 | Letter from Lee Strasberg on founding the Theatre Institute |
| |
For over 2,000 years the problem of the actor has been misunderstood. Acting has been considered either from a critical or interpretative point of view, or has been superficially divided into an external or internal approach. We have had great acting, but no knowledge of how it was achieved, or of the procedures necessary to recreate it. Therefore, it was impossible to create a proper foundation for the training of the actor.
Today, through our expanding knowledge of how the human organism reacts, the creation of habits, the interaction between the conscious and subconscious, the process of creative imagination, and the discovery of the basic elements in acting (as defined by Stanislavski), we are able, for the first time, to understand these processes and create that foundation for the actor's training.
The actor needs a basic training. This is achieved not by the necessary but limited emphasis to the public, nor by the necessary but limited emphasis on voice, speech, and physical dexterity. These train the tools but not the talent, which is dependent on the development of concentration, will and belief, imagination, fantasy, improvisation, and spontaneity, and behavior -- the logical and truthful carrying out of actions and adjustments.
Acting is the most personal of our crafts. The make up of a human being -- his physical, mental, and emotional habits -- influence his acting to a much greater extent than commonly recognized. The work with the actor therefore demands an individual approach to each actor.
As Artistic Director of the Actors Studio and Co-founder of the Group Theatre, I have for many years, been aware of the need to offer training in acting and the theatre arts to a wider public. But the very special and individual nature of the work has, in the past, confined my instructions to the membership of the Studio and to my private classes.
Now finally, the emergence of teaching talents, trained by me, which I can assume responsibility for, direct supervision of, and active participation with, makes it possible to answer these demands, by the establishment of a professional studio school, an Institute for Performing Arts.
-Lee Strasberg
Hollywood: 7936 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046/New York: 115 East 15th St., New York, New York 10003
|
|
