The Stanislavsky Method

Part I of Essay
When I came off of the stage that first night, I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I was ecstatic, on a natural high. Suddenly, I had found my place in the world. As I have gotten older and more experienced, I have learned that acting is not just recitin ....

Part II of Essay
.... now the most common acting style in Western theatre. Stanislavsky’s method begins with relaxation. He called in an “occupational disease.” One of Stanislavsky’s most famous students, Lee Strasberg, believed it to be the actor’s worst enemy. The exercise Stanislavsky developed for relaxation is meant to help the actor find hidden tension in all muscles of the body, most importantly the face, where most mental tension manifests itself. The exercise begins with the actor sitting in a straight backed, armless chair. First, the actor must find ....