Exciting News!
We’re taking Insight to…
ITALY!
INTENSIVE MEISNER TECHNIQUE ~ STUDY ABROAD IN TUSCANY
Insight Actors Studio, in collaboration with Accademia dell’Arte, cordially invites you to a Meisner Technique Intensive
in Arezzo, Italy
May 18 through 25, 2025
Join Elizabeth Becka on a unique traveling and training adventure that will awaken your creative and childlike spirit!
Imagine waking up in a beautiful 16th century villa, nestled in the heart of Tuscany, overlooking the hillside city of Arezzo. Immerse yourself in rich Tuscan history, culture, artistic heritage, and a vibrant atmosphere of stunning architecture,
bustling markets, and quaint trattorias with delectable cuisine.
Included:
• Shared double room with private or semi-private bathroom at Accademia dell’Arte. The Accademia is located in the medieval town of Arezzo, just south of Florence. Students will be living in a beautiful modernized Tuscan 16th century villa, which houses our academic, studio, performance, and dormitory spaces. There is a limited number of single rooms available for additional fee – see below.
• Welcome dinner & Graduation Dinner
• Daily locally sourced Italian cuisine, including breakfast, lunch, & dinner at the Accademia
• Daily Meisner training with Elizabeth Becka and movement training with Sam McGeehee
• Excursions to Florence & Arezzo*
Don’t miss our early bird discount below!
Details about Accademia dell’Arte here
*Full Day Walking Tour of Florence and Half Day Walking Tour of Arezzo ~ Students will take day trips to Florence and Arezzo and enjoy walking tours led by Monica Capacci. Monica, who holds both a Master of Arts in American Literature and an undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Siena, will highlight many historical, artistic, and architectural points of interest on our tours.
About the Course:
This class is appropriate for actors, aged 18 and up, at any level of acting experience. No prior Meisner training is required.
Sanford Meisner said, “Acting is the ability to live truthfully under given imaginary circumstances.” His training method relies heavily upon accessing the actor’s impulses, allowing for real responses and real behavior in the moment. The basic exercise invented by Meisner is repetition. Through this process, the actor stops overthinking and responds more freely, both physically and vocally. As this exercise continues over the course of our training, it moves from improvisational work to more complex script analysis and work on character creation.
While no one can teach Meisner technique in one week, this intensive will provide a deep dive into an overview of the process. If you have already had some Meisner training, this immersion will be a great refresher and opportunity to get it “into your bones.” If you are new to Meisner (or have had no acting training at all) this week will allow you to “try on” one of the most effective approaches to acting. All of this in beautiful Tuscany, where your creative spirit will soar!
Some notable actors trained by Sanford Meisner…
Sir Anthony Hopkins, Timothee Chalamet, Sam Rockwell, Gregory Peck, Allison Janey, Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Connie Britton, Christoph Waltz, James Gandolfini, Jeff Bridges, Jon Voight, James Caan, Jim Carey, Tatiana Maslany, Philip Seymour Hoffman, J.K. Simmons, John Turturro, Sandra Bullock, Tina Fey, and of course, Larry Silverberg, just to name a few.
About our Teachers:
Elizabeth “Beth” Becka (owner/director of Insight Actors Studio, Atlanta, GA, since 2011) has an MFA in Acting/Directing from UNC-Greensboro and is a certified Instructor of the Meisner Approach to Acting as trained by Larry Silverberg. Beth was a private acting coach in Los Angeles for 8 years and has taught acting for over 40 years both privately and at UNC-Wilmington. Her career spans from directing or acting in over 85 productions from Off-Broadway and regional theatre to TV/film projects. Beth has worked opposite A-list actors, including Timothy Hutton (Haunting of Hill House), Laura Linney (Ozark), Sissy Spacek (Sam & Kate), Connie Britton (Nashville), Matthew Modine (Stranger Things), Tatiana Maslany (She Hulk), Beau Bridges (Robbie), Elizabeth Lail (Ordinary Joe), Tom Hardy (Venom), Zachary Levi (Harold and the Purple Crayon) and Jennifer Lopez (What to Expect When You’re Expecting). She has been pre-pro and on-set coach for multiple films and TV shows.
What Larry Silverberg says about Beth:
“When choosing an acting teacher, it is vital that you work with a seasoned professional who has worked relentlessly to achieve mastery in their own craft as an actor, who has honed their skills in guiding actors with clarity, precision, wisdom, compassion and great sensitivity, and who cares deeply for their student’s growth and well-being. The good news is that Elizabeth “Beth” Becka is in Atlanta and she is all these things and more. Beth has the skill to take you to the highest level in your acting and she has a heart of gold. She will, in every moment, have your best interests in her mind and in her heart and she will guide and encourage you in ways that will make learning this very demanding craft a joy!” ~ Larry Silverberg
Student/Client Testimonials here
See Elizabeth Becka’s IMDb link here
Samuel “Sam” Angus McGehee is on the faculty of Accademia dell’Arte. He is a theatre artist, teacher and philosopher whose interdisciplinary approach has brought him to collaborate with many different people in widely diverse contexts. Sam’s interests range from movement, to composed theatre, theoretical poetics and experimental music.
During our week in Arezzo, Sam will guide us in Play and Ensemble. In these encounters, we will work primarily on warming the body and voice to get ready for the demands of acting. We will touch upon different vocal qualities and activate a prowess, which is often left inert. To do so we will focus our sessions on play. Play not only stimulates a reactiveness but also helps integrate the ensemble and tap into the creativity of the participants as we establish new ways of interacting with each other. These encounters are preparatory in nature to enhance the demands of our Meisner training.
Cost (includes Training, Room and Board, Excursions to Florence and Arezzo, Welcome Dinner and Graduation Dinner):
• $2,925 ~ Early Bird Special (enroll prior to December 31, 2024)
• $3,250 ~ Regular Tuition (enroll January 1 through March 1, 2025)
Non-refundable $500 deposit due upon registration. Balance due by March 1, 2025.
Supplements:
• $170 for single room, limited availability
Does Not Include:
• Airfare
• Independent meals and independent sightseeing
To Register: email bbeckaias@gmail.com for details.
A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot in the workshop. Payment can be made with a credit card (which will require an additional 4% fee) or by check. Once we receive your deposit, we will send you a formal registration confirmation with further information about the program. You will receive 2-3 other emails prior to the workshop with information about Italy, a recommended packing list and your invoice for the balance.
Final Balance is due by March 1, 2025. Any time prior to your arrival, if you have questions about anything regarding the trip or the program, you can contact us by email or phone, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Cancellation policy:
$500 deposit is non-refundable.
For cancellation:
• 60 days prior to workshop, full refund, excluding non-refundable deposit.
• 30-60 days prior to workshop, 50% refund of balance paid, excluding non-refundable deposit.
• Less than 30 days prior to workshop, no refund due.
We recommend personal travel insurance to cover the possibility of unexpected
or last-minute cancellation.
Contact us for more information: bbeckaias@gmail.com
or speak to us live at (910) 232-5599
