The Meisner Technique lays a solid foundation for believable acting, bringing the actor back to their emotional impulses and to acting that is firmly rooted in instinct. As the great acting teacher Sanford Meisner put it, “It is based on the fact that all good acting comes from the heart, as it were, and that there’s no mentality in it.”
Teaching Artist Grant McGowen is a Founder and the Producing Artistic Director of the contemporary theater company and acting studio Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theatre. Since 2010, McGowen has garnished a reputation for producing exciting new plays that are rooted in powerful acting and written by some of the most prolific contemporary playwrights working today. McGowen is also an accomplished Director, Actor, Playwright, and Filmmaker. His most recent credits include the Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize winner RENT, and in the same year, Larson’s other hit musical Tick, Tick…Boom! With over 13 years of experience as an acting teacher, McGowen has guided many actors to reach success. “My goal is to inspire the next generation of artists to discover their unique creative voices and empower them to tell compelling stories that are derived from a sense of truth,” says McGowen, “and they can only do this through practice and discipline.”
In the Meisner Foundation for Acting Class, students are guided through powerful acting exercises, giving them the ability to access their inner emotional life. The Meisner Technique is recommended for serious actors who are looking to delve deeper into the craft of acting. In the past century, this legendary technique has been taught to many Award-Winning Actors, Directors, and Writers alike. It continues to be a staple in the acting community and is at the core of many of the esteemed acting schools in the country.
In the Stage Performance class, students continue to learn the essentials of truthful acting, utilizing Sanford Meisner’s legendary acting technique. “Don’t give a performance. Let the performance give you,” Meisner would say. “On the stage, public solitude is what we want. That is an actor’s ability to appear private in public.” In collaboration with Directors and other actors, students will rehearse and perform in short plays that will be showcased in front of a live audience. The Stage Performance class is a perfect introduction to theatre for new actors and an opportunity to sharpen their skills in stage acting for experienced actors.
The On-Camera Acting Class is a comprehensive filmmaking program that gives students an opportunity to learn how to act on camera while also gathering a considerable understanding of the filmmaking process. As actors, students learn how to break down a script, create believable characters, work in collaboration with directors, and execute every shot from the “master” to the “close-up.” Students learn about crew positions, the basics of film editing, and how to work on a professional set. Teaching Artist Grant McGowen invites special guest Directors into class to work on scenes, giving students invaluable on-set experiences. All of the student’s scene work is archived on a private video channel, giving them the ability to download their footage from class and edit scenes for their learning purposes.
To learn more about what Teaching Artist Grant McGowen has to offer aspiring actors and to schedule an interview, email Grant at info@pnotheatre.org
