Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Learn to be more present, trust your instincts and achieve more emotional freedom on stage. Through a series of simple, yet gradually challenging exercises, improve your leadership skills, empathy, creativity and focus. All levels welcome.

The Meisner Technique was developed in the 20th century by American actor Sanford Meisner during his career at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in New York. Some of the most successful actors who trained in the technique include Steve McQueen, Sydney Pollack, Diane Keaton, Amy Schumer and Antoni Porowski. The technique helps actors develop their ability to listen and connect to their scene partner in a way that elicits more vulnerability and authenticity. By learning to become more present, actors become less nervous and start to "behave truthfully under imaginary circumstances." The technique can benefit actors and non-actors alike, as it is a formidable instrument of self-discovery.