Friday, August 3, 2012

Soul Searching

Training is deeply personal. In movement class the actor's first job often is to find a place of physical neutral with feet planted on the floor, spine straight and fluid and arms and hands relaxed at the side. Early on in voice class actors are encouraged to find a place of vocal open-ness and are given techniques to speak a standard American English free of regionalisms. In improvisation the mind must be free and nimble and the voice and body responsive. In technique the actor must train their mind to be active, engaged, alert and explorative. These teachings often bring young artists to a place of personal conflict or confusion. Perhaps they thought they were more open to the world than they find themselves in class to be. Perhaps they learn about physical or vocal habits that are surprising or jarring. The object of training is not to change an actor. The object of training is to bring the actor into a deeper sense of awareness of their instrument. Once that happens an actor is free to begin to acquire craft and tools that will help them further their storytelling and communicative skills onstage so that the audience receives the message of the play through them.

16 comments:

  1. This week was excellent as always! Our group is really coming together! Not only have we become an excellent ensemble, but a great family as well.

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  2. This week was a very challenging, I have a bad habit of talking with my hands or sometimes I tend fidget so it was hard for me to stay neutral onstage. Eventually I learned how powerful my word sound when I move less now I try my best not to do a lot of movement when I speak not only when I'm onstage but everyday in my life. I've been learning so much I can't believe next week will be the last week!

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  3. this week was good, i learned that since my character is old and wise i have to take time saying my words so that people can understand them better. Also, i think this program is not only getting better with the people in it but it is gaining more pressure and with only week left everyone hopes to do their best and i can definetly say i feel like we will do great.

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  4. This week was amazing. Most of this week was practicing because practice makes perfect and every day I felt that the group and myself was getting one step closer to perfection. In a way I'm kinda sad that we only have one week left but then again I can't wait for the performance on Friday ^_^

    -lueshen Swainson

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  5. This week I learned a lot about my fellow cast mates. I feel really close to all of them and I'm making some great friends. With the show coming up this week, I feel really secure. I'm working under the direction of my intelligent and awesome mentors and my cast mates. I trust them to cover for me if I miss a cue (God forbid) and I hope they trust me to do the same for them. My character is very well developed and I believe both groups are going to have shows that are different but amazing. Break a leg everybody; we're going to be GREAT!

    - D'Asia

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  6. Next week we finally hit the stage and perform, I can't wait! Im sure we'll do great. We've been practiceing so often and I can feel and see grand improvement. I don't want to leave Stella, the friends I have made are so wonderful and the teachers are so diferent from other drama teachers I've ever had.

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  7. Last week, its been going a lot better growing personallly as true actors that we sgould be. When we finally hit the lights last weeek on Friday, it amazed me. I felt alive.

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  8. I cant believe there's only one more week left , these five weeks have gone so quick ! I've learned so many new techniques and excersize's that will help me in the future. I am very glad I took this class because I had fun and met great talented people who enjoy acting just as much as I do ! I am excited to showcase on Friday , I know we will all do an amazing job because we all put all our effort in to make this a great play !!! I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow and enjoying my last week a Stella Adler.

    - Kayla Velez

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  9. This week was wonderful, although a part of me felt emotional too knowing that in just a week we'll be done with the program. Its great to see how the show is coming together, and day after day it looks better. This week we polished it, we learned all our lines and blocking, and we worked on details that play a big part during the performance, like the way we stand, or where we place our arms. Everything we have learned from our mentors was applied to the performance and its amazing how the cast has bonded over time. This program has been one of the best experiences I've had! can't wait to see the final product!

    - Fania Suarez

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  10. Last week rehearsal helped how to memorize our lines and pick up on our cue, to use our voices and physical structure to express various emotions throughout each scene.

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  11. I am very much enjoying the journey of helping myself become an actor, through class, self motivation, and classmates. It was and is a bit of a struggle, but I believe that all that I have learned from the class has really made a huge difference in how I act on stage.

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  12. This past week at stella adler has been great, As usual. This past week has helped me get to know my self and my group members better and also has helped me with making big decisive choices for my character for the play. Unfortunately this program is coming to an end but i will try to make the best of what's left, And simply enjoy !

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  13. I am so excited to see what the final product of the production will look like. I can't believe how much progress my group has made over the past couple weeks. This week and last week we began to tighten up our loose ends by going through each scene thoroughly. Even though the program is ending soon, it's a bittersweet feeling .. We will all leave with the feeling of triumph, knowing that we created something great.

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  14. Its crunch time ! two more days till the final show the past five weeks seem to fly by so quick . I'm glad that i got an amazing group of actors to work , learn, and grow with . We've grown as family through the production of Coriolanus and i will personally take a part of volumunia with me in my personal and acting life .

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  15. When I think about how much I have grown as an actress since working on this play I get amazed. I have gotten my in depth with my character and its making my performance more powerful and believable. I know for a fact that me and my fellow cast mates are going to put on an incredible show.

    - Kiera

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  16. This has truly been a great time! I had so much fun and grown to love all of my classmates. I realized how stubborn I can be when taking direction sometimes which made me feel like I've grown as both an actor an person. The play turned out amazing thanks to my peers and us staying focused. I will miss Adler!

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