“Take it from a director: if you get an actor that Sandy Meisner has trained, you’ve been blessed.” – Elia Kazan
Legendary American acting instructor, Sanford Meisner and the advent of his system of training actors in the "Art of Theatrical Self-revelation" is considered a watershed in the history of actor training. Founding Studio director James Price, who was a protege and personal friend to Mr. Meisner for over fifteen years, heads the Studio's Meisner teaching staff along with six associates all first generation-trained by Mr. Price personally. As a first generation Meisner-trained instructor, James Price has been a steadfast proponent of Sanford Meisner’s acting principles and training system for well over 44 years; recalibrating some of the traditional exercises, at the suggestion of Mr. Meisner personally, adding newer elements to others, for further improving and maintaining the training system’s effectiveness in the 21st century. This is a cause to which Mr. Price has dedicated most of his adult life to as “protégé” to Sandy, a term personally granted to him by by Mr. Meisner in 1984 when he was a young teacher under Meisner's tutelage. The Studio's Meisner training continues to closely adhere to the system of exercises that catapulted Sanford Meisner and his acting approach to what many consider to be the world's top rung of actor training.
Deadline: Feb 8, 2026
Six-Week Acting Conservatory is a rigorous, intensive program for students seeking to commit to 6-weeks of the highest level of training offered in New York designed to begin their development into well-grounded, professional artists capable of acting in film, television, and theatre. The 6-Week Acting Conservatory offers a progressive, 32-hour per week curriculum of classes taught Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, for six weeks.
(For schedule click DATES & PRICES above.)
Deadline Jun 22, 2026
The Summer Acting Conservatory is a six-week, full-time program that runs Monday through Friday, offering 30 hours of professional Meisner training per week. This intensive program focuses on developing the actor's instrument and covers a wide range of techniques, including Meisner Acting Technique, Improvisation, Emotional Preparation, Text Analysis/Cold Reading, Scene Study, Contemporary Movement, Voice/Speech, Singing, Stage Violence, Voice-over Workshop, and Acting for the Camera. Designed for students committed to six weeks of rigorous training, this program aims to develop well-rounded, professional artists capable of performing in film, TV, and theatre.
(For schedule click DATES & PRICES above.)
ROME, CAIRO and HAMBURG MASTER CLASSES wiith JAMES PRICE in MEISNER TECHNIQUE (Levels 1 & 2) and SCENE STUDY REHEARSAL TECHNIQUE CLASS offers concentrated instruction that introduces students to Sanford Meisner's system of training actors in developing basic acting skills following a step-by-step progression of exercises and based in acting principle that will promote developing the actor's ability to live organically, moment by moment, under imaginary circumstances. These acting classes cover the beginning Meisner techniques from word repetition through their first application to a scene. Merit Scholarships are awarded select students at the end of the workshops.
This class is a concentrated introduction to Sanford Meisner's approach to developing basic acting skills following a step-by-step progression of exercises that develop the actor's ability to live organically moment by moment under imaginary circumstances. This acting class covers the beginning Meisner techniques from word repetition through their first application to a scene and serves as a studio audition for people new to acting. It is by far the best beginner acting class in New York City. It is a pre-requisite for admission to The Acting Conservatory Program. Requires outside practice with a partner twice a week.
(For schedule click DATES & PRICES above.)
This on-going workshop class is structured to combine serious training in a playful and creative environment. It is a great place for young people to enter the world of acting. In the class, they will develop skills and growth through learning and playing theatre games, practicing the Meisner technique acting exercises for which the Studio is known, working on scenes from plays, films, and television, and meeting like-minded peers.
(For schedule click DATES & PRICES above.)
This six week Meisner Summer Intensive acting class is a "summer-only," intensive that meets three times per week. It is exactly the same curriculum and instruction as our "Introduction to Meisner-Acting Technique" class (10-weeks). Meisner Summer Intensive covers the beginning Meisner techniques from word repetition through the first application of the techniques to a scene. It is an excellent starting point for beginner actors.
(For schedule click DATES & PRICES above.)
Technique 1 class is the continuation of the Meisner technique training and follows through to its completion. The acting class begins with scene work in a brief review of the beginning techniques of Meisner's work as taught in the Intro to Meisner - Acting For Beginners class. It then advances to emotional preparation and proceeds to doing extensive exercises, scenes and improvisations over a period of nine months.
(For schedule click DATES & PRICES above.)
Technique 2 is the second level of The Acting Conservatory Program. This class is an application of the Meisner technique to the rehearsal process and a more in-depth analysis of character and dramatic text. This class also includes advanced voice and speech work taught by staff associates in addition to the acting and scene work. The aim is to broaden the actor’s overall understanding of the relationship between technique and acting in regard to achieving specific artistic goals. Through scene work, the actor gains an in-depth look at the organic and analytical aspects of the rehearsal process.
(For schedule click DATES & PRICES above.)
In all areas of acting, audition preparation, public speaking, directing, and playwriting, The Acting Studio – New York offers private coaching for actors working on theatre, film, and television roles, as well as for those preparing auditions. Coaching is also available for monologue and scene study classwork, voice and speech, accent reduction, and MFA graduate program preparation. Business professionals may also work with the Studio on public speaking, presentation skills, and foreign accent reduction.
Please note, all individuals who work at the Studio are required to complete an application, and the Studio does not teach acting through private one on one sessions.
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Scene Study / Rehearsal Technique is an advanced hybrid class that focuses not only on scene work, but on how an actor is actually working. Created and taught by James Price, founding director of The Acting Studio – New York and a close friend and protégé of Sanford Meisner, this class reflects a lifetime of teaching, directing, and working with actors at the highest professional level and offers a first generation Meisner based rehearsal process not taught elsewhere.
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Very few actors know what to do with their script beyond just memorizing their lines. While knowing your lines is important, it is only about 5% of the work an actor needs to do. This class focuses on the other 95% of the actors work in regard to understanding how to analyze the text, and make acting choices which become the foundation of their performance.
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The Acting Conservatory Program offers our full MEISNER TECHNIQUE TRAINING on a part-time basis in a conservatory setting with Chelsea Repertory Company for those working in the real world. The program is a prescribed, 3-phase, part-time, conservatory course of study for instrument development, beginning with the study of basic Meisner techniques, then applying them to the creative rehearsal process and finally presenting them in performance in conjunction with Chelsea Repertory Company. Most acting classes meet twice a week at each of these levels and outside rehearsal time is required. Most students who have to work for their living choose this program in which to study over a longer period of time.
(For schedule click DATES & PRICES above.)
