For more information or to schedule contact Lauri at
650-888-3950
lauri@yourauthenticself.net
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
- Michelangelo
I believe that within every actor lies a masterpiece that first and foremost needs guidance within a supportive, safe environment in order to be revealed.
To clothe our emotional lives, we constricted our voices and armored our
bodies with muscular tensions. […] For most people in our society, it is a
strictly personal matter whether or not they are satisfied to live with
these emotional restrictions. But for actors, emotional expression is
essential to our craft, so learning to become an actor necessitates
overcoming whatever emotional blocks we may have accumulated along
the way.
- Stephen Wangh, An Acrobat of the Heart
If an actor attempts to perform by layering a character on top of her societal self without first ‘overcoming her emotional blocks’ and ‘removing the old clothes’ she has been carrying around for years, the performance feels false to the performer and most certainly the audience interprets it as false. As an instructor, I weave together the work of Steven Wangh, Jerzy Grotowski, Richard Seyd, Catherine Fitzmaurice and others in order to help performers release their habitual daily tensions and mannerisms in order to access their Authentic Selves. In so doing, students are then able to expand their range and create characters that feel and appear authentic, unique and dynamic. In addition, students will develop a greater awareness of and ability to utilize their own impulses as we work to cultivate their creativity through imagination, experimentation and a sense of play.
Testimonials
"Lauri Smith was a godsend!
The daily class exercises and games led us into familiarity with unknown corners of ourselves that would then be available for roles, loosened our bodies so that we could better use impulses, and brought awareness to how we connect and collaborate with others to create together. All in all, a recipe for greater authenticity within ourselves and with others, which leads to a happier life.
And guess what? I learned to act!
The process was so smooth, and each new stage had been so well prepared for, that it felt seamless... and more fun than I had ever anticipated."
-Raji Raman, Student
"Lauri is very approachable. Her style of teaching puts you at ease and takes away any inhibitions or distractions you may have. I thoroughly enjoyed her class and look forward to doing an even more advanced course with her in the future."
-Gauri Pendharkar, Student
"Lauri’s class was a blast and the games and techniques she taught lead me to have much more natural responses in my acting. It was easier to trust my instincts and allow my imagination to literally come to life before me. I review my notes often and hope to come back for another class soon!"
- Keri Genie Darner, Student
"Lauri is an inspirational navigator who truly believes in process over product. Her teaching style is incomparable to say the least. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering myself in different ways and expanding my creativity’s boundaries. Lauri shares lessons with her students that can be applied to every aspect in life, not just acting."
- Latrice Bennett, Student
