ABSTRACT
Michael Chekhov believed that atmosphere can be a powerful tool that can be shared by all actors onstage as an ensemble and can be a feeling that an audience can recall long after the performance is a distant memory. In this chapter you’ll investigate how places have certain atmospheres, such as a cemetery at midnight or an emergency room waiting area, and how these may affect you. Not only is there an overall atmosphere to experience with everybody who is present, but each character also brings their own personal atmosphere – an essence that is uniquely them. Through improvisation you will explore the way you move and the sensations you experience in an overall atmosphere, and how a character's unique personal atmosphere alters those movements and sensations.
