The William Alderson Acting Studio offers classes for beginning and professional actors. The foundation of the program is the Meisner Technique. The classes are taught by Mr. Alderson. Mr. Alderson was trained as an actor first and as a teacher years later by Mr. Meisner. He started teaching at the Neighborhood Playhouse Professional School of Theatre in New York in 1967. He was only one of many assistant teachers on the staff at that time, but he rose in stature over the years and was made Associate Director to the school. In 1975 when Mr. Meisner began his many bouts with throat cancer Mr. Alderson ran the acting department until Mr. Meisner was able to return in 1983.

Meisner Technique

Sanford Meisner studied as a pianist at The Damrash Institute of Music, now The Julliard School, before making his way into the theater as an actor, director and innovative teacher. Disillusioned with popular acting techniques, he began teaching what he called an "American approach" at The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York in 1935. A year later, he became the school's director. The "Meisner Technique," as it became known, stemmed from his disenchantment with other popular techniques, including the "external" school of British theater, Russian theater's so called "internal" technique and the "method" approach. It focused on actors becoming aware of their emotions through daydreaming and imagination. "Actors are not guinea pigs to be manipulated, dissected, let alone in a purely negative way," Meisner wrote. Arthur Miller said he could tell Meisner-trained actors, because they were honest and simple and don't lay on complications that aren't necessary. "It was a freer way of working and it was very personal." Mr. Meisner was an original member of the Group Theater of the 1930's, which produced acting teachers such as Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler and Robert Lewis. His own students included actors Gregory Peck, Grace Kelly, Robert Duvall, Peter Falk, Lee Grant, Diane Keaton, and Joanne Woodward; directors Sidney Lumet, Sydney Pollack and Vivian Matalon and the playwright David Mamet. Meisner's movie credits include "The Story on Page One," "Tender is the Night,"and "Mikey and Nicky." His last performance was as a guest on the NBC series "ER," at age 90.

Class Schedule

Classes meet twice a week. Students work EVERY class and get a lot of personal attention.

Call (323) 466-0799 for more information.