From 1935 to 1990, Sanford Meisner was an esteemed acting teacher who founded the renowned NYC acting school The Neighbourhood Playhouse. There he created The Meisner Technique, and an incredibly simple, yet riveting acting exercise called The Repetition. Specifically designed to enhance the key skills of listening and answering another human being fully. In this class, you will repeat with your classmates, embodying the art of “Living truthfully under the imaginary circumstances.”

 

Like going to the gym, this technique keeps your instrument alive, spontaneous and strong. Students will work at least twice, every class. The beginners will be integrated in with intermediate students. Which means advanced work will be done alongside the fundamentals of the technique. Creating an environment that challenges every student at their level.

 

We will begin by laying the ground work of the Meisner Technique. Getting students comfortable repeating in a chair, then on their feet, observing, making authentic connections. Introducing a sense of play. Then, we will refine the work, focusing on an individual’s sticking points. Integrating all levels of experience forces the more advanced students to drill down into the fundamentals and work simply. While the beginners enjoy the challenge of working with intermediate students. Those more experienced will demonstrate where the work can go and how it’s applied to a scene. Our goal is to instil in each actor the confidence and conviction to demand consistent human connection. A high tide raises all ships.

 

This technique has garnered much success — 37 of Meisner’s students won or were nominated for Academy Awards. Meisner-trained actors include Tom Cruise, Sandra Bullock, Chadwick Boseman, Diane Keaton, Allison Janney, James Gandolfini, Timothée Chalamet, Sam Rockwell, Jeff Bridges, Jim Carrey, Tatiana Maslany, Krysten Ritter, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and so many more.