Practical Aesthetics
Description
Practical Aesthetics with Vivian Majkowski March 24 - April 28, 2026 [6 weeks] Tuesday Nights - 7:00pm-10:00pm Instructor: Vivian Majkowski Cost: $360 From The Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder, Lee Michael Cohn, Madeleine Olnek, Nathaniel Pollack, Robert Previto and Scott Zigler "This book describes a technique developed and refined by the authors, all of them young actors, in their work with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet, actor W. H. Macy, and director Gregory Mosher. A Practical Handbook for the Actor is written for any actor who has ever experienced the frustrations of acting classes that lacked clarity and objectivity, and that failed to provide a dependable set of tools. An actor’s job, the authors state, is to “find a way to live truthfully under the imaginary circumstances of the play.” The ways in which an actor can attain that truth form the substance of this eloquent book." -- Penguin Books As the name implies, this methodology for examining text and acting truthfully is simply practical. Explore how to discover what the character is actually saying, create fun and actable objectives, learn to leave ‘emotional memory’ for ‘it’s as if….’, and play actions that support the text. Serve the story – keep it simple – be truthful This is a scene class. Any scene can be met through Practical Aesthetics from contemporary to classics but in this workshop we will use contemporary text for ease of language. Bring two scenes with you that you might like to explore, we’ll pool them then chose with a scene partner. Vivian Majkowski studied the technique under the tutelage of Scott Zigler at American Repertory/Moscow Art Theatre School’s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. He is one of the authors of The Practical Handbook for the Actor and one the developers of the technique. EARLY BIRD OFFER: Select the Early Bird offer for a discounted 10% off price ($324). Early Bird offer is only available until March 9, 2026. Payment plans are also available once your $100 non-refundable deposit has been received. If interested in this option, simply contact us at studioforactorshouston@gmail.com to make arrangements.
