The Meisner Technique

The great strength of Meisner Training is that it gives you a clear, step-by-step approach to the craft of acting that allows complete freedom of expression and confidence in your abilities. In EMAS’ Meisner Technique program, we teach The Meisner Technique, period. It is not a blend of other techniques or “methods”, or an innovative new spin. It is a pure Meisner Training program. If you want to learn The Meisner Technique the way Sandy developed it then EMAS is the place for you.


The First Year
The first year is dedicated to you learning who you are and bringing that self-knowledge to your craft. To be a great actor you absolutely must know yourself. You are introduced to the fundamentals of acting through improvisational exercises that gradually become more challenging. You develop skills such as listening and emotional availability, working moment to moment to create the sense of spontaneity that is necessary to all great acting. You will know how to work instinctively, not intellectually. The best actors work from impulse, one unanticipated moment to another.
As the year progresses you will be introduced to the ideas of relationship and objective. Your emotional range will continue to increase and your ability to use your imagination fully and specifically will strengthen. This technique can take your acting beyond what you ever thought possible! By the end of the first year, if you have applied yourself diligently and passionately, you will have developed a strong sense of your uniqueness, and know exactly how to use it to create emotionally truthful, imaginative and exciting performances. It is at this point that you may be invited to study the second year work.



The Second Year
If the first year is about finding the truthfulness of you in the imaginary circumstances, then the second year is about creating characters different from yourself, and having them be just as honest, impulsive and interesting. The second year’s acting classes introduce Character Development, Script Analysis, Voice and Movement as well as Auditioning Technique. If the first year is learning the steps, the second year is when you get to DANCE!

The Summer Intensive
The summer intensive is a month-long course that meets three days a week for three hours. It’s purpose it to give student actors a full exposure to the philosophies as well as the structure of this demanding yet dynamic process. It is a way for a student to try out the process before committing to a 9-month or 2 year program.

A Perfect Fit for Hollywood
Although the Meisner Technique was originally developed for stage actors, it has quickly become the technique of choice in Los Angeles… for one simple reason. The ability to improvise with a memorized text is critical on camera, where improvisation, not rehearsal, is important. Only in theater do you have weeks of rehearsal. In film and television, an actor must be able to relate to the circumstances, personalize the character, memorize the lines...and GO! The Meisner Technique makes that second nature.

The Student Commitment
The EMAS Meisner Technique Program is only for the serious student actor. You must be dedicated to yourself as an artist; committed to your own growth and development, and diligent about mastering the craft of acting. You will find this work to be one of the most challenging, demanding, and inspiring undertakings of your artistic life. But the success of the technique, and ultimately of the class is dependent upon each student bringing his or her best to each and every class. That is what will be expected of you.

Joining the Class
Admission to the studio is through a personal interview. Classes meet twice a week for 3-4 hours. Classes are limited in size to promote the individual growth, development, and uniqueness of each actor. All those individuals who are inspired to train at the highest level in an extraordinarily nurturing, creative environment are encouraged to apply for admission.

If you have studied the Meisner Technique elsewhere, and would like to join our class, a private audition can be held to see if your training is compatible to our program.

“Elizabeth creates an amazing environment that makes you feel safe and vulnerable all at the same time.She is honest and unafraid to tell you what you can do to get better, what you have missed, which is always fascinating because she doesn't miss ANYTHING. You won’t do mediocre work here.”
Mark Griffin Actor and EMAS student (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dr. Doolittle II, Action Man)