed, the job, the promotion, the love of your life. You stand out in the crowd. This mesmerising, attractive energy appears to live within the personal domain of the elite or lucky “few”. But what if everyone had their own brand of ‘It’ factor? ​
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To uncover the mystery surrounding this ephemeral phenomenon, Dr Jacqui Cuny, an expert in musical theatre performance, turned to the performing arts, where this quality is readily recognisable. Each year, in the UK, the US and Australia, thousands of newly minted, university-trained actors and singers venture into the professional performing arts. With hope strong in their hearts and stars in their eyes, their aim is to be the one or two in a hundred who will actually “make it” — that is, get employed.
These talented, well-trained unknowns summon their courage and bare their souls in auditions, seeking recognition and a potential career in an industry known for making and breaking stars. The creative directors who hold their professional futures in their hands look for that special something – ‘It’. ‘It’ grabs the audience’s hearts and boosts the box office. In a world increasingly obsessed with the extraordinary and the phenomenal, the presence of ‘It’ is vital.
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​​In this informative and practical volume, Dr Hall Cuny explores this vibrant energy: she uncovers the elements of the ‘It’ factor that reside in each of us, how they combine and are expressed externally, and how we might unlock ‘It’ for ourselves. Drawing on decades of practical experience and her recent research, she shares her insider knowledge and the collected wisdom of leading theatre actors who display this magic and of directors who hire people with ‘It’. In a fun and enlightening way, Jacqui shares her special toolkit of techniques, tips, and tactics designed to unlock synergistic potential for anyone looking to empower authentic, creative expression and human connection, onstage or off. Whether you are a professional or aspiring actor or performer seeking to grow your skill base and improve employment opportunities, a corporate speaker or teacher using vibrant, effective communication as part of your daily work or simply want to re-find your creative spark and revitalise your interactions with the world, this book is for you.
About the Book
In this groundbreaking book, Find Your ‘It’ Factor: A guide to dynamic musical theatre performance, Dr Jacqui Hall Cuny presents the results of 5 years of doctoral research and draws on her vast experience in musical theatre. This easy-to-read handbook is divided into three parts: informational, instructional, and inspirational.
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Part One
Jacqui explores:
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What is the ‘It’ factor and performance synergy? How does it look and feel for the actor and the audience?
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What intrinsic and extrinsic elements are involved in experiencing the ‘It’ factor?
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What is the ‘It’ factor’s history?
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Is there more than one type?
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Is it a product of nature or nurture, or both?
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Can ‘It’ be commanded at will?
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What enhances our ‘It’ factor, and what shuts it down?
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Can we unlock and use ‘It’ in everyday life?
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Part Two
Introduces the how-to and includes strategies for acting singing synergy (SASS), which are presented in an easy-to-use toolkit. These are drawn from a multitude of resources. The toolkit covers:
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Whole Body Activation (AKA warm up), Stretching and Breathing, Grounding and Connecting, Improvising and Atmosphere, Imaginative Vocalising, Energetic Focus and Readiness.
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Creating a personal, safe and free space to explore your ‘It factor.
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Additional tips, tricks and tactics from Australia’s finest actors and creatives.
Part Three
Brings all the ‘book’ elements together and guides the reader in applying their newfound knowledge.
A companion website accompanies the book. Here, you will find video and audio resources that demonstrate aspects of the SASS Toolkit.
Australian soprano and Actor