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SUMMER ACTING PROGRAM

BEGINS
JUNE 10TH

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(917) 794-3878

Areas We Serve

Areas We Serve

Our acting studio provides acting programs and acting classes for professional actors from the following areas of New York:

View of New York, NY from the South End of Manhattan

View of New York, NY from the South End of Manhattan

Our Philosophy on Training Professional Actors

Philosophy

Actors who study at Maggie Flanigan Studio become part of a community that is safe and nurturing, but a culture that sets a high standard of professionalism. This professional actor training is for serious actors who want to immerse themselves in acting programs based on Meisner training and the original work of Sanford Meisner. Instructors at MFS push the boundaries, seeking serious actors who take risks and work beyond what they believe they are capable of. Graduates of the studio grow into exceptional actors and better human beings.

Meisner actors study a sequential series of exercises and techniques to build a strong foundation. They learn to truly listen, be fully present in the moment, and create organic, truthful behavior moment-by-moment. They also understand the importance of cultivating the work ethic of an actor prepared for a long career. Commitment and a willingness to put in an intense effort are how the serious actor learns the craft of acting.

At Maggie Flanigan Studio, working with generosity and humility is essential, but vulnerability and spontaneity are at the core of the work. The focus is not on the memorization of words or taking on the identity of a character and “pretending.” Instead, a trained Meisner actor “acts truthfully under imaginary circumstances,” which is a crucial aspect of the Meisner philosophy.

Our Acting Studio

Studio

At Maggie Flanigan Studio, the goal is to train serious actors that know how to craft a part in any scenario and consistently bring an exciting immediacy to the work. At this Meisner acting studio, confidence and consistency are developed through rigorous training in their two-year conservatory. Using the Meisner technique, actors identify and acquire a wide array of human emotions, behaviors, and responses that become second nature. This takes time and tremendous effort. While there is such a thing as an innate ability, true mastery means cultivating talent by working hard and getting professional actor training.

At the MFS acting studio, actors grow in confidence and consistency, building the foundation needed for a career as a professional working actor. Producers and Directors take risks when hiring actors, and they seek dependability and integrity, as well as talent. MFS students are expected to show up on time, be fully prepared for every class, and work hard outside of classroom hours. Actors learn how to care for and control their physical selves and develop habits that maintain mental health, the characteristics required to be a serious, professional actor who gets hired.

Meisner actors are conduits capable of experiencing and expressing a full range of complex human emotions and behavior. MFS graduates know what it means to develop the actor’s instrument and be able to show up and provide truthful, compelling behavior every time.

TWO YEAR ACTING PROGRAM

THE MEISNER TECHNIQUE

APPLY FOR ADMISSIONSTARTS SEPT 9TH

The Mesiner Technique

It can be challenging to define the Meisner technique because it manifests differently for every actor. When studying Meisner vs. method acting, there is some alignment, but distinctions can be made. Method acting is about taking on responses that belong to a character outside of yourself. Actors identify with the character and take on their way of thinking and behaving. Sanford Meisner worked somewhat differently, believing that actors, especially American actors, needed to be trained to “act truthfully under imaginary circumstances.”

The Meisner focus is developing real behavior and creating a new reality, rather than pretending. With the Meisner acting technique, actors build up a series of emotional responses and behaviors that are real and become second nature. These are expressed organically, in any given moment. Meisner’s work calls on actors to listen more, rather than be affected by self-awareness. This makes a Meisner trained actor more spontaneous, original, and truthful. Maggie Flanigan Studio provides training in every aspect of Meisner as it was originally intended, a legacy to be passed down to the next generation of serious actors.

The MFS curriculum is rigorous, intense, and requires vulnerability and trust. Students gain insight into their learned behaviors and emotions, but they also work continually to expand their range. This has a profound effect on actors but also shapes them as human beings. Maggie Flanigan Studio is a safe, nurturing place to explore and grow as an artist, the best acting instruction in Meisner, anywhere.

