Cover -- TABLE OF CONTENTS -- INTRODUCTION -- Chapter 1 FOUNDERS OF RUSSIAN ACTOR TRAINING -- Konstantin Stanislavsky (1863-1938) -- Experiencing -- Affective Memory -- Action -- Method of Physical Actions -- Active Analysis -- Cognitive Analysis -- Vsevolod Meyerhold (1874-1940) -- Biomechanics -- Rhythm and Balance -- The Pause -- Reflex Excitability -- Improvisation -- Characterization: Mask, -- Evgenii Vakhtangov (1883-1922) -- External and Internal Technique -- Justification and Adjustment -- Fantastic or Imaginative Realism -- Mikhail Chekhov (1891-1955) -- Imagination -- Atmosphere -- Psychological Gesture -- Ensemble Feeling -- The -- Higher I" -- Similarities Among These Teachers -- Chapter 2 THE MASTER SELECTS A KURS -- The Selection Process -- Three Rounds -- Criteria for Selection -- General Features of a -- Conclusion -- Chapter 3 FIRST YEAR -- Acting Classes -- Concentration and Rhythm Exercises at the Beginning of Classes -- Physical Exercises: Mimes, PFD's, Études, and Observations -- Student Skits and "Creative Wednesday" -- Prose Excerpts Performed in the Second Semester -- Commentary from the Teachers -- Speech -- Stage Movement -- Other Courses -- Conclusion -- Chapter 4 SECOND YEAR -- Acting Classes -- "Given Circumstances" and the "Task" -- Imagination -- Listening Onstage -- Analysis -- End of the First Semester -- End of the Second Semester -- "Training" -- ( -- Stage Movement -- End-of-Year Stage Movement Test -- Acrobatics and Dance -- Speech -- Singing -- Other Courses -- Conclusion -- Chapter 5 THIRD YEAR -- Introduction -- Acting Classes -- Table Sessions -- Études -- Instructions to Third-Year Students -- Methods of Rehearsing -- End-of-the-Semester Showing -- Stage Movement -- End-of-Year Fencing and Stage Combat Test -- Dance -- Speech Group Work -- Individual Work -- End-of-Year Test -- Singing -- Other Courses.

Another Third-Year Group -- Conclusion -- Chapter 6 FOURTH YEAR -- Introduction -- Rehearsals of a Fourth-Year Show -- Other Courses -- Diploma Shows -- Krasovsky -- Krasovsky -- Krasovsky -- Golikov -- and -- Andreev -- Petrov -- Cherkassky -- Cherkassky -- Careers -- Chapter 7 FACILITIES AND PROCEDURES -- Facilities -- Classroom Procedures and Atmosphere -- Student Behavior -- Birthday Celebrations -- Changing to Another Master Teacher -- Teacher Behavior -- Physical Touching and Gender Stereotyping -- Inefficiency -- Major Differences between Russian and American Classrooms -- Chapter 8 A CHANGE OF CONTEXT -- Erosion of the Dominance of the Stanislavsky Tradition -- Continuity and Discontinuity with the Past -- Wider Significance of the Training -- Change of Context -- Changed Circumstances in Book Publishing, Film, and Theater -- APPENDIX I -- Types of "As If" Tasks -- Types of Mimes and -- Performed by First-Year Students -- Three Exercises for First-Year Students -- APPENDIX II -- Course Curriculum for Actor Training-.