Mikhail “Michael” Aleksandrovich Chekhov was born on August 29, 1891 in St. Petersburg, Russia, and died at the age of sixty-four on September 30, 1955 in Beverly Hills, California. He was known for his many talents, which included acting, directing, writing, and for being a theater professional. Chekhov cultivated an acting technique that was, and still is, used by admired and award-winning actors and actresses. Some of his most famous protégés include Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe, Gregory Peck and Yul Brynner. According to Powers' Michael Chekhov on Theatre, theater authority Konstantin Stanislavski once referred to Chekhov as his "most brilliant student". It is not surprising that Michael Chekhov was fond of the art of theater and writing, since his uncle, Anton Chekhov, was a notable playwright. This probably served as a gateway to the theatrical arts for the young Michael, and he quickly made a name for himself in the world of theatre, and especially in his homeland of Russia. All theorists seem to agree that Chekhov was a brilliant actor and always seemed to amaze audiences with his unique and imaginative portrayals of his characters. Allegedly, the great theater master Stanislavski favored Chekhov so much that he often offered his talented student extra private lessons. Chekhov was acclaimed as a master of his teacher's system and was thought to one day become Stanislavski's successor. However, things were not always so simple and Chekhov soon began to question some of his teacher's ideals and theories. According to Stanislavski's theories on acting, “truth” depended on human behavior and was based on the memory of the individual actor, but Chekhov thought that fully incorporating the affective notes… in the middle of the sheet… without being too open-ended or, as Stanislavski's method acting turned out to be, dangerous. Chekhov's theories have been integrated into the acting styles of so many distinguished and beloved actors and actresses that it seems reasonable to say that his technique is a sound and valuable tool that every aspiring young artist should take advantage of in their own practice and performance. Its overall goal appears to have been to liberate the actor, not hinder him. The real challenge is to allow ourselves, as actors, to be free to experiment and learn. In his book, Chekhov said: “Discover the differences between yourself and the character. The similarities will resolve themselves.” If an actor truly believes this, he or she will make informed decisions, resulting in a compelling, unique, and informed performance worthy of the character he or she is playing...
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