Origin of the Sanford Meisner’s “Meisner Technique”

Sanford Meisner is one of the most important and influential acting teachers of the Twentieth Century. He defined acting as doing things truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Sandy Meisner created a technique that is still known for its depth, reliability and balanced approach. In 1920’s, a revolution in American theater occurred creating performances filled with raw power, realism and emotional truth. By 1930, the most respected and influential theater company in American history formed called the Group Theater assembling such luminaries as Harold Clurman, Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, Clifford Odets, Morris Carnovsky and Sanford Meisner.

Sandy Meisner taught at the legendary Neighborhood playhouse in New York City for more than 50 years. His students include Paul Newman, Robert Duvall, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Joanne Woodward, Gregory Peck and Steve McQueen.
William Esper, head teacher at the Playhouse for 14 years, eventually formed the William Esper Studio in New York City. One of his students, Joanne Baron, continued to study under Esper for seven years, and then began her own studio in New York to immediate acclaim.
Joanne Baron has trained several gifted and committed instructors, each of whom has trained for a minimum of five years. Now, along with Studio co-owners Joanne Baron and D. W. Brown, (co-owners), this collection of accomplished instructors constitutes the core of the Studio’s artistic staff.

The Studio has been committed for over twenty years to developing a rich mine of talent for the resources of acting, writing, directing, and producing within the theatrical community. The influence the Studio has achieved in the community is exemplified by the endorsement of the caliber of speakers who have graced its yearly student celebration ceremony. Every year, over 1,000 people attend a graduation ceremony to hear such speakers as Robert De Niro, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Martin Sheen, and Dustin Hoffman give the Studio's commencement address.

The Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio is a creative artistic center from which great art and talent continues to flow. All those individuals who are inspired to train at the highest level so they may learn a craft intended to shed light on the truth of the human condition and at the same time experience an extraordinarily nurturing, creative environment are encouraged and welcomed to apply for admission.

Today, the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio has relocated from New York City to Santa Monica, California, continuing this legacy and teaching the same body of work that Esper taught: a specific, sequential training program designed to create an emotionally alive actor of depth, imagination, and truth.