For LSTFI alumna turned instructor Rachel Bailit, the past few months have been a whirlwind of teaching, acting, and connecting with students around the world. Fresh from a seven-day masterclass at the prestigious Shanghai Theatre Academy—one of China’s top three acting schools—Rachel is bringing Lee Strasberg’s Method to new, global audiences in powerful ways.
Though this was Rachel’s second visit to the Academy, the first being in 2018 for a global conference of acting teachers, this trip marked a milestone: a deep, focused exploration of Lee Strasberg’s work with both students and faculty.
“In China, there’s often a focus on displaying emotion,” Rachel reflects. “What we explored instead was truly experiencing moments, using sensory work to discover the personal reality of the scene.”
From Performance to Living Truthfully
“The transformation was immediate”, Rachel continues, “Students shifted away from performance and began to live truthfully within their work—allowing the exercises to blend seamlessly into their scripts with intention and action.” The head of the drama department at Shanghai Theatre Academy, Professor He Yan, called the masterclass “extremely significant” and predicted it would have a “substantial impact on China’s performing arts education.”
Putting the “Work” in Working Actor
Rachel is no stranger to international teaching, having also taught a week-long Method Masterclass with David Strasberg in Mallorca, Spain in 2023. She previously collaborated with David Strasberg when he directed her one woman show, Sugar Happens, which premiered at The Institute before it ran in New York and traveled around Los Angeles.
But Rachel’s journey this year hasn’t been limited to the classroom. Back in Los Angeles, she stepped into a challenging starring role in the new feature film Everyone Asked About You, playing a former TV child star at a crossroads with her producer partner. The film, which features a cameo from acclaimed indie director and fellow Lee Strasberg Institute alum Henry Jaglom, will be available to stream beginning October 21.
Continuing The Legacy
When not on set or on stage, Rachel continues to nurture the global Strasberg community through her Method Book Club, an online gathering they founded during the pandemic. Open to current and former students, the club has explored everything from Lee Strasberg’s own writings to a variety of craft-focused works. No preparation is required; members simply take turns reading aloud and discussing the material as they go. Email [email protected] to join!
“It’s a fun way to stay connected with Strasberg students around the world,” Rachel says. “The conversations are rich, and the sense of community is something I treasure.” This fall, Rachel will return to teaching at the Los Angeles campus while continuing to offer Method 101 online. Whether in a Shanghai classroom, a Hollywood soundstage, or a virtual book club, Rachel embodies what it means to live and share The Method—keeping Lee Strasberg’s legacy vibrant, current, and international.
