...stella adler conservatory or the william esper conservatory? anyone have any sugg and why? thank you in advance...

well, i can't suggest either because from what i've seen they're very different in what they teach.

what do you want to work on? script analysis, imagination? then go with adler.

if you wanna study listening and becoming grounded in a scene, go with esper.

Yes, they are different in the way they teach method acting. William Esper is one of the top Meisner based schools and Stella Adler had her own take which focuses on imagination.

Why don't you read the following to see which one is for you?

-The Art of Acting-Stella Adler
-Sanford Meisner on Acting
-Actor's Art and Craft-William Esper

i actually did read two of those books. i also took a evening introductory at stella. just so confused...a lot of people are telling me esper might be better. he did get votes best teacher in backstage 2008...

Esper I feel is better.

quote:

Originally posted by faithlovehope:
he did get votes best teacher in backstage 2008...

That doesn't necessarily mean that much. The people who place in those polls sometimes tell their students to vote for them. Though I doubt that Bill Esper does. I love his book and can understand why he's considered one of those gurus out in NY. But just because schools place well in the polls doesn't necessarily mean that they're for YOU.

Kevyn Major Howard was voted in the top 5 photographers in LA, yet his headshots are laughed at by agents and casting directors in LA.

quote:

Originally posted by faithlovehope:
i actually did read two of those books. i also took a evening introductory at stella. just so confused...a lot of people are telling me esper might be better.

Well, since you've read about both branches of Method Acting, which one do you feel is more your style?

Did those people telling you that Bill Esper is better also study at Stella Adler?

Or since you've taken a class at Stella Adler, why don't you take a class at Bill Esper's and then decide?

i know ideally i would love to take a class at esper......but i feel like i'm getting order by the second. i would like to start this fall rather than wait until next year. i liked adler, but i have heard so many good things about esper. never been so confused.

What's to be confused about?

Adler's and Meisner's take on Method acting are fairly compatible. I'm trained in both and use them for different situations or maybe a combination of both. I like Adler because her take emphasizes imagination and works great in a cold reading/auditioning situation where the reader is just reading or giving you very little to work with. I love Meisner for scene study or in an acting situation where I'm with a great actor because he taught the importance of reacting off of other people.

What do you have to lose going to William Esper?
1. It's one of the most prestigious schools in NY
2. One of the best Meisner schools in the country.
3. It will look great on your resume.
4. You learn a different take on acting and thus have more tools to work with.

Sorry for bringing it up, I was just wondering since this topic got me confused a little bit.

Stella Adler's school is teaching METHOD ACTING (because she's a student of Stanislavski) with approach which is very similar to Meisner Technique, but still is NOT called Meisner Technique.

William Esper Studio is teaching pure MEISNER TECHNIQUE (because he is a student of Meisner).

Am I getting it right, or no? Thank-you for your help.

quote:

Originally posted by Pavel:
Sorry for bringing it up, I was just wondering since this topic got me confused a little bit.

Stella Adler's school is teaching METHOD ACTING (because she's a student of Stanislavski) with approach which is very similar to Meisner Technique, but still is NOT called Meisner Technique.

William Esper Studio is teaching pure MEISNER TECHNIQUE (because he is a student of Meisner).

Am I getting it right, or no? Thank-you for your help.

Method Acting is anything that comes from Stanislavski.

Disciples of Stanislavski came to the U.S. and taught those who would later become teachers at the Group Theatre, three of them being Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Sanford Meisner.

Stella Adler was the ONLY one of these three who actually studied with Stanislavski. When she came back to the U.S. she disagreed with Strasberg and formed her own branch of Method Acting which disregarded emotional memory and substitution and put a greater emphasis and imagination.

Meisner also disagreed with Strasberg and formed his own branch of Method Acting, best known as Meisner technique which also disregards the emotion memory and imagination but focuses on the importance of reacting off of someone else and less focus on you.

William Esper is one of the biggest and most respected disciples of Sanford Meisner.

Meisner also uses imagination to create an emotional preparation. I studied with William Alderson in LA. He and Bill Esper both taught alongside Meisner in NYC and both ran the Neighborhood Playhouse when Meisner was ill.

But Truthteller is right on the money with Stella. She is more imagination based and is the only member of the Group Theatre to actually work with Stan. in Paris. I love her book, "The Art of Acting." Ir ecently bought it. I HIGHLY suggest you read it. Better than the first one she wrote,a s it shows more of her actual personality and though process in teaching. Just my opinion.