TEACHER TESTIMONIALS

"This past semester I used a 'total immersion' approach with the Michael Chekhov technique in my undergraduate acting class. These students had no prior exposure to the Chekhov technique and this group was made up of first and second year students. The results were astounding. Not only did we finish the semester with as strong an ensemble as I've ever had in a classroom, but their growth as actors was incredible. They felt secure and strong and were able to move forward with ease and fun. They truly experienced an understanding that surpassed my expectations and literally 'fell in love' - their expression - with the work.

I also used the concepts of atmosphere, imaginary body, and psychological gesture in my direction of four Tennessee Williams one acts for our mainstage season. The results were again amazing. The Chekhov work was new to them all but they assimilated it immediately. The characters and images they created left a lasting imprint. And the head of our MFA Acting Program came back to the show twice, he was so impressed with the work."

~ Catherine Albers, Theater Department, Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio

- - - - - -

"I'm still absorbing all the wonderful experiences of the latest Chekhov workshop. As you know, it was my second time working with the technique.. After the rich program last summer at the O'Neill Center, I returned to my teaching and directing duties at Gustavus Adolphus College inspired and invigorated. Like many others at the conference, I felt that my encounter with the Michael Chekhov technique was a homecoming, a rediscovery of what drew me to acting and theatre in the first place: an intense, joyful blending of the physical, the imaginative, and the spiritual. This past semester I was able to incorporate some of the Chekhov exercises into my beginning acting class to good effect; even more excitingly,I found through the Chekhov work a whole new dimension for my directing. The result was perhaps the most satisfying production of my more than thirty years as a director.

Our recent workshop was just terrific. I am amazed that we were able to cover as much ground as we did in four days. As before, the teachers were superb and the unified shape of the workshop brought excellent focus and flow to the experience. I am in the process of reshaping my intermediate acting class so that the Chekhov technique is at its base. I also am planning rehearsals for my next production with the technique as our starting point. I find that students respond extremely well to the technique, mainly, I think, because it systematizes and deepens what good actors do or want to do naturally.
Again, thanks for all your superb organizational work and gracious hosting of the January workshop. The generosity of your friends who housed us and the excellence of the catering service--well, what can I say? We ate well, we slept well, we worked well. I'm ready to come back!

I do hope that I'll be able to come to the conference this summer. I want to continue deepening and expanding my experience of the work."

~ Robert Gardner, Theater Department, Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota

- - - - - -

"This January I attended my second event offered by the Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA). Both events were transformational experiences for me. The quality of the teaching, the well-planned scheduling of classes, the attention to the details of the conferences and the ambiance all contributed to creating an environment appropriate for learning this exceptional technique that restores "the way of the actor" to the actor. I feel that I was able to take a great leap in my understanding of the Michael Chekhov technique and the ideas about theatre-making and life connected to it.

I am impressed by the spirit I have encountered at these events. I know that this atmosphere can only be accomplished by the most respectful, generous and inspired attitudes of those that contribute their knowledge and effort to creating the event. I brought home with me some of that spirit; the inspiration, clarity, love, and enlightenment that I hope I can in turn impart in my work as actress, director, and teacher.

I sincerely hope that this Association can continue to provide these learning events for many years to come. They really have so much to offer the students particularly and the world at large generally through their light."

~ Dawn Arnold, Moving Dock Theatre Company, Chicago, IL

- - - - - -

"I have plunged right into teaching some of the Chekhov work. By far the piece of work that my students have been most interested in has been the imagery work - particularly the imaginary body exercise. At a time when adolescents, especially (but not exclusively) girls, are painfully self-conscious about their bodies, having a body a new body of any shape and size is a real cause for celebration. Acting is now, more than ever, a means of going on vacation from their ordinary, everyday self. I have seen, in less than a week's time, some of my students in a new light. I have one shy boy in particular who has been set free by all of this work. He has made "everything with ease" his motto - he used to labor with such effort. He reported to me today that he always knew he had a rich imagination, but, until now, applying it directly to acting always seemed difficult."

~ Emmett Smith, Trevor Day School, New York City