Konstantin Stanislavski: An Actor Prepares, Bro

Legendary stage director and founder of the Moscow Art Theater (MAT), Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski, published one of the seminal texts of modern acting method, An Actor Prepares, in 1938. Regarded popularly as the founder of “Method” acting, Stanislavski preached the total commitment of the body and mind to the art of becoming an actor’s subject. He is credited with the popular showbiz saying: “the show must go on,” which, legend has it, he muttered in the midst of a heart attack during a performance. He spent the rest of his life as a director and teacher. A who’s who of legendary actors have counted themselves as followers of his method, including Marlon Brando, Anthony Hopkins, Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Meryl Streep. Often misunderstood in the media and criticized (or idolized) in popular culture, Stanislavski’s teachings are not merely the total embodiment of character, but the meticulous preparation of a performance, down to the tiniest seemingly insignificant details. In this episode, we discuss the book that propelled Stanislavski to immortal fame, and we let you know why (or why not), you may want to give it a read.