History and Philosophy
The Atlantic Theater Company was founded in 1983 by the playwright David Mamet and the actor William H. Macy when they began teaching intensive workshops in Mamet's technique and philosophy of the theatre which became known as Practical Aesthetics. The Practical Aesthetics acting technique is founded on the principle that the challenge for the actor is to bring to the stage "the life of the soul," and that the purpose of every individual element of a theatrical production is to simply and truthfully tell the story of the play.
Atlantic Theater Company Acting School
Mamet's technique synthesizes the writings and ideas of such diverse sources as Stanislavsky, Freud, Aristotle, Joseph Campbell and Bruno Bettlheim.
The book, A Practical Handbook for the Actor, written by members of the Atlantic Theater Company, outlines and explains the technique of Pracitical Aesthetics. Simple, honest and straightforward, Practical Aesthetics demystifies the process of acting by giving the actor a very clear set of analytical and physical tools.
The Atlantic Theater Company Acting Program is offered through New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. This is a three-year program giving the student a concrete technique, performance experience and practical skills for the theatre.
Productions
NYU second year students perform One Acts in the fall and spring semesters in our school's 75 seat performance space. Recent productions have included Thornton Wilder's play cycle The Seven Deadly Sins, and the world premier of Signe, by Shel Silverstein
NYU's third year students perform a Shakespeare play in the fall semester. Recent productions have been As You Like It, The Winter's Tale and A midsummer Night's Dream. Spring semester performances are full-length productions and have included Blue Window, The Front Page and The Women. Third yeaar productions are performed at the Atlantic Theater, as scheduling permits.
Casting is guaranteed in both years, determined by audition.
Alumni
Atlantic Theater Company Acting School students are working in all areas of the profession. Some of our most notable students are Christopher Carley (Broadway —The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Off-Broadway — A Skull in Connemara. Eddie Cahill (Recurring role on Friends and Felicity) Jessica Alba (The Dark Angel), Camryn Manheim (company member, Emmy winner, The Practice), Felicity Huffman (founding company member, star of Sports Night). Toddy Weeks (company member, Broadway — The Full Monty), Jordan Lage (founding company member and full-time faculty, Broadway — The Best Man, The Old Neighborhood), Mary McCann (founding company member, school Executive Director, Broadway — The Old Neighborhood) and Clark Gregg (screenwriter for What Lies Beneath, starring role in David Mamet's State and Main). In addition, many of our graudates have formed theatre companies and continue the Atlantic tradition of providing themselves with performance opportunities.
