Online Class Analysis Through Action- Prelude to Etudes

This class is for directors or interested theater-makers of all levels to explore the first half of the rich (and still little-known in the U.S.) Russian theatrical pedagogy known as Analysis 

Through Action. Pioneered by Stanislavsky in his later life, ATA is roughly made up of two components: Reconnaissance of the Mind and Reconnaissance of the Body (the generative improvisatory work known as “etudes”). In this class, you will explore the rigorous, stimulating process of Reconnaissance of the Mind, which encompasses the deep, detailed work done by a director in order to prepare for a rich, spontaneous process in the room with actors. 

Through the lens of Chekhov’s plays, you will explore this work over the course of six weeks, with each director presenting a personal, in-depth pre-production workbook at the culmination of the course.

This class might be for you if you:

• Are interested in the history and pedagogy of Western directing, specifically with a focus on Russia’s vast theatrical lineage.
• Want simultaneously concrete and imaginative tools to deepen your relationship with a text and the quality/breadth of your pre-rehearsal work.
• Are excited by the idea of “etudes” and the preparatory work that goes into them.
• Have been interested in directing and want to try it out—especially within the context of Chekhov’s rich, complex plays—but aren’t sure where to begin.
• Want to practice developing a production vision that has roots, guts, and heart.

In this class you will:

• Use the techniques of ATA: Reconnaissance of the Mind to develop an in-depth director’s pre-production workbook for a play by Anton Chekhov – a document rich in research, analysis, and vision.
• Spend the first class learning (some of) the vast background of Stanislavsky and his directorial and pedagogical descendents, and gain an introductory understanding of the Analysis Through Action technique.
• Develop an inside-out relationship with a Chekhov play (seriously, you’ll know this thing intimately by the end of the course – it will feel like yours).
• Create and refine a proposal for this play in production, drawing from an articulation of its beating heart – its argument, its obsession, the thing it’s really about.
• Bring in assignments in various areas—from beat breakdowns of scenes to visual world research to speculative character biographies—and share them with the class.
• Observe others directors’ processes and learn how to give constructive feedback to fellow directors (as led and modeled by Sara), honing the ability to analyze what is working well and what is not working so well.

By the end of this class you will:

• Understand the technique of ATA and feel comfortable and confident drawing on the tools it has to offer in your future work.
• Have an in-depth document that can lead you toward a production or serve as a model for future pre-production work.
• Know how to mine a play’s text for its central questions and, out of those questions, clearly and boldly articulate your vision.
• Be able to present aesthetic/production ideas and the evolution of your vision with confidence and joy.
• Possess the tools for approaching the preparation for any rehearsal process with rigor.

About the online platform for this class:

Zoom Meeting is easy to start, join, and use to collaborate online in a personable way via desktop or mobile without complicated set-ups. The Zoom Meeting Host (your ESPA instructor or administrator) sends out a meeting link and at the time of your class, you just click the link to launch the virtual classroom via your web browser. In the Zoom Meeting, each participant can share their webcam so that you're not only hearing your instructor and classmates but seeing them too, making it feel similar to being in one of the studios at ESPA. 

Other exciting collaborative Zoom features include Breakout Rooms in which students can meet in smaller groups, "Raise Your Hand" feature to better facilitate balanced conversation, Video Sharing, and File Transfer for your assignments. If you can't log in via a computer, there are also options to phone into the meeting so you can still participate in the class even if you find yourself without computer or internet access. And Zoom has an Apple and Android app, making it possible to take part in class from any device.