Method to the Madness: An Insider’s Guide to the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Studio at NYU

Since its establishment in 1969, the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute has been teaching Lee Strasberg’s devised acting technique, the method. Despite being its own established studio in New York City, the Institute has partnered with NYU since the start of the studio system. The structure of the NYU Strasberg program is unique to The Institute and allows students to receive a more personalized training developed by Lee himself. You can learn more about the Strasberg Institute here, on their website.

Something that personally drew me to the Drama program at NYU was the Tisch School of the Arts’ unique studio system, where accepted students are placed into one of eight primary training studios for their first two years. Although Strasberg is not in the actual Tisch building, the studio is located on Lee Strasberg Way (115 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003) across from two residence halls, University Hall and Palladium Hall. They are literally a two-minute walk away from the studio (I stand by this as I lived in both of these buildings my first and second year).

Getting my NYU drama studio placement was a very exciting experience. Every time I was asked about my NYU studio placement, I would happily tell people I was placed in the Strasberg studio, to be met with millions of questions about method acting, how the program worked, and if I would be in character the whole time. These questions stumped me. What was I getting myself into? Would I become this “crazy actor” archetype? I was nervous to start but wanted to dive deeper to find the method to the madness.

I quickly learned that all the media and “method acting” insights I had been reading about were false. Method wasn’t about embodying the ins and outs of a character or pulling the deepest trauma out of me, but rather using the technique as a tool to uplift my performance. The method technique is rooted in using your sense memory, not personal trauma, to create believable performances. One of my classmates Nadia put it perfectly stating: “Method Acting to me isn’t the dangerous embodiment people think it is; we don’t let the character consume us but instead use personal experience from our own lives to execute natural behaviours you would do in the given circumstance” (Nadia LSTFI ‘27)  Additionally a huge facet of Strasberg’s technique is relaxation. Relaxation is a technique in which actors work through their bodies in an active relaxation (not nap time) and can work to fully relax and engage their bodies so they are physically ready to work within the method technique and their performance. After sitting in the iconic, metal folding chair, I was introduced to a new way to transport myself through relaxation.

My biggest takeaway from day one was that, in reality, like most things in life, everything has its own misconceptions. However, Strasberg’s are more well known due to the weight of Lee’s name, and other famous actors like Heath Ledger, Daniel Day-Lewis, Scarlett Johansson (NYU Strasberg Alumni), Joaquin Phoenix, and more, who are constantly in the media and attached to the Strasberg/method acting name. If you take anything away from this article, please let it be that the Method, in and of itself, is meant to prevent danger and harmful acting techniques (the exact misconception that is put onto Strasberg). Another classmate of mine, Jordan, who is a part of the Strasberg Transfer Track, articulates that “Method Acting allows you to let go of your insecurities and physical tension because its technique is rooted in relaxation. It also forces you to get out of your head when acting by tapping into your physical and emotional senses” (Jordan LSTFI ‘26). Additionally, we have incredible faculty who are trained experts to help guide and facilitate us along the way.

Despite the chance to do additional training at other studios, I am still drawn everyday to be a Strasberg student. The community and education I have received has allowed me to flourish as both an actor and a human. Strasberg has streamlined my acting, making me an even better person.