Edited by Jean-Louis Rodrigue
The new Millennium is upon us, it is time to take stock of the state of the arts, and most specifically at the unprecedented position in which actors find themselves as artists. Government support of the arts and theater has been steadily disappearing, and with that, the theater companies in which actors could be nurtured and developed over a period of years. Today actors are hired for the individual productions, and must depend on work in film, television, commercials, and the Internet for financial security.
In this issue of DIRECTION, we will attempt to focus on the impact of the Alexander Technique in the life of the Actor, and the way the Technique helps in dealing with the demands placed on actors working in the 21st Century.
- A close look at four major acting programs using the Alexander Technique as the foundation of their training. The prospective schools include Juilliard, LAMDA, American Conservatory Theater, and UCLA Department of Theater.
- Alexander had a life long passion with Shakespeare. We will explore the connection with the Alexander Technique and the demands of speaking the language of Shakespeare.
- Breathing is as fundamental to life as it is to acting. Jessica Wolf will clarify the elements of breathing coordination and their relevance to the Technique and acting.
- It is possible to find and create a character by applying the principles of the Alexander Technique.
In this issue we pay homage to the past, offer a survey of the present, and gaze into the future of the Alexander Technique and the Performing Arts.
Respectfully submitted by JEAN-LOUIS RODRIGUE.
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