For more than 60 years, actors have turned to the Stella
Adler Studio of Acting for theater training that teaches the acting philosophy
of its renowned founder. Stella Adler was the only American actor ever to study
personally with Constantin Stanislavski, the legendary acting teacher whose
memory-based techniques inspired what became known as Method acting.
Adler eventually expanded upon Stanislavski’s philosophy and
opened up her own studio in 1949. Today, Stella Adler Studio offers a wealth of
opportunities for intensive summer training, including a Summer Conservatory, a
Shakespeare Intensive, a Chekhov Intensive, and a Teenage Conservatory. Show
Business caught up with Stella Adler’s director of marketing, Johnny Yoder, to
discuss how these intensives differ from longer programs.
Show Business: What are some of the key differences
between summer acting intensives and longer, degree-based acting programs?
Johnny Yoder: Summer intensives allow artists to delve deeply into an area of study over a relatively short period of time. You might think of a summer intensive as an immersion course, allowing the body, voice and imagination to be completely exercised, stretched and shaped by new skills and ideas.
SB: Are summer intensives typically aimed at beginners,
or can seasoned performers also benefit from this type of fast-paced training?
JY: When you think about the summer stock tradition, you realize that June through August is historically and traditionally a time when American actors invest in their growth through intensive work and study. In that vein, summer intensives benefit actors who have the dedication and the time to commit to the work — regardless of their experience level. Actors who are passionate about theater and craft and who have a schedule that allows them to immerse themselves for five to ten weeks stand to benefit the most from these kind of programs.
SB: Are there any disadvantages to taking an intensive as opposed to, say, a one-year or two-year program?
JY: The answer to this varies from one actor to another. Some artists have a deep-rooted need to study acting and theater inside and out, to challenge themselves in all aspects of craft and to be ready to respond to any professional demand. That kind of artist might be best served by a one-year or two-year program that allows them to explore many aspects of acting very deeply. Summer intensives could enhance what that artist is looking for, but a summer intensive alone would probably not serve their needs. The advantage of full-time conservatory training is that it gives the artist sustained training and a perspective on their own development.
SB: Stella Adler has summer intensives aimed specifically
at teens. Why do you think it’s important for actors to start training while
they’re still young?
JY: If young artists have a desire to act, it is important that they obtain a strong foundation. Deciding when to train is a very personal matter for an artist, but we believe that, as long as there is passion and desire, real craft is not only important for young actors, but it can also be incredibly liberating. It is easy to pick up bad habits, but proper training dissuades young people from habitual patterns and gives them resources to respond to texts, plays and characters that they cannot prepare for on their own.
SB: With all the intensives out there in the summertime,
what makes the programs at Stella Adler unique?
JY: Our summer intensives are taught with the same intensity and integrity as our full-time conservatory programs and with the same world-class faculty. They allow artists to have direct access to some of the best master teachers in the country. Being in the heart of New York City, our intensives allow those considering a life in the city to try it out and see if it feels right for them. Above all, Adler’s summer intensives give participants the opportunity to live, train, grow and be treated like an artist, to be surrounded by serious, like-minded colleagues and to forge a foundation that will affect them for the rest of their lives and careers.
