Meisner Program
Concept
The Meisner Program focuses on training students over a course of 9 months in the fundamentals of the Meisner Technique. The Program consists of 4 blocks which build upon each other. Every Block (execept the first one) has an intensive weekend course prior to the classes to provide a solid preparation for the classes which take place twice a week. Coaches are Jim and Hendrik, which both went through the Curriculum of the Neighborhood Playhouse and studied directly under Sanford Meisner. In a maximum class size of 12 students it is possible to create an intense 9 month program which reproduces the first year of the Neighborhood Playhouse, the official source of Sanford Meisners teachings.
Our Goal
How can the Meisner Technique help me to gain presence and add truthfulness to my work? How do I gound myself fast in the reality of the scene and the given circumstance?
The Meisner Technique is based on an intense contact between the acting partners. "Working off" your partner is not only demanded, but systematically trained through a set of exercises which build upon each other. Through the work you reach a level of contact which lets you experience real moments which are based on your own truth. You will be taught to follow your own instincts and create a truthful, organic performance.
Hence the Meisner Technique opens up an authenticity and presence, that makes the difference, especially in camera work.
The Program
| Block 1 | Month 1-2 |
|---|---|
| Contents of weekly classes | Repetition, Introduction into concept of working-off, being in the moment and making true contact. Taking the partner in. Reading behaviour. Expressing own emotions by naming them. 1st Scene. A short Scene just to apply the repetition on text. |
| Block 2 | Month 3-4 |
| Intensive Weekender 1 | Introduction into Independent Activity and Knocks. |
| Contents of weekly classes | Repetition including independent Actvities and Knocks. Advanced Exercises. Independent Activities are very difficult and short timeframe. Person knocking has a reason. 2nd Scene. Scenes includes Independent Activity and a person knocking. |
| Block 3 | Month 5-6 |
| Intensive Weekender 2 | Final staging of the scenes, Introduction into Emotional Preparation. |
| Contents of weekly classes | Advanced Exercises. Independent Activities based on deep emotional foundation. Person knocking has a deep Emotional Reason. Advanced Exercises. Introduction of Relationships. Working on Emotional Instrument. 3rd Scene. Scenes include deep Emotional Preparation. Scenes are from classical Plays: Shakespeare, Kleist, Goethe, Schiller. |
| Block 4 | Month 7-9 |
| Intensive Weekender 3 | Introduction into Monologue Work and Spoon rivers |
| Inhalte des Wochentrainings | Full Blown Exercising including Independent activities, Emotional Exercises and Relationships.Beginning to work on Final Scenes. Beginning to work on short Spoon rivers. Students work on their own Material and form groups. Work on Scenes with multiple Actors, 3 or 4 Actors per Scene. Scenes will be showcased in front of audience. |
Costs and Locations
The Program is divided into Blocks. Classes take place twice a week. Amount of classes per block is 16 to 18. Within a block the partcipation in twelve classes and a weekender prior to the next block is mandatory. Its not possible to jump a block. Advanced Students may join the program at a later stage in accordance with Martz&Walker.
| Cost per class (3 hrs.): |
25€ in Berlin / 30€ in Hamburg | |
| 12 class Ticket: | 270€ in Berlin / 335 € in Hamburg | |
| cost per intensive weekender | 200€ in Berlin / 230€ in Hamburg | |
| Adress and Hours | ||
| Berlin: Theaterhaus Mitte Wallstr. 32 10179 Berlin Mondays 10am to 1pm Thursdays 3pm tp 6pm |
Hamburg: Tina Vogt Casting Susannenstr. 21c 20357 Hamburg |
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