Stella Adler

 

Acting Treasures

By: Carmella 

Hello! Do you like acting or just television in general? Well, hopefully because you will be learning about an amazing actor and teacher you have probably never heard of. Stella Adler! Stella was an actor her whole life which she spent trying to preserve a high level of art. In her adulthood she opened an acting academy of her own. It was there that she taught actors the “Stella Adler technique” Actors learnt to imagine their characters' world and think as though it was real!

Stella Adler, born February 10, 1901, grew up in Manhattan, New York with parents Sara and Jacob Adler. She had 4 siblings Luther, Jay, Charles, and Cecilia Adler. Her whole family pursued acting as it was part of the family. The Adlers had a theatre, the Yiddish Theater district which was the start of the Jewish-American Adler acting dynasty.

Stella began acting at only age 4 when she performed in the play Broken Hearts at Grand Street theatre as a part of her parents' company. She acted in a couple of movies such as My Girl Tisa, Paradise Lost, Love on Toast, and Shadow of the Thin Man. Stella pursued acting, and it all paid off when she opened the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre in New York, 1949.

Stella joined The Group Theatre, New York in the year 1931 where she worked with Sanford Meisner, Ellia Kazan and many others. In 1934, Stella went to Russia and with Russian theatre director and actor Konstantin Stanislavsky learned new acting forms and “adapted to his principles”. Stella began teaching at New School for Social Research as an acting teacher in the early 1940’s until 1949 when her Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting (now the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre) was opened. It was at her academy where she instructed students the “Stella Adler Technique” She taught students and actors to imagine a character's world. Her method helps actors expand their view of the world. Stella taught people to observe sounds, textures, and the aesthetics of everyday life.

I chose to research Stella Adler for many varied reasons. I myself love acting as it teaches you to express yourself and know your personality better. Stella is a fitting example of having a dream and achieving it. Stella loved acting and worked hard from an early age to become what she was. I am joyful to know her academy is still open and teaching actors to this day. Stella’s methods have been passed on since her passing on December 21, 1992. Before I did this project, I knew nothing about Stella Adler or even knew she existed. She may not be a top-class celebrity, but she is an amazing lady

Sources: Brittanica.com, backstage.com, wikipedia.org, imbd.com, stelladler.la

Anne Sullivan

By: Carmella J 

Introduction- Anne Mansfield Sullivan, came from two, poor, Irish immigrants, her father, always drunk, abused Anne. Her poor mother who suffered from tuberculosis could do nothing to help. When Anne was just eight her mother died, which resulted in, her father abandoning Anne and her siblings, while Anne was partially blind. As Anne grew older, she suffered from a lot of trauma but finally made it to college. Anne soon became the teacher of blind and deaf, 7-year-old Helen Keller. 

Anne Mansfield Sullivan was born on April 14th, 1866, in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. She lived with her family of six; her mother, Alice Sullivan, her father, Thomas Sullivan, her siblings, Mary and Jimmie Sullivan, plus herself. When Anne was at the young age of eight, her mother unfortunately passed from tuberculosis. Thomas Sullivan (Annes father) who had abused her from a young age while being drunk and/or short tempered, abandoned Anne and her siblings. Anne, who had been partially blind, and short tempered. Jimmie, who had a lump on his hip, caused from tuberculosis, and Mary, a healthy, lovable toddler, were all abandoned. An aunt took in young Mary, but Jimmie and Anne were not wanted.  They were sent to live at a state-run poorhouse, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Just 3 months after they arrived, Jimmie sadly died at the young age of 5. Anne stayed at the poorhouse for another 4 years before she got sent to Perkins Institution for the Blind in Boston, in 1880. She could not read or write and didn’t even know her own birthday. Anne learned and worked well and got good rewards. In 1887, she underwent surgery that restored most of her vision. She then went to Tuscumbia, Alabama, to become the private teacher of blind and deaf, 7-year-old Helen Keller. Anne first spelt words out on Helens hands but later taught Helen to read and write in braille. As both women grew older, Anne taught Helen, at her best ability and the girls stayed together for 49 years. On October 20th, 1936, Anne passed away from coronary thrombosis, at age 70, while holding Helen's hand. She died in Queens, New York. When Helen died, her ashes were placed next to Annes. 

That was the end of my written presentation of Anne Sullivan. Hope you enjoyed it!