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Sanford Meisner has been called "the theater's best-kept secret," and Sanford Meisner on Acting by Dennis Longwell gives some insight into what techniques the hugely influential drama teacher used in his 50-plus years of work. One of the founding members of the Actors Studio (with Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Harold Clurman), Meisner developed his own special lessons based upon his understandings of the great Russian teacher Stanislavsky. Turning away from the sense-memory exercises common among his colleagues, his training focused instead on a realistic approach to imagination and creativity. Unlike many other educators associated with "the Method," Meisner had little tolerance for self-absorption or striving after strong emotional effect, instead preaching that clarity of purpose and efficient use of the psyche are the actor's greatest tools. Longwell's book follows a class of eight men and eight women through one of Meisner's 15-month courses at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse, with extensive transcripts taken directly from Meisner's notes to the students on the basis of their exercises. With an introduction by director Sydney Pollack, one of the many influential artists who studied with Meisner (the book includes accolades from Maureen Stapleton, Arthur Miller, Gregory Peck, and Eli Wallach), this is an excellent introduction that helps to demystify the work of a great theatrical teacher. --John Longenbaugh

From Library Journal
Meisner, a member of the Theater Guild and the Group Theater, has devoted most of 50 years to teaching acting and is one of the great unsung resources in American theater. This book is not an acting text, but a journal of a 15-month course taken by 16 adult actors. We follow them as they progress from early exercises through preparation to detailed scene work. Meisner emphasizes emotional truth and acting as the reality of doing. His students find the course difficult, but most improve markedly. Not all survive. Though Meisner is not well, he is a superb teacher and his enthusiasm is undiminished. This is required reading for all actors and those interested in acting. Thomas E. Luddy, English Dept., Salem State Coll., Mass.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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First Sentence:
At first glance, except for the twin beds, the room resembles any number of small classrooms almost anywhere in the country. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
anything until something, public solitude, imaginary circumstances, taxi accident, repetition exercise, independent activity Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Rose Marie, New York, Group Theatre, Scott Roberts, Miss Alma, Clifford Odets, Harold Clurman, Sanford Meisner, Sigmund Freud, Spoon River, Neighborhood Playhouse, Las Palmas, Joseph Morgan, Stella Adler, Theatre Guild, Arthur Miller, Lee Strasberg, Meade Roberts, Word Repetition Game, Countess Mara, Joan Riviere, Lila King, Maureen Stapleton, Stanislavsky System, The Octoroon New!
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