Acting Schools New Orleans

As a way of developing an actor's craft, Lee Strasberg developed Method Acting to consistently produce a performance that authentically re-experiences the life implied by the given circumstances of the story. Strasberg believed that this was what all great actors had always done whenever they acted well. This type acting school can be a great starting point for New Orleans actors beginning their careers.

Lee Strasberg created the Method as a powerful tool to help teachers and experts train actors to deliver an emotionally charged performance that conveys the character's inner life and provides the audience with a fresh experience of the character each time. Laurette Taylor, an iconic American actor, wrote an insightful description of an actor's work in 1914:

"You see a queer little child sitting in the middle of a mud puddle. She attracts you and holds your interest. You even smile in sympathy. Why? Simply because that child is experiencing her creative imagination. She is attributing to mud pies the delicious qualities of the pies which mother makes in the kitchen."

This method of acting is being utilized in New Orleans as a starting point for its students. It focuses on relaxation.

Through a series of exercises, the students are taught how to completely rid their bodies of any tension.

Once the student can completely relax and let go of any tension, they are then more receptive to feeling true emotion.

This true emotion helps the actor or actress to better understand the character they are portraying.

This understanding can add layers of realism to their performance, making it more impactful to the audience.

Actors need to be able to completely relax on command. Once they've achieved this, instructors might introduce techniques based on the teachings of Sanford Meisner, a renowned acting teacher. An example of this is the "coffee cup" exercise. In this exercise, actors focus on relaxation while recalling the simple act of drinking from a cup of coffee. The more they repeat this exercise, the easier it becomes to remember sensory details. After mastering this ability to recall sensory details, actors can move on to learning about emotional memory, a powerful tool that can help them connect more deeply with their characters. This is particularly valuable for beginning actors, especially those starting out in New Orleans.

In this technique, called emotional recall, actors rely on their memory to trigger emotions linked to a past experience. A prop, like a light switch in a room you argued in before, can act as a cue to resurface those emotions. With practice, actors can use this method to conjure up the feelings their characters need. While perfecting emotional recall might be a lifelong pursuit, it's among the most powerful and realistic techniques used by New Orleans actors.

Calling all aspiring actors seeking a unique approach to the craft! Consider the Michael Chekhov Acting Studio in New Orleans. This studio teaches the "psycho-physical" technique, which bridges the gap between an actor's body and a character's inner world. Unlike methods that emphasize external displays of emotion, Chekhov's approach encourages actors to embody the character's internal desires through physical movement. This fosters a more genuine and believable performance. Interestingly, Chekhov was a former student of Constantin Stanislavski, and elements of his technique have been woven into the Stanislavski system.

With a wealth of acting techniques at your disposal, your New Orleans instructors want to empower you to discover the perfect fit for your artistic journey. Their goal is not to pressure you into a specific method, but rather to equip you with the tools you need to flourish as an actor. Don't hesitate to experiment and even combine different approaches to maximize your learning experience. Remember, take your time and choose the style that unlocks your greatest potential for a fulfilling career.