The Sanford Meisner method of acting is named after its creator. This popular acting technique is based on a complete understanding of yourself, your character, and the environment in which you are acting in any given scene or play. The goal of the Meisner method is to remove the actor from the stage, leaving only a character who exists in the present moment.
Sanford Meisner was born in 1905 to an immigrant family in New York. He was a founding member of the influential Group Theater, which is responsible for much of modern American acting theory, as a professional actor. At The Neighborhood Playhouse, where he headed the Drama Department, Meisner worked to develop his own approach to acting beginning in 1935. He was also influenced Lee Strasberg’s theories, Russian theater master Constantin Stanislovski’s work, and Stella Adler’s work.
The Meisner method’s founding principle is total commitment to the character’s goal. To truly become the character, you must fully comprehend what the character desires and be committed to achieving it. This is combined with training in concentrating on the other characters in a scene, particularly those who may be able to assist or obstruct the path to achieving a goal. Students in the Meisner method go through a variety of exercises to help them refine their objectives.
Repetition exercises are usually the first thing Meisner students do, despite the fact that they can be very disorienting to theater newcomers. A phrase is repeated between two partners in the classic repetition form to see if they can achieve spontaneity between them. For example, one actor may say, “You have a glass of water,” to which the other actor may respond, “I have a glass of water.” The phrase is then repeated several times, with each partner elaborating on the inflection and subtext used the other. This exercise eliminates the need for complex memorization or ambiguous motives, allowing partners to focus solely on one another.
The key to Meisner method acting is to make the character your own. According to the theory, you must reflect to determine what circumstances would compel you to make the same choices as the character if you were in their shoes. You can break down the barrier between actor and character identifying with the character and figuring out how you would act in their shoes. In the Meisner method, you are only supposed to “be” rather than “act.”
Although the Meisner method appears to be extremely rigid, Sanford Meisner was quick to point out that it was neither the only nor the best way to achieve good acting. Young actors should study Meisner technique because it instills valuable lessons in preparation and focus. While few actors adhere to the Meisner method exclusively, its principles are extremely valuable to actors and can be used to help you discover your own acting style.