MEISNER SCENE STUDY
with guest artists
Jessica Greco & Patrice Goodman
Meisner Scene Study is a class for intermediate/advanced actors. Students with a strong foundation in the Meisner Technique, who are capable of maintaining connection, even when given separate tasks and obstacles will be invited to join the Scene Study class. Here we will introduce text and integrate everything the students have been learning up until this point within the framework of a real scene. We will use the repetition exercise with the scene's dialogue to deepen their performance and help ground the actor in the imaginary circumstances. Students will be cast in scenes that challenge them while still showcasing their abilities and range.
At the end of the session we plan to hold an evening performance (Scene Night), and present the work these incredible actors are capable of. It will be open to the public, and all proceeds will go to Liver Cancer Research in honour of the late Jacqueline McClintock teacher/ mentor/ actor, celebrating the Scene Night tradition that Jacqueline started more than 25 years ago.
Meisner Scene Study
Nov 15 to Dec 14
Saturdays 6-9:30pm & Sundays 2-5:30pm
Price: $525+HST (9 classes + scene night)
(5% discount for Union Members and First Nations)
THE MEISNER TECHNIQUE
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Connected. Impulsive. Reacting. Listening. Truthful. In the moment. Actors use these words to praise a good performance, but the question is: how do we get there?
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.”
This class happens in the moment, it cultivates the magic of acting by focusing on behaviour and how that translates out into the world or to another person. The approach puts you in your body, out of your head, and focused on the other actor. Every time you get up to work, (which is twice a class, every class) it will feel vulnerable and scary and exciting and unpredictable. This technique is accessible to all experience levels. Like going to the gym, this technique will keep your instrument alive and spontaneous and strong. Though the class is a Beginner Meisner class, more seasoned artists will find lots to work with here. Ultimately the class is about listening and answering, moment to moment in an authentic way. Grounded and hooked on human connection.
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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.