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Earle Gister

Earle Gister

Earle Gister was an acting teacher and a pioneer in training, whose unique take on Stanislavski’s system of actions influenced generations of actors.

Key Practitioners

Introduction

Earle R. Gister was born in Racine, Wisconsin on March 30, 1934. He graduated from Carleton College with a degree in history before attending Tulane University, where he served as the editor of the Tulane Drama Review and began developing his acting method. Gister went on to teach at Carnegie Mellon University, City College of New York, and the Yale School of Drama, where he was Associate Dean until 1999. His method, which took a new approach to how actors play tactics in scenes, influenced generations of actors. Gister died on January 22, 2012 in New Haven, Connecticut.

Key Dates & Events

  • 1956 - Gister earns his degree in history from Carleton College.
  • 1972 - Gister founds the League of Professional Theatre Training Programs.
  • 1979 - Gister is appointed Associate Dean of the Yale School of Drama.
  • 1991 - Gister and the Yale Repertory Theatre are honored with a Tony Award.
  • 1994 - Gister is appointed the Lloyds Richard Adjunct Professor of Drama at Yale University. He retires in 1999.
  • 2012 - Joe Alberti, one of Gister’s students, collaborates with Gister on Acting: The Gister Method, a practical handbook that outlines Gister’s teachings.

Context & Analysis

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