Which acting approach focuses on spontaneity and real emotional connection with scene partners?

The Meisner technique is centered on the idea of spontaneity and the development of genuine emotional connections between actors. Developed by Sanford Meisner, this approach emphasizes responding authentically to the moment and to one another. Actors are trained to listen and react instinctively, which fosters a deep emotional engagement with their scene partners.

This technique often involves exercises that strip away theatricality and encourage performers to focus on their interactions. One key component is the “repetition exercise,” where actors repeat phrases to each other to develop a sense of presence and responsiveness, letting their emotions arise naturally in the moment.

The other methods listed, while valid in their own right, do not emphasize spontaneity in the same way. Method acting focuses on drawing from the actor's own emotional experiences and memories, which can lead to a more introspective process. Classical training typically involves studying established techniques and forms, focusing on the craft and history of acting rather than the organic spontaneity of the moment. Improvisation promotes spontaneity in a broader context about creating unscripted performances, but it does not specifically focus on the emotional connection with a scene partner in the structured manner that identifies the Meisner technique.