The Actors Studio

For more information on Actors Studio, visit Britannica.com.

The preeminent workshop for professional actors, it was founded in 1947 by Cheryl Crawford, Elia Kazan, and Robert Lewis. Membership is limited to those invited after an audition. In 1948 Lee Strasberg joined the group and soon became its prime mover as the Studio evolved into the leading proponent of “method” acting, a school of performing that encouraged actors to respond as much to their own deepest feelings as to the requirements of the text or dramatic effectiveness. The style of acting developed into a major force in contemporary theatre. Among its proponents were Geraldine Page and Kim Stanley, while such Hollywood stars as Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, and Joanne Woodward sometimes came east to study with the group. In the late 1950s and early 1960s the Studio established special units for playwrights, for directors, and for production. This last unit mounted several noteworthy offerings, including a fine 1963 revival of Strange Interlude. Since Strasberg's death in 1982, its directors have included Ellen Burstyn, Al Pacino, and Frank Corsaro. Well‐known alumni of the Studio include Marlon Brando, James Dean, Montgomery Clift, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert DeNiro.