OUR CLASSES

MOVEMENT 4

Movement 4 moves beyond the Williamson Technique of Movement 1 and 2 in order to provide our students with a broader, collaborative vocabulary. Actors will learn a method to practice spontaneity and to collaborate with other actors and directors.

MOVEMENT 4

The Physical Actor: Devised Work

In this course, students will delve deeper into the world of physical theatre and character development, building upon the foundational work established in “Mask and Character.” The first half of the semester focuses on individual exploration, where actors will craft and present solo performances rooted in the distinct traditions of clown and bouffon. These forms demand a high level of vulnerability, physical expressiveness, and an acute awareness of audience dynamics. Through structured exercises, improvisation, and guided feedback, each actor will be encouraged to embrace their unique comedic instincts and discover how to use physicality, timing, and subtext to craft compelling and often absurdly truthful performances. Clown work allows students to connect with their most honest and instinctive selves, while bouffon pushes them into satirical, grotesque exaggeration, confronting taboo topics with irreverence and bite. Both forms challenge performers to be fearless, responsive, and precise.

As the semester progresses into its second half, the focus will shift from individual performance to collaborative creation. Drawing on the characters, skills, and thematic material developed earlier, students will work collectively to devise original performance pieces. This process will be rooted in a variety of generative methods, including improvisation, ensemble exercises, group discussions, and scenario-based exploration. Themes may emerge organically from classroom conversations, social issues, or even personal stories, and students will have the opportunity to shape and refine these themes into coherent, dynamic works. The goal is to foster an environment of shared authorship, where each voice contributes to the evolution of a meaningful, original theatrical experience.

Throughout the devising process, students will be encouraged to take risks, challenge conventional narrative structures, and explore how movement, gesture, and spatial composition can be as potent as text in storytelling. This course not only emphasizes performance but also highlights the actor's role as a creative force in the theatrical process. By the end of the semester, students will have created a body of work that showcases both their individual artistic voices and their ability to collaborate effectively within an ensemble. The experience will culminate in a presentation of these devised works to the MFS community, offering students a chance to share their artistic journeys with a live audience, and reflect on the skills and discoveries gained throughout the semester.

Movement 4 is a 12-week course with 24 classes.

Movement 1, 2, and 3 are prerequisites for Movement 4

RICH RAND

As a teacher, director, actor, coach, and collaborator, Rich embraces a humanistic and transformational approach to the art form of acting.

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

“Prior to starting any of the movement work I was unaware of how my body was holding me back. Now I’m aware of where I’m holding tension and what tools I can use to provide ease. I attribute my contiuned growth in the acting class to the movements class!”

Ashley Laisure

VIEW MORE TESTIMONIALS

ACTING STUDIO NEW YORK NY

The Maggie Flanigan Studio is the leading acting studio in New York City where professional actors train for long careers. The acting programs at the drama school are based on the Meisner Technique and the work of Sanford Meisner. The two year acting program includes acting classes, movement classes, voice and speech for actors, commercial acting classes, on camera classes, cold reading, monologue, playwriting, script analysis and the Meisner Summer Intensive.