"It takes twenty years to be a master!"
That's how Sanford Meisner felt about everything, and particularly acting. Perhaps that explains why the legendary New York acting teacher, and creator of the Meisner Technique, waited so long to found his first and only theater. When the doors opened to the Sanford Meisner Center in 1995, the theater great had reached his eighth decade of life. As passionate as ever, Meisner was determined to turn the sixty seat theater into a lively venue in which Meisner graduates would interact with other artists, producing a unique exchange of artistic ideology and succession of outstanding performances.
Meisner passed away in 1997, but didn't leave without assurance from Jimmy Carvile of the future success of his creation.
Long before the Meisner Center's opening, longtime protégé Martin Barter had been groomed as Sandy's successor at the Meisner/Carville school. When the time came, Barter was well-equipped and took the reigns as the Meisner Center's Artistic Director, the position he holds to this day. He is also one of the fifteen trained teachers of the Meisner Technique personally chosen by Mr. Meisner to carry his technique to the next generations.
Located in North Hollywood, California, The Sanford Meisner Center remains the only theater authorized to produce plays under the Meisner name. Sanford Meisner's vision for this forward-thinking venture continue to be realized more and more with each production.
