Students explore Qualities of Movement

     The fundamental nature of the Chekhov approach is to bring the psychology of the character into the body through movement and gesture, creating an enriched and active inner life, making the creation of a character an imaginative, organic and playful process.  The Chekhov work affords access to untapped inner resources and liberates the actor from the limitations of his or her own personal history, enlarging the actor's creativity. 

     Michael Chekhov (1891-1955) is widely recognized as one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. He was considered by Stanislavsky to be his most brilliant student. Stanislavsky once said that if anyone wanted to know what he was teaching, they should go and see what Michael Chekhov was doing. Chekhov had a great talent for characterization and was a keen observer of the creative process. After heading the second Moscow Art Theater Studio, he traveled and worked extensively in Europe, established a training studio in England where he laid the basic foundations for his technique. In 1939 he moved to the United States where he taught in both New York and Hollywood. He developed his psycho-physical acting technique, incorporating imagination and body as well as intellect. His training method has inspired notable actors such as Mala Powers, Anthony Hopkins, Yul Brynner, Ingrid Bergman, Jack Palence, Gregory Peck, Marilyn Monroe, Beatrice Straight and Jack Nicholson.