Michael Howard Studios
Encyclopedia
The Michael Howard Studios is an acting studio for the performing arts
located in Manhattan
, New York
; the studio was founded in 1953 by actor/director Michael Howard.
at the Actors Studio
, Howard established his Studio in 1953 grounded in the work of Konstantin Stanislavski
. Over the years, the studio incorporated many schools of thought and techniques from around the world.
The Studio attributes its existence to the Group Theatre
. In 1931, Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford, and Strasberg founded the Group Theatre
in New York, beginning a watershed period in American Theater. The Group Theatre brought together Elia Kazan
, Stella Adler
, Sanford Meisner
, Frances Farmer
, Clifford Odets
, Irwin Shaw
, and John Garfield
(among many others). Their creative commune introduced America to the revolutionary teachings of Stanislavski, and it set in motion new schools of thought that would dominate acting for the rest of the century. The Group Theatre closed its doors in 1941, and its visionary members set out in new directions.
In 1942, Michael Howard (actor/teacher) joined the Neighborhood Playhouse as a scholarship student under Sanford Meisner
. Howard vigorously pursued his studies and absorbed everything Meisner had to impart. Howard then served in World War II, and upon returning, joined Equity in 1947. Strasberg invited Howard to study with him, and soon he was asked to become a member of the Actors Studio. Howard began a long career of hundreds of roles on stage and screen, including Odets’ “The Country Girl
” on Broadway and the film “The Men
” with Marlon Brando. Acting led to directing and, in 1952, to teaching, when Sidney Lumet
asked Howard to replace him at the High School of Performing Arts
. The next year, in 1953, a group of actors asked Howard to lead their sessions, and Michael Howard Studios was born.
Over the next five decades, Howard’s teachings expanded to the Yale School of Drama, the Juilliard School
, the American Conservatory Theatre, and Boston University while continuing his master classes at the Michael Howard Studios.
The studio is now in its 55th year in continuous operation making it the longest running private acting studio in New York.
In honor of the 55th anniversary of the studio, the studio received an official proclamation from Mayor Michael Bloomberg
, declaring May 4, 2009 Michael Howard Studios Day "in honor of the studio's contribution to New York’s rich theatrical history".
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
located in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; the studio was founded in 1953 by actor/director Michael Howard.
History
A protégé of both Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse and Lee StrasbergLee Strasberg
Lee Strasberg was an American actor, director and acting teacher. He cofounded, with directors Harold Clurman and Cheryl Crawford, the Group Theatre in 1931, which was hailed as "America's first true theatrical collective"...
at the Actors Studio
Actors Studio
The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights at 432 West 44th Street in the Clinton neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded October 5, 1947, by Elia Kazan, Cheryl Crawford, Robert Lewis and Anna Sokolow who provided...
, Howard established his Studio in 1953 grounded in the work of Konstantin Stanislavski
Konstantin Stanislavski
Constantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski , was a Russian actor and theatre director. Building on the directorially-unified aesthetic and ensemble playing of the Meiningen company and the naturalistic staging of Antoine and the independent theatre movement, Stanislavski organized his realistic...
. Over the years, the studio incorporated many schools of thought and techniques from around the world.
The Studio attributes its existence to the Group Theatre
Group Theatre
The Group Theatre was a New York City theater collective formed by Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford and Lee Strasberg in 1931. It was intended as a base for the kind of theater they and their colleagues believed in — a forceful, naturalistic and highly disciplined artistry...
. In 1931, Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford, and Strasberg founded the Group Theatre
Group Theatre
The Group Theatre was a New York City theater collective formed by Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford and Lee Strasberg in 1931. It was intended as a base for the kind of theater they and their colleagues believed in — a forceful, naturalistic and highly disciplined artistry...
in New York, beginning a watershed period in American Theater. The Group Theatre brought together Elia Kazan
Elia Kazan
Elia Kazan was an American director and actor, described by the New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history". Born in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, to Greek parents originally from Kayseri in Anatolia, the family emigrated...
, Stella Adler
Stella Adler
Stella Adler was an American actress and an acclaimed acting teacher, who founded the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City and the The Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles with long-time protege Joanne Linville, who continues to teach and furthers Adler's legacy...
, Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner , also known as Sandy, was an American actor and acting teacher who developed a form of Method acting that is now known as the Meisner technique....
, Frances Farmer
Frances Farmer
Frances Elena Farmer was an American actress of stage and screen. She is perhaps better known for sensationalized and fictional accounts of her life, and especially her involuntary commitment to a mental hospital...
, Clifford Odets
Clifford Odets
Clifford Odets was an American playwright, screenwriter, socialist, and social protester.-Early life:Odets was born in Philadelphia to Romanian- and Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Louis Odets and Esther Geisinger, and raised in Philadelphia and the Bronx, New York. He dropped out of high...
, Irwin Shaw
Irwin Shaw
Irwin Shaw was a prolific American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, and short-story author whose written works have sold more than 14 million copies. He is best-known for his novel, The Young Lions about the fate of three soldiers during World War II that was made into a film starring Marlon...
, and John Garfield
John Garfield
John Garfield was an American actor adept at playing brooding, rebellious, working-class character roles. He grew up in poverty in Depression-era New York City and in the early 1930s became an important member of the Group Theater. In 1937 he moved to Hollywood, eventually becoming one of Warner...
(among many others). Their creative commune introduced America to the revolutionary teachings of Stanislavski, and it set in motion new schools of thought that would dominate acting for the rest of the century. The Group Theatre closed its doors in 1941, and its visionary members set out in new directions.
In 1942, Michael Howard (actor/teacher) joined the Neighborhood Playhouse as a scholarship student under Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner , also known as Sandy, was an American actor and acting teacher who developed a form of Method acting that is now known as the Meisner technique....
. Howard vigorously pursued his studies and absorbed everything Meisner had to impart. Howard then served in World War II, and upon returning, joined Equity in 1947. Strasberg invited Howard to study with him, and soon he was asked to become a member of the Actors Studio. Howard began a long career of hundreds of roles on stage and screen, including Odets’ “The Country Girl
The Country Girl
The Country Girl may refer to:* The Country Girl , a 1915 silent film, based on an 18th-century play by David Garrick* The Country Girl , a 1954 film based on a play by Clifford Odets, starring Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly...
” on Broadway and the film “The Men
The Men
The Men is a 1950 film directed by Fred Zinnemann. It tells the story of a World War II Lieutenant, who is seriously injured in combat, and the struggles he faces as he attempts to re-enter society. It stars Marlon Brando, Teresa Wright, and Everett Sloane...
” with Marlon Brando. Acting led to directing and, in 1952, to teaching, when Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet was an American director, producer and screenwriter with over 50 films to his credit. He was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Director for 12 Angry Men , Dog Day Afternoon , Network and The Verdict...
asked Howard to replace him at the High School of Performing Arts
High School of Performing Arts
The High School of Performing Arts, more formally known as The School of Performing Arts: A Division of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, informally known as "PA", was a public alternative high school in New York, New York, USA that existed from 1948 through...
. The next year, in 1953, a group of actors asked Howard to lead their sessions, and Michael Howard Studios was born.
Over the next five decades, Howard’s teachings expanded to the Yale School of Drama, the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, the American Conservatory Theatre, and Boston University while continuing his master classes at the Michael Howard Studios.
The studio is now in its 55th year in continuous operation making it the longest running private acting studio in New York.
In honor of the 55th anniversary of the studio, the studio received an official proclamation from Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, declaring May 4, 2009 Michael Howard Studios Day "in honor of the studio's contribution to New York’s rich theatrical history".