The Actors Art and Craft
William Esper's detailed documentation of the Meisner technique in practice
Overview
The Actors Art and Craft by William Esper and Damon DiMarco provides a thorough documentation of the Meisner technique as taught by William Esper, one of Sanford Meisner's most prominent students and a master teacher in his own right.
The book follows students through two years of training at the William Esper Studio, documenting the progression from basic repetition exercises through emotional preparation, improvisation, and scene work. The detailed classroom transcripts bring the training to life.
How It Works
Ideal for actors studying or interested in the Meisner technique who want to see how the training unfolds over an extended period. It serves as an excellent companion to Sanford Meisner on Acting.
Available in paperback and digital formats, typically priced between $16-19. Part of a two-volume set that covers the complete training arc.
Who Uses It
Strongly recommended for serious students of the Meisner technique. Esper's refinement of Meisner's work provides additional clarity and depth that enhances understanding of the original method. The book is particularly valuable because it shows the Meisner technique evolving through a master teacher's hands, demonstrating that great technique is not a frozen set of rules but a living practice that grows with each generation. Actors who have read Sanford Meisner on Acting will find that Esper's book fills in gaps and addresses questions that Meisner's own text leaves open. The two-volume structure allows readers to experience the full arc of training from absolute beginner to advanced scene work, which mirrors the actual studio experience more closely than any single-volume text can.
Pricing & Plans
The Actors Art and Craft is available in paperback for approximately $16 to $19 per volume, with a companion second volume, The Actors Art and Craft: William Esper Teaches the Meisner Technique, covering the second year of training at a similar price point. Digital editions are available for Kindle at around $12 to $15 per volume. Both volumes together represent an investment of roughly $30 to $38, which is modest compared to the cost of even a single month of studio training that could run several hundred dollars. Used copies of the first volume are available for under $10 at many secondhand booksellers. For actors who cannot afford or access in-person Meisner training, the detailed classroom transcripts in these books provide the next best thing to being in the room.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The book's greatest strength is the classroom transcript format, which allows readers to feel as though they are sitting in on actual training sessions at the William Esper Studio, hearing the questions, mistakes, breakthroughs, and corrections that make the learning process real and relatable. Esper is an exceptionally articulate teacher whose explanations of why certain exercises work and what they are designed to develop are clearer and more detailed than almost any other Meisner text. The progression from basic repetition through emotional preparation to improvisation and scene work is documented with a completeness that no other book on the technique achieves. Esper's refinements and additions to the original Meisner technique, including his own exercises and approaches, add genuine value beyond simply repeating what Meisner taught. The book includes extensive student dialogue and questions, which anticipates and addresses the confusions that most actors experience when learning the technique. The writing collaboration with Damon DiMarco brings a literary quality to the transcripts that makes them engaging to read, not just instructive.
What Could Be Better
The classroom transcript format, while immersive, can also feel lengthy and repetitive for readers who want the key principles without the extended dialogue and process documentation. At two volumes covering two years of training, the total page count is substantial, and readers who are not specifically studying Meisner may find the level of detail excessive. The book is deeply specific to the Meisner technique and does not provide comparative context with other acting methodologies, which limits its usefulness for actors still exploring which approach suits them best. Some readers may find that reading about exercises is a poor substitute for actually doing them, and the book's detailed descriptions can create a false sense of understanding that does not hold up in practice. The transcripts capture a specific cohort of students at a specific time, and some of the interpersonal dynamics may not resonate with all readers. Additionally, the second volume is necessary to complete the training arc, which doubles the investment in both money and reading time.
Our Recommendation
If you are studying the Meisner technique or seriously considering it, The Actors Art and Craft should be at the top of your reading list alongside Sanford Meisner on Acting — the two books together provide the most complete written documentation of the technique available. It is particularly valuable for actors who are currently in Meisner training and want to supplement their classroom experience with additional insight and context. If you are not yet committed to the Meisner technique and are still exploring different approaches, start with Sanford Meisner on Acting first, as it is a more accessible introduction. Actors who prefer Stanislavski, Strasberg, or other methodologies may appreciate this book for understanding what Meisner training involves, even if they choose a different path. For actors without access to in-person Meisner training, this book combined with a dedicated practice partner is the closest you can get to the studio experience.
Pro Tips
Read this book while actively studying or practicing Meisner — the exercises described demand a practice partner, and reading without doing will give you intellectual understanding without embodied experience. Take notes on the specific corrections and adjustments Esper makes in the transcripts, as these are the kind of detailed, nuanced guidance that separates good Meisner teaching from mediocre instruction. If you can afford both volumes, read them in sequence to experience the full training arc as intended. Pay particular attention to the sections on emotional preparation, as Esper's approach to this crucial and often misunderstood element of the technique is exceptionally clear. Use the journaling prompts and self-reflection questions to track your own development alongside the students described in the book. If the book inspires you and you are in the New York area, consider attending a class at the William Esper Studio to experience the teaching firsthand.