Alan Gordon Studio

Alan Gordon Studio The official page for The Alan Gordon Studio in New York City Training actors for over twenty years.

Specializing in Meisner training, scene study, audition technique/cold reading, monologues, and on-camera.

Brando was possessed of a rare talent. The ability to live moment to moment. To react instinctively. To understand the ...
09/18/2026

Brando was possessed of a rare talent. The ability to live moment to moment. To react instinctively. To understand the text specifically. But it’s not spoken of often enough that he was also highly skilled. His teacher, Stella Adler encouraged him to read, to expose himself to art, to nurture his already vivid imagination. Brando was informed. He didn’t bury his head in the sand and ignore injustices. He was an activist who had a point of view about the world he lived in and he got involved.

Actors need to experience life fully. They need to be keen observers of human behavior. They must have an insatiable curiosity, and must understand that to play a character they have to be willing to reveal themselves.

“Acting is biography made flesh.” -Marlon Brando

.com

Don’t make acting more complicated than it already is. Distill things down to doable actions. You can’t act an idea or ...
09/17/2026

Don’t make acting more complicated than it already is. Distill things down to doable actions. You can’t act an idea or a story. Stories are told via behavior. Live every moment fully. Work off your partner and react when you are provoked. Everyone has triggers. Get to know yours.

.com

“An actor’s imagination is far more powerful than relying on personal memory or real life trauma.” - Stella AdlerYour i...
09/13/2026

“An actor’s imagination is far more powerful than relying on personal memory or real life trauma.” - Stella Adler

Your imagination is immediate. It isn’t hemmed in by fences, or borders. You can take it as far as you are willing to go. Combined with your unconscious and instincts it fuels a myriad of choices.

“I was able to capture on film things the actor’s didn’t even know they were doing.” -Elia Kazan

.com

“The love you take is equal to the love you make.” -Lenin and McCartney Acting is a collaboration, not a competition. ...
09/11/2026

“The love you take is equal to the love you make.” -Lenin and McCartney

Acting is a collaboration, not a competition. You really on your scene partner and they rely on you. It’s called the “pinch” for the “ouch”. You are not trying to make anything happen. You are living moment to moment and impulse to impulse. You are connecting with the other person via listening. You do not prepare how you are going to react. You do not practice line readings. You let go of your homework and fly.

“Things change because they have to not because we want them to.”

.com

“Your body doesn’t know you’re acting.“-Montgomery CliftYour body speaks. Your impulsive physical movements, gestures, a...
09/09/2026

“Your body doesn’t know you’re acting.“
-Montgomery Clift

Your body speaks. Your impulsive physical movements, gestures, are more honest than your words. A host asks you, “How is the food?,” you hesitate for a second, a slight, almost imperceptible shrug, and then you say, “Good,” but your body has already spoken.

Trust your body. Your instincts are more honest than your thoughts.

.com

When Irish Revolutionary, Thomas Meagher was asked why he didn’t “follow in his father’s footsteps?,” he answered, “Beca...
09/06/2026

When Irish Revolutionary, Thomas Meagher was asked why he didn’t “follow in his father’s footsteps?,” he answered, “Because I have a head and legs of my own.”

When you act you are revealing yourself, not someone else. Be yourself. You are unique. Embrace your uniqueness and reveal your truthful self.

.com

Breaking down a script requires an insatiable curiosity. It’s an intuitive and instinctive process, not an intellectual...
09/06/2026

Breaking down a script requires an insatiable curiosity. It’s an intuitive and instinctive process, not an intellectual one. Actors are on a quest to find truth and specificity. The best actors understand that their job is to work truthfully under the imaginary circumstances.

“Actors are not made between lunch and dinner.” -Richard Boleslavsky

.com

Ernest Hemmingway said that a “writer’s most essential tool is a first class bu****it detector.“ The same can be said f...
09/03/2026

Ernest Hemmingway said that a “writer’s most essential tool is a first class bu****it detector.“

The same can be said for actors. If the hairs on the back of your neck are raised when you smell bu****it, that means that you will only settle for the truth. “Living truthfully under the imaginary circumstances,” is not only your job, it’s your duty. Don’t shirk it. The best actors are truth-seekers. Don’t demean your audience by giving them anything less than the truth. You’ll know it when you do. And so will they.

.alangordonstudio.com

We all have triggering mechanisms that are ignited spontaneously. When you are playing a scene you have to remain open,...
09/03/2026

We all have triggering mechanisms that are ignited spontaneously. When you are playing a scene you have to remain open, let your guard down, and listen. You don’t think about how you should feel. Your feelings are provoked by the other person. Tear down the walls that block your instincts. “Your instincts are more truthful than your thoughts.”

.alangordonstudio.com

Talent certainly plays a part in the success of the artist. But perseverance, endurance and skill also play a part. As M...
09/01/2026

Talent certainly plays a part in the success of the artist. But perseverance, endurance and skill also play a part. As Michael Caine said, “Whether or not I have talent is beside the point. I’m a professional. I know how to work.”

“Work at your craft and your career will show up.” -Noah Emerich

.alangordonstudio.com

Address

New York, NY
10012

Opening Hours

Tuesday 7pm - 10pm
Wednesday 1pm - 4pm
7pm - 10:30pm
Saturday 12pm - 3pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Alan Gordon Studio posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Alan Gordon Studio:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share