About Maggie Flanigan

About Maggie Flanigan

Maggie’s gift of clarity and eye for truth in acting are the hallmarks of this respected two-year conservatory. She is acknowledged by many to be the best acting teacher of Meisner practicing today. Maggie understands the work deeply and teaches it in its purest form. As an acting coach, she is well known for communicating clearly and precisely and setting a high standard for professionalism.Maggie Flanigan Studio was launched in 2001 and focused on offering smaller class sizes to encourage the profoundly personal work of Meisner. This studio is a safe, nurturing space to learn mastery of the craft using the Meisner technique.

Maggie first trained as a Meisner actor and teacher with William Esper, becoming a sought after acting instructor. She served with distinction on the faculty at Rutgers University in the Professional Actor Training Program, Mason Gross School of the Arts. Maggie also co-taught in the MFA Acting Program and worked with the Resident Theater Association. During her eighteen years at Rutgers, she co-directed many NYC and L.A. industry showcases.

Maggie was part of the iconic Labyrinth Theater and in 2006, played the lead in a staged reading of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ “The Little Flower of East Orange” at the Public Theater. She reprised the role in 2009 with Phillip Seymor Hoffman, Yul Vasquez, and Guirgis at the Drama Bookstore. She teaches a special Meisner Master Class for actors several times a year and works as a private coach.


Acting Studio New York NY

About New York City

New York City

It is located in New York, NY, a city that is well-known for its restaurants, music and night life as well its quality healthcare and medical facilities. This cosmopolitan hub boasts a countless array of landmarks, museums, and venues to enjoy, from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to Times Square, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Rockefeller Center. Steeped in a rich history and influenced by countless immigrants from all different nations and walks of life, New York City is a culturally diverse and fascinating city that is unparalleled in so many ways.

Anyone who has the pleasure of spending any time in Manhattan knows just how full of life, spirit, and enjoyment the city can be. If you’re spending a day or a weekend in the city or you’ve just recently moved, it’s time to get out and take a look around. No matter what your interests might be, Manhattan is sure to have something that you will enjoy and turn into a memorable experience.

New York City Restaurants

New York City Restaurants

Whether you’re living in NYC or you’re paying a visit to the Big Apple, chances are you’re never going to have a shortage of amazing places to eat. From casual bistros and cafes to lavish dining experiences, Manhattan is full of restaurants intended to suit the needs of every taste. Whether you’re in the mood for a delicious slice of pizza or you want to spend an afternoon watching a Broadway musical followed by a luxurious meal at a snazzy 5-star restaurant, you won’t be disappointed by all this city has to offer.

There are literally countless restaurants that you can choose from in Manhattan. If you’re looking for a quick and casual meal or fancy feast, you can’t go wrong with:

Made Nice

The approach to food at Made Nice is as simple as the name, delicious casual food is “Made,” delicious, and Nice enough to share with the world. This is an elevated take on counter style buffet service where salads, sandwiches, and delicious platters can be eaten in, or taken home. Recipes are classic dishes with familiar flavors, done right, with the goal of making comfort food that diners want to eat every day. Read More

Los Tacos No. 1

Three amigos from Tijuana Mexico and California figured it was time to bring authentic Mexican food to the East Coast, and New Yorkers agreed. The Los Tacos menu is made from family recipes that call for simple fresh ingredients. Anyone from Mexico would find this to be a taste from home. For the rest of us, it just a chance to (FINALLY) get true rustic, homemade tasting Mexican food.  Read More

Superiority Burger

Accidentally Vegan is a phrase that Superiority Burger uses to describe some of the items on its menu. If you are on the lookout for a joint to give vegetarian food a makeover, making it cool and crave-worthy, this is the place. Secretly nutritious, everything on Superiority’s menu is far more satisfying than it sounds. From a faux Sloppy Joe to a Hippie Wrap, it’s food that is good to go or taken at a “swing tray” seat in the restaurant, a throwback that might be thrilling for anyone who remembers Prime Burger. Read More

Uncle Boons

Uncle Boons is not some American twist on Thai, but Thai transplants. The former chefs of renown Per Se Matt Danzer and Ann Redding, have created a menu of Thai food that takes you to Thailand without leaving Spring Street. Uncle Boons will convince you that Thai food is not an exotic or ethnic, cuisine, just one of the great cuisines of the world. deserving a spot on the world stage. Dishes follow tradition, but there is a wide range of offerings from different regions all made with the highest quality ingredients. Read More

The Grill

In the space formerly occupied by the iconic (and expensive) Four Seasons, The Grill is also not for those with a faint wallet. However, unlike the Four Seasons at the end of its run, at The Grill you eat well. Chilled crawfish platters, braised endive with black truffles and servers in Tom Ford tuxedos set the stage. This is a mid-century style restaurant for the wealthy, but one that will convince you that you belong. Read More

Gramercy Tavern

Some restaurants survive their own iconic past, and Gramercy Tavern is one of them. Famed restaurateur Danny Meyer launched Gramercy to great acclaim two decades ago, but has kept things fresh by continuing to pursue contemporary American cuisine, served with warm hospitality and excellent service. This is an ever evolving menu that showcases partnerships with local farms and five star purveyors of fine ingredients. May it live and serve, forever. Read More

The Arts in NYC

The Arts in NYC

When it comes to art and music, few places are able to rival New York. If you’re looking to spend an evening of culture and enjoyment following a meal at one of Manhattan’s finest restaurants, there are certainly plenty of places to choose from. Strolling through Times Square, one can’t help but look up at the Jumbotron and see advertisements for the newest Broadway show and other events being hosted throughout the city. From Midtown Manhattan to the Lower East Side, NYC is known as the “city that never sleeps” for a reason.

No matter what your interests might be, NYC undoubtedly has what you’re looking for. While there are a myriad of museums, music halls, and landmarks throughout the city, some of the most notable include:

Grand Central Terminal

A crown jewel of Manhattan in midtown, this train station is a transportation hub but so much more. An iconic architectural beauty, Grand Central is nostalgic stroll through the past, but with an added bonus of fine dining, luxury boutique shopping and a magnificent calendar of events. Famed architect Philip Johnson and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy fought to get landmark status for the terminal so that it would be around for future generations to enjoy. This is your open invitation to do so. Read More

Lincoln Center

Most landmarks are known for supporting one cultural discipline, Lincoln Center hosts FOUR! This is the home of the New York Philharmonic, The New York City Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Oh wait. Make that five, as there is also the beloved Lincoln Center Theater for performing arts. Just check the schedule for any night you are in town, and you are guaranteed an extraordinary experience that you will remember for years to come. Read More

Carnegie Hall

Next to Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall is one of the most famous venues in the world. Its mission is to present extraordinary music made by extraordinary musicians on its three stages. Carnegie believes in the transformative power of music to a wide audience. This organization also supports many music education programs, and the production of innovative new works. We hope you’ll be a part of our great audience. Read More

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Fine art takes on new meaning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is one of the greatest art museums ever built, with ever-changing exhibits that thrill and inspire. The Met Collection spans art from some of the first ancient cities to exist to some of the most important works of our time. Experience 5,000 years of art, from all across the world, in one place. Read More

New York City Culture

New York City Culture

When it comes to culture and the arts, Manhattan certainly doesn’t fall short. Full of life and vitality, New York City has become a definite cultural hub. One of the biggest immigrant destinations in the world, Manhattan is one of the largest and most ethnically diverse locales in the world. Italian, Asian, Irish, African, and Jewish immigrants flocked to the city throughout the twentieth century, greatly influencing the culture and overall image of Manhattan and New York as a whole. Arguably one of the city’s most well-known landmarks, the Statue of Liberty became a great symbol of freedom and the promise of a life in America and even today, many arrive in New York looking forward to the promise of the future.

Perhaps one of the most noted cultural revolutions in the city, the Harlem Renaissance served to establish a new wave of culture, art, and music throughout the city. In fact, the city became the biggest jazz venue in the 1940s and soon became the home for Beat Generation, hip hop, and funk music as well. From film and dance to visual art, Manhattan offers a plethora of cultural and artistic offerings throughout the area, stretching from the Lower East Side to midtown Manhattan and beyond.