Stella Adler and Sanford Meisner

Stanislavski’s influence continued…

Adler early years

Born in 1901 to a family of actors with 5 older siblings.

Debuted on stage when she was 5. Performed primarily at the Yiddish

Theatre in New York. Had her English speaking debut at 20. Decided to study acting “seriously” Had to take off 3 years due to

Tuberculosis

The Group

Joined the Group Theatre in 1931 and married original founder Harold Clurman.

Only member to have studied with Stanislavsky personally

Confronted Strasberg and his use of the actor’s emotional memories and substitution causing friction in the Group and prompting Strasberg’s break from teaching Stanislavsky’s System.

A School of Her Own

Went to Hollywood to pursue film in 1937.

Founded the Stella Adler School of Acting in New York City in 1949

Focus of Acting Unlike Strasberg, she believed in

focusing on the given circumstances to create emotion through imagination, and not by using the actor’s memories.

Heavy emphasis on understanding historical context of texts and character analysis.

Heavy focus on voice and movement to create an epic quality so as not to be boring.

Believed strongly in justification for action

Famous actors taught by Adler:Robert DeNiro, Marlon Brando, Harvey Keitel

Amusing Facts Upon Strasberg’s death, she had her

class sit in a moment of silence. When finished, she then declared that it would take centuries to undo the harm Strasberg did to the art of acting.

Meisner Early Years

Born to a Hungarian Jewish immigrant family in 1905 and grew up in the Bronx.

Joined the Theater Guild when he was 19. Met Harold Clurman and Lee Strasberg

while there. Became a founding member of The Group

when Clurman and Strasberg decided to leave instead of going into the fur business.

Training and Contacts

He learned as much as he could from Adler, Strasberg, and Clurman while in The Group.

He surrounded himself with big name contacts and people who would be serious through Strasberg and Clurman.

He headed the drama department at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York in 1935.

Post Group Director of New Talent for 20th Century

Fox in 1958. 1964-1990 he was Head of the

Neighborhood Playhouse. In 1985, opened the Meisner/Carville

School of Acting. Died in 1997.

Focus of Acting

Believed that using one’s own memories caused actors to be too focused on themselves and not telling the story.

Believed in being in “the moment” Exercises focus on acting and reacting

to a partner in an organic way. Actors should commit to an objective

and task instead of focusing too much on dialogue.

Famous actors taught by Meisner: Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Jon Voight, and David Mamet