"The O’Neill Studio equates the journey of the actor with the pursuit of artistic excellence,
an Everest that no one should attempt alone."
Welcome Actor
The plays of Nobel Prize-winning playwright Eugene O’Neill have attracted some of our finest film actors to the NY stage in recent years, among them Academy Award-winners Jeremy Irons and Jessica Lange in productions of Long Day's Journey Into Night, Denzel Washington in The Iceman Cometh and Forest Whitaker in Hughie.
O’Neill’s plays are the summit of American acting and equate the human experience with the upward struggle of the classical hero, someone whose reach exceeds their grasp.
The O’Neill Studio equates the journey of the actor with the pursuit of artistic excellence, an Everest that no one can attempt alone.
To this end, The O’Neill Studio combines mentoring with work on monologues, music and movement into the “Independent Artist Track,” a 12-week a one-on-one once weekly one-hour private boot camp for the transitioning actor.
The Track is about building a regiment geared toward beginning each day with the discipline of a working actor, even when you are not one…no matter the reason.
You may be one of a sea of recent college grads just now noticing that New York does not need another actor. You may be finding that you need to be experienced to get hired but can’t get experience unless you are hired. You may forgo training entirely in favor of submitting your media to any inbox that will have you. The response has been underwhelming. (It’s enough to make you think about grad school).
You may be an accomplished dancer, model or singer exploring new avenues of employment through acting. What could you possibly be thinking?
You may be an experienced actor retrofitting your talents to a weird new world. In it, your computer chops seem to matter more than your ability to act. (It’s enough to make you think about selling real estate).
Now in its 20th year, The O’Neill Studio’s Independent Artist Track keeps the actor focused in private sessions with The Studio's artistic director, Stephen Kennedy Murphy, who studied acting with Sanford Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse and apprenticed as a director to Frank Corsaro at Juilliard.
For info on The O'Neill Studio's Classical Meisner Track Clink Link.
Murphy has staged 21 O’Neill plays, including three premiers as well as performances in venues at Lincoln Center, On and Off-Broadway and at Yale University, where he taught for ten years.
Over the course of 12 weeks, he will mentor you through the process of creating a daily regimen that can include work on career strategy, monologues, music and movement.
MENTORING - The benefits of The Track begin with helping the actor navigate the ever-shifting landscape of casting. Goal setting is an ongoing focus of the dialogue with Stephen, who will partner with you to help you keep on purpose and on Track.
MONOLOGUES - Over the course of 12 weekly sessions, Independent Artists work on three monologues for four weeks each. They are 1) a contemporary monologue to increase overall flexibility, 2) a classical one for greater depth and 3) a monologue from O’Neill, whose plays require the actor to be both very free and deeply connected.
For related essay: O'NEILL AS YOU LIVE AND BREATH CLICK HERE
Media of your monologues helps you chart your progress as you go. At the end of the 12 weeks, in a special extension of The IA Track, a special shoot can be arranged to create media of the monologues for your reel.
MUSIC - Throughout the 12-weeks, a vocal warm-up is integrated into your practice to help you approach singing with the same deep breath connection you will find in your monologue work. And like his teacher, Mr. Meisner, Stephen is a pianist, so the vocal work will be tailored to your needs whether you are a reluctant singer trying to get over your nerves or a trained one developing your “book.”
For related essay: "MONOLOGUES AS MUSIC" CLICK HERE
MOVEMENT – "Actor Asana" is The O'Neill Studio's signature workout. It integrates core work and yoga in a series that can be brought to the mix to help you drop in deeper to your emotional well. Sessions begin with a core warm-up and includes short yoga breaks throughout.
For related essay: "ACTOR ASANA" CLICK HERE
The mentoring, monologue, music and movement work takes place in private sessions of 30, 45 or 60 minutes depending on your goals. Video conferencing available.
The IA Track begins with a free consultation. In this meeting, we identify your priorities for The Track and determine needs and discuss goals.
Through The Independent Artist Track, you will build a practice through which you can declare personal independence, day-by-day.
For more information send an email of interest to studio@eugeneoneill.net.