“If you are really doing it, you don’t have time to watch yourself doing it.” Sanford Meisner was an actor and founding member of the Group Theater. He went on to become a master teacher of acting who sought to give students an organized approach to the creation of truthful behavior on stage within the imaginary circumstances of a play. This class focuses on developing an actor’s ability to listen, follow their impulses, trust their instincts, and work from moment to moment off of an acting partner. We will explore repetition, independent activities, emotional preparation, and the beginings of text work. The class will require extensive out-of-class preparation, with a minimum of six hours a week for rehearsals and the crafting of exercises. In addition, we will be reading Eleonora Duse’s biography, A Mystic in the Theater.
Learning Outcomes:
-deepen ability to remain present on stage
-increase listening and observation skills
-explore and develop a healthy practice for emotional preparation
-strengthen ability to play actions on stage
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites:
A meeting with and permission of the instructor. Contact: jrohn@bennington.edu.
Corequisites: Dance or Drama Lab Assignment
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
M/Th 3:40PM - 5:30PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 12
Course Frequency: Once a year
Categories: 4000 , All courses , Drama , Four Credit , Fully In-Person
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