The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights located in the Old Labor Stage at 432 West 44th Street in the Hells Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Founded in 1947 by Elia Kazan, Cheryl Crawford, and Robert Lewis, the Studio is known for its work refining and teaching method acting, an approach originally developed by the Group Theatre in the 1930s based on the innovations of Constantin Stanislavski.
The Studio came to worldwide recognition under the leadership of Lee Strasberg, who took over the helm in 1951.
While at the Studio, actors work together to develop their skills in an experimental environment, where they can take risks as performers without the pressure of commercial roles.
Produced by the ABC as its television network was just getting off the ground, this program was one of the first dramatic series television to attract top-name actors and actresses. Performing plays by such authors as Poe and Thurber, cast members included current well-known performers like Julie Harris and Cloris Leachman, as well as up-and-coming talents like Marlon Brando. The series was renamed "The Play's the Thing" midway through its final season. Written by Jean-Marc Rocher
The 56 episodes were adaptations of plays, stories, etc. by famous authors, e.g., Tennessee Williams, James Thurber, H.G. Wells, Ring Lardner, Edgar Allen Poe, Maxim Gorky, Ben Hecht, Oscar Wilde, Irwin Shaw, Stephen Vincent Benet, Thomas Hardy, William Saroyan, Erskine Caldwell, Bret Harte, etc. Written by J.E. McKillop
