The Method

Method acting—perhaps the most controversial form of the medium—has a long and storied history, one documented by Isaac Butler in his comprehensive book The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act. Butler’s engrossing account captures the roots of method acting, which began in the late 19th century with the Russian actor Konstantin Stanislavski, and was brought to the U.S. by Stanislavski’s apprentice, Richard Boleslavsky. In 1931, acting teachers Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and studio founder and producer Cheryl Crawford founded the Group Theatre in New York City, further cementing the importance of “the method” in the U.S. Through dissecting this history, Butler highlights the power of acting—and the dedication of artists to the craft. —Laura Zornosa

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