Arthur Lessac's Embodied Actor Training

This book situates the work of the renowned voice and movement trainer Arthur Lessac in the context of contemporary actor training as a whole. 

Melissa Hurt uses Maurice Merleau-Ponty''s theories of embodiment to frame Lessac''s approach in terms of Embodied Acting, a key subject in contemporary performance. In doing so, she explains how the actor can come to experience both technique and expression as a subjective whole, through meditation and spatial attunement.

As well as feeding this somatic approach into a wider discussion of embodiment, the author provides concrete examples of how the practice can be put into effect, and studied at university level.

Arthur Lessac’s Embodied Actor Training situates the work of renowned voice and movement trainer Arthur Lessac in the context of contemporary actor training.

Supported by the work of Constantin Stanislavsky and Maurice Merleau-Ponty''s theories of embodiment, the book explores Lessac''s practice in terms of embodied acting, a key subject in contemporary performance. In doing so, the author explains how the actor can come to experience both skill and expression as a subjective whole through active meditation and spatial attunement.

As well as feeding this psychophysical approach into a wider discussion of embodiment, the book provides concrete examples of how the practice can be put into effect. Using insights gleaned from interviews conducted with Lessac and his Master Teachers, the author enlightens our own understanding of Lessac’s practices.

Three valuable appendices enhance the reader’s experience. These include:

a biographical timeline of Lessac’s life and career

sample curricula and a lesson plan for teachers at university level

explorations for personal discovery

Melissa Hurt is a Lessac Certified Trainer and has taught acting and Lessac’s voice, speech, and movement work at colleges across the United States. She has a PhD from the University of Oregon and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University.