In 1924 Konstantin Stanislavsky expressed his