<p>We are trying to understand the different studios at Tisch. The one we can't get a grasp on is Atlantic. From those of you who know first hand, could you describe it in layman's terms?</p>
<p>Hopefully alwaysamom will chime in as her D is a graduate of Atlantic and loved it. I have a former student who is now in Atlantic but I haven’t spoken to her about her experiences there. Also, Jbehlend (a parent who posts here) has a son who is currently in Atlantic.</p>
<p>As I understand it, Atlantic teaches a rather unique approach to acting which I don’t believe is really taught anywhere else. </p>
<p>It is quite rigorous, even though it dispenses with certain things that are emphasized in other teaching approaches, like the close analysis of text and/or the “method” of reaching down into yourself to access your emotions and apply them to the interpretation of character. </p>
<p>Rather, it engages in a sort of deconstruction, breaking things down into action and intent…embodying each line with action, responding appropriately to the other actors, and thinking about the physicality of a role.</p>
<p>I’d strongly suggest reading the short book “A Practical Handbook for the Actor,” which describes this approach. Another book (also short) that you might find helpful is “True and False” by David Mamet, which provides some of the philosophical underpinnings of this kind of acting.</p>
<p>This is so helpful, thank you! I’m wondering more about the philosophy and practice of the New Studio (acting, not MT), too-- does anyone have specific info?</p>
<p>you might want to post that on the Tisch section of the MT major forum. I believe that the MT and acting students are in acting class together, although each has different additional classes obviously.</p>
<p>Mommy5,</p>
<p>As soozievt stated above, my DS is in his second year at Atlantic. A bit of background, between his junior and senior year in HS, he attended Tisch’s Summer HS acting program, which at that time was in the Lee Strasberg studio. Several of his summer program classmates were subsequently accepted into Tisch, and are now in all of the various primary studios in their second year. DW and I have been fortunate to meet many of these students - his friends from Atlantic, Stella Adler, Playwrights, and the NSB (both Acting and MT) - and it’s been fun to hear them compare and contrast the studios first hand. I have to say that these theater students are very supportive of each other, it’s been a real pleasure to see them grow as young adults and artists as they continue to develop their craft. Knowing what he knows, DS is very happy that he was placed in Atlantic when he was accepted into Tisch.</p>
<p>Okay, some info about Atlantic. For one thing, the studio is on Ninth Avenue, between 15th and 16th Street (across the avenue from Chelsea Market). Students learn quickly to manage their time, as it can take 20 to 30 minutes to get to studio from their various freshman dorms. The history of the studio is documented elsewhere; cofounders William H. Macy and David Mamet developed their acting approach called “Practical Aesthetics” in the early 80’s. Wikipedia’s description can be found at [Practical</a> Aesthetics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practical_Aesthetics]Practical”>Practical aesthetics - Wikipedia), and gives perhaps the best description (in layman’s terms 
) of that acting technique. NJTheaterMOM is right; I don’t think this acting approach is taught elsewhere, but many of the fundamentals there (Stanislavsky, Sanford Meisner, etc) are used in many different acting disciplines. The Atlantic Acting School’s NYU Studio web page can be found at <a href=“http://www.atlanticactingschool.org/page.aspx?id=12016771[/url]”>http://www.atlanticactingschool.org/page.aspx?id=12016771</a>.</p>
<p>DS is thriving there. He recently as been asked to be part of the third year’s ensemble (even though he is only a second year student); DW and I will be going to see him perform at Atlantic Stage 2 in December. After the primary studio requirements are done after the second year, third year Tisch students in Atlantic form an ensemble company, and put on plays at the studio; students get first hand knowledge of the business side of putting on a production. Frankly, I don’t know if this is done at other studios, but it seems to be a nice opportunity for the students to have. Further, Atlantic is an independent studio as well as a Tisch studio; thus, there are students at Atlantic who are not NYU students. The groups don’t intermingle for classes. However, there are veteran stage, screen, and TV actors who continue to come to Atlantic, and offer master classes and discussions with the Tisch Atlantic students. </p>
<p>If you have specific questions, let me know, and I’ll answer them here in a public forum. Best of luck as you go down the college application/audition/selection process!</p>
<p>jbehlend & NJTheatreMom, thank you so much for your replies and taking the time to explain the studio. I really appreciate it.
My kid is very interested in the Atlantic approach. You mention about the travel time to get to studio. Isn’t that true for most of the studios? Adler is a hike too isn’t it?</p>
<p>jbehlend…how does Tisch decide what school you get placed into? Do you put your preference on your application or do they just randomly put you into one. My S in interested in live theatre… does this make a difference on what studio you are placed or not? My S is also applying to Tisch summer program this year. What studio would you suggest for him… I think they have a choice right? CAn you tell me a little more about the summer drama program… my S is interested in straight theatre…no MT. He is done a ton of Shakespeare stuff and really excels at it, but doesn’t want to other types of acting.</p>
<p>5boys, I’m not jbehland, but I’m not sure what you mean by “live theatre?” Every studio at Tisch is about live theater except one of the advanced studios (not for freshmen) called Stonestreet which is for screen. </p>
<p>At my D’s audition, she specified her first choice studio and also gave a second and third choice. I think a student can speak about this in the interview portion. But the school has its way of placing students where they feel is the best fit. My D happened to get her first choice studio, though many don’t but end up loving their studio once there! My D stayed in her studio for five semesters and then did another studio that she wanted to train in and had to audition to get into for her final three semesters. This studio was not one she ever had interest in back in high school and so once on campus, students really discover more about studios and training and often opt to do a different studio in their final years.</p>
<p>Thanks so much sooziet! You answered my questions. By “live” theatre I did mean stage, not screen. My S is only just beginning thinking of this as he is only in 10th grade, but his school has an outstanding theatre program and sends quite a few kids each year to Tisch. I just don’t know that much about it as none of my other kids have ever been interested in the arts. I have to say I have heard both good and bad about Tisch from the kids who have went there from our HS. Some absolutely LOVED it and had an incredible experience, and some others left after one year. I will let my S decide for himself what he thinks before he applies. We live in CA so NY is a LONG way away. He has already stated that he would like to go to NY for college. He is definitely a fit for the city, just don’t know yet about the school. He is doing his application right now fot the summer program, and if he doesn’t get cast in on Old Globe play he is auditioning for this week, he would love to go. I think it would give him a taste of what Tisch is all about.</p>
<p>5boys, here’s something I wrote a while back about asking for specific studios @ Tisch auditions:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/769201-tisch-acting-audition-post11241997.html#post11241997[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/769201-tisch-acting-audition-post11241997.html#post11241997</a></p>
<p>There’s also a thread in the NYU Tisch MT forum about their HS summer program. If your son is interested in acting and not MT, say so on the app. I don’t know how the decisions are made regarding studio placement, but it looks like NSB Acting, ETW, and Stonestreet are the options for 2012.</p>