Maggie Flanigan Studio

It’s home. I met great people, forged fantastic relationships and absolutely love and appreciate the entire staff. Maggie and Charlie have set the bar for acting schools across the country. If you are really serious and can handle the realities of master instruction and are ready to be taught by the top instructors then this studio is for you. The atmosphere is safe, and you become a family with your classmates and techies. I hold this studio and everyone associated with it, in the highest regard.

I have thought a lot about this review because it’s one of the most important to me.
I have been an actor almost all my life. After studying acting for so many years (and going through so much money in the process) I started to wonder why I was doing this in the first place. I’d take a class or workshop only to have my head patted and be told to sit down after I gave some BS scene work or a monologue that was half-​assed because I simply didn’t know what else to do (that is– how to actually work on a piece). And auditions? Ugh, I don’t *even*. During this artistic crisis, a former student of Maggie’s told me to go see her, talk to her for a few minutes. So I went. Confused, intimidated, and self-​doubting, I went.
That was almost two years ago. I’m almost done with the program now, and it’s the best choice I ever made for myself as an artist/​human being. And I could not have done it without Maggie, of course, who is the most amazing teacher I have ever had, but also not without Charlie, who is one of the most dedicated, passionate individuals I have ever had the privilege to know, let alone work under. I trust him implicitly. The support that he gives his students in both their successes and failures is especially freeing; this is an environment where you will struggle in the best possible way. But don’t you dare think for a second that you can get away with not giving your absolute best. They both demand it because they, too, are giving their absolute best. And it’s hard. It’s so, so hard. But it’s so, so worth it. More than I can say.
There is a sign on the wall when you walk into the studio: NYC’s Home For The Serious Actor, and that’s *very* accurate. You have to be serious if you come to this studio because Maggie and Charlie are, as well as the rest of the amazing teachers and staff here (I want to give them all shout-​outs like I’m a middle-​schooler who got radio time). They will give you their all to help you, but you have to give them your all too. But really– if you really love something, and I mean really love it, then don’t you owe it to yourself to go after that thing with your whole heart and soul? Otherwise what’s the point? This is the studio where you will learn how to do just that.
Acting is the hardest thing you will ever do, if it’s to be the most important thing you will ever do. The things that matter the most are often the hardest. And if you aren’t serious about making this craft your life’s work, then really, why bother?
You’ll see mentioned in other reviews on this page that the studio/​teachers/​approach/​etc. isn’t for everyone, and that’s true I suppose. Some techniques might work better for other people. Namaste, y’all. But this is what works for me, because I take this so seriously. So I felt it necessary to say something, and very thankful to be able to do so.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve been in the Screen Actors Guild since 1996 and I just figured out what it means to be an actor.
What the hell was I doing for the last 18 years?!
Let me give you a bit of background information about myself to help elucidate how I ended up here, at Maggie Flanigan Studio and what it has done for me in the (almost) 6 months I’ve been here.
After a fantastic year in medical school, I ended up moving to Hawaii with no job qualifications (!!!) except for the fact that I was a SAG member. I found two of the SAG franchised agencies on the island and set up an interview. Two days later I was signed to ADR agency and through the thick of it, I was auditioning for Hawaii Five-​0. And what do you know… I booked it. I was jumping for joy because I was *naturally* talented! Never taking an acting class in my life and here I was, co-​starring on 5 – 0.
But do you know what happened on set? I was so nervous and so in my head that I could barely breathe. And then the realization came to me…
I. am. a. hack.
When you make that kind of realization about yourself, it’s like someone has ripped out the ground from underneath you and you have no idea which way is up.
I knew I needed training and knew I would be moving back to New York, so being an investigative scientist, I did EXTENSIVE research on the kind of studio that I wanted to study at. I wanted someone to see my potential and to ask for more and more and more until my skin was so stretched I thought I’d start bleeding. I wanted an environment where my classmates pushed me beyond what I thought was possible. I wanted to get out of my head and be present in EVERY moment. I wanted to keep the focus off of myself so I wasn’t so insecure.
After reading Adler’s book, I knew Strasberg wasn’t for me. I also didn’t want to be a part of a class where you could just sign up and come and go as you pleased (how safe is that?! I don’t think I could ever feel comfortable with that!) A friend of mine from Hawaii told me I should look into Meisner and I’ll be honest, I was skeptical. Repetition?! Uhhh, that sounds like a waste of time. Focus on the other actors and what you’re doing?! uhhh… WHAT ABOUT ME and WHAT ABOUT HOW I’M FEELING?! But, I continued on with my research, read Meisner’s book, watched his Master’s Class on DVD, and spoke to one of my acting mentors who said: «for you, for someone as smart/​heady as you, Meisner is going to be VERY difficult.»
Challenge. Accepted.
It came down to Playhouse East (Meisner’s Old Joint), Will Esper, and Maggie Flanigan. I spoke at length to students/​faculty at all three of these places and decided to submit my application in for MFS. Josh called me and let me know that I would be meeting with Charlie to see if I was a good fit. He interviewed me, I kinda interviewed him and I just *knew* this is where I had to be. So, I was accepted and I signed up.
And, it has been so. fucking. challenging. YES!!! My mentor was right, for me, getting out of my head has been REALLY, REALLY hard. But I’m leaving it behind, and the mere fact the work can do this alone, is, quite honestly, a miracle. Because how can you act and play off the other person if you’re stuck in you’re own story?!
This studio has pulled me to my extremes. I have crafted (and felt) devastation, rage, joy, and humiliation in a safe environment where my classmates and faculty are supportive. Charlie supports the struggle but he definitely doesn’t molly-​coddle me when I’m struggling because he wants us to learn and grow! When you’re running a race and your legs burn, are you gonna stop because… ouch? No! You’re gonna keep going because it will be worth it in the end. Sometimes, you feel the burn but wouldn’t you just keep… going?
This studio isn’t easy. It’s really hard (harder than medical school, as I can contest to.) I have been stretched to my limits and exercised parts of me that i didn’t know existed! Can you imagine being XX years old and finally allowing yourself to be so silly that you look like a total and complete ass?! I love this school. I love my class. I love these teachers. I love crafting. I love creating a path to becoming an artist. This studio makes me hungry for more and more. And with hunger, you get stretched further and further… but it’s worth it and is quite honestly… the best thing I’ve ever done.

I have taken acting classes in New York City at more studios than I can mention.
I have had teachers who spend half of a 2 hour class telling everyone about their recent audition, why they were so amazing and how we should learn from them. Teachers who make «bros» out of the male students, talk sweetly to the pretty girls, ignore the homely types and teach nothing. I have heard teachers spew praise on crappy work insuring their students’ swift return and their money to return along with them. Teachers who speak to hear themselves speak. Teachers who stroke their own ego at every opportunity. Teachers who are merely cogs in their studio’s money making machine. I have had my time wasted occasion after occasion, and watched my money dealt out around this city like a deck of cards finding that every time I lose and the house wins.
After searching myself (am I the problem?), I was left asking, is anyone out there really seeing their students? Really hearing them in scenes, really watching, really asking tough questions and giving tough answers? Is there anyone out there really training actors, or is everyone just trying to make a buck?
I have finally found actual training at Maggie Flanigan Studio. I finally have a teacher who says, «No» when it’s wrong, «Lazy» when it’s lazy and who decrees, «I will not lower my bar for this class.» MFS is high level training. It’s not pretty, it’s not easy, it’s downright difficult, it makes you uncomfortable, even angry and if you put in the effort, it actually starts to work.
It’s empowering. It’s illuminating. It’s the real deal.
«How do you carve an elephant? Remove everything that isn’t elephant.»

Look. This shit is hard. There’s no way around that. These people will push you to the brink and go beyond it when it comes to your personal development. Not everyone wants that, I get it. Some people want a nice, neat, calm acting school that will take your money, pat you on the head and tell you what a good job you did. «How talented you are!» they’ll say. If you’re looking for that, then this is not for you. Don’t even sign up. There will be classes where you will scream, cry, throw inanimate objects and maybe even collapse on the floor from the emotional stress of it all.
However, you will also get good. If you put in the work and don’t give up but just keep going through, you will see changes in yourself you never thought were possible. I’ve been recreated as a human being because of this school. I feel things. I get angry, sad, happy. Truly happy. Like «jump-​up-​and-​down» happy. And it’s legitimate. I really feel it. I use to be callous and dead and now I feel things all the time and MORE THAN THAT, I know who I am. I know who I am to a degree I didn’t think was possible and I’m not out of the first year yet. HOT DAMN :D
That’s not to say the school is perfect. They’re not. The staff makes mistakes; they’re human beings and they don’t try to be anything else. They fail sometimes in spite of all their attempts to bring us to our full potential; sometimes we all have bad days. But you know what? They try. They try really fucking hard to make this school a real place where people who want to study the craft of acting have a home.
I would recommend this school to anyone with a passion for acting and some brass balls (or ovaries) like the ones Alec Baldwin carried in Glengarry Glen Ross.
–Dutch

All the teachers at this studio are incredible — both as teachers and human beings. The standards for students here are very high: be grateful, you will be pushed to a place you didn’t even know existed inside you. However, even if you have zero experience acting you can learn from zero because all that is really needed as a prerequisite is a willingness to get in touch with your humanity.
I studied first under Maggie, and then with Charlie the «second in command» Senior acting teacher. Both are dedicated to teaching the craft of the Meisner technique and do so with great clarity.
I couldn’t have asked for a more nurturing yet rigorous environment. I will miss coming twice a week and the deep friendships I have made while here.
Go forth!
«Come to the edge. We can’t. We’re afraid. Come to the edge. We can’t. We’ll fall! Come to the edge. And they came. And he pushed them. And they flew.» ~ Guillaume Apollinaire

Maggie is the most amazing acting teacher you will ever encounter. She’s harsh but unbearably honest, and forces you to work harder and smarter than you ever thought you could. She expects nothing less than the best from her students, and gets amazing results.
I’ve been taking acting classes from the time I was a small child, and Maggie stands head and shoulders above every other acting teacher I’ve ever encountered (including «the best» training at NYU).
If you are auditioning but not getting great results, or want to get a firm grip on your technique, Maggie will whip you into shape. She’s unbelievably amazing.