Fall Meisner Intensive Jamie Ragusa 02 - Maggie Flanigan Studio

The Fall Meisner Intensive at Maggie Flanigan Studio is a nine-week acting program that teaches actors the first part of the first year of Meisner training. After taking the six-week Meisner intensive this summer, Jamie Ragusa sat down to talk with Katie about what it was like being in the program both as a working actor and a mother. Q: What happened during this six-week Meisner intensive that changed your perspective on acting and training? A: Well, I was lucky to be working this summer as well as taking a class. I was able to see progress or just a shift in my thinking with my work and hearing Charlie's voice in the back of my head sometimes. Just saying "This is happening for the first time, be present, focus on the other person." In a callback I had, I had some nice spontaneous moments that I wasn't even expecting, and they just came from that simple thought as, "Be present, be open, be willing to be played on, and work off the partner and let it go. Get out of your head and see where it goes." I can see in my work; it's helped tremendously. I can now detect the b******* from watching others act and knowing it in myself when something isn't truthful. "Now do it, but don't do it again." It's brought a lot to my work in something that I want to continue to explore. Q: Was there a specific class or a particular moment working through the activity or on the scene that really, you felt the shift in yourself? A: Well, my work before, I sometimes worked hard to get the results of the emotion. Here, I'm learning how to not put any effort into that, and last week, in our class, we're up on our feet now, doing scenes. It was the first day to do our view on our feet. I had a beautiful moment where I felt the emotion bubbling in me, and I went into my head, and I said, "No, don't do that" because it could be too emotional. I was judging myself. Afterward, I got the notes; if you just let that emotion go and be free with that, it could change that next line entirely in this beautiful, unique way. Learn more about the acting classes, acting programs and the Meisner Intensive this fall, by visiting the programs page on the Maggie Flanigan Studio website. Actors who are interested in applying for admission to the program need to fill out the online application and schedule an interview. Call (917) 789-1599 with questions you have about the program during open office hours. Maggie Flanigan Studio 153 W 27th St #803 New York, New York 10001 +1 917-789-1599 www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ goo.gl/maps/oxqqExybwL32 plus.google.com/112291205845820496849 https://flic.kr/p/2bCbBam