Actors Studio
The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights located on West 44th Street in Hell's Kitchen, New York City.
Facade in 2018 | |
| Formation | October 5, 1947 |
|---|---|
| Type | Drama school |
| Purpose | Organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights |
| Headquarters | 432 West 44th Street Manhattan, New York City |
Region served | United States |
Key people | Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Burstyn (co-presidents) Beau Gravitte (artistic director) Estelle Parsons (assistant artistic director) |
| Website | theactorsstudio |
The studio is best known for its work refining and teaching method acting. It was founded in 1947 by Elia Kazan, Cheryl Crawford, and Robert Lewis, and later directed by Lee Strasberg, all former members of the Group Theatre, an early pioneer of the acting techniques of Constantin Stanislavsky that would become known as method acting.
Notable actors and playwrights who have shared their work at the studio include Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, who joined the studio in its first year, Lorraine Hansberry and James Baldwin.
While at the Studio, actors work together to develop their skills in a private environment where they can take risks as performers without the pressure of commercial roles.
As of May 2018, the studio's co-presidents are Ellen Burstyn, Alec Baldwin and Al Pacino. The artistic director in New York is Beau Gravitte, and the Associate Artistic Director in New York is Estelle Parsons.