The Meisner Technique, named after its creator Sanford Meisner, was developed as a way to teach actors to “live truthfully under imaginary circumstances” using a series of foundational exercises that build one upon the other. Through his experience of creating and teaching this series of interrelated exercises, Meisner developed a technique that provides a proven and reliable framework to help actors “get out of their heads” and focus their attention on the core elements needed to act honestly and genuinely.
Students who master the exercises learn how to stay in the moment, become less self-conscious, and let go of the need to control. The technique provides them with a solid foundation that allows them to be fully present in the moment, which gives them the freedom and confidence to express themselves truthfully while “playing” in the imaginary circumstance.
Actors are taught how to access their emotions authentically without manipulation or imitation. With the Meisner Technique, the actor develops an intuitive and keen awareness of “who they are” emotionally and physically which allows them to utilize these aspects effectively and instinctively. They learn to connect quickly and deeply to scene partners as well as to their imaginary circumstance. In this way, the work takes on the natural qualities of real life as it is expressed through art. The actor learns to replace “acting” and imitation with genuinely deep and truthful connection.
Please note, classes are non-refundable.
Beginning Class
In the beginning class, students focus on learning the fundamentals of the technique as Sanford Meisner taught them. These foundational exercises include: the repetition exercise, independent activities and emotional preparation.
Intermediate Class
In the intermediate class, the student continues to practice and expand the exercises introduced in the Beginning Class and then is shown how to expand these skills into scene work and “Spoon River” exercises⎯ another powerful tool developed by Sanford Meisner. In this phase of the training, the actor discovers how to personalize scene material and be more specific in their choices while laying the foundation for emotional layering and character work.
Advanced Class
In the Advanced Class, students continue to hone their skills with the repetition exercise, independent activities, emotional preparation, and Spoon Rivers with the additional focus of learning how to apply the various exercises to character work, scene analysis, emotional layering and performance. It is here that the various aspects of the tools and exercises learned in earlier classes are joined together to help the actor become increasingly adept at making specific and personal choices in their work whether it is for film, television or the stage.
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In this “real world” intensive, the actor learns the basics of cold reading and auditioning, and how to apply the Meisner Technique to these oftentimes nerve-wracking tasks. Through the use of the technique, students learn how to bring truthful emotions and genuine connection to the audition process that then frees them from the fears that can undermine an audition. This results in audition readings that can noticeably set the actor apart from their non-Meisner-trained counterparts. Students also gain a keen “nuts and bolts” insight into how the entertainment industry works in both the San Francisco and Los Angeles markets and what to expect as they enter those arenas.
This is a class designed for professional child actors. Most of the kids who take this class already have agents in San Francisco, LA or both, however, child actors who do not currently have representation, but are interested in exploring the world of acting are also welcome.
This class focuses on auditioning/cold reading, how to be truthful in scene work, connecting with other actors, taking direction, and improvisation. Even though this is a group class, the program is designed to focus on the needs and levels of each individual child.
Private coaching for kids is also available either as an ongoing commitment or in Session-by-session meetings for a specific purpose, i.e. preparing for an audition, etc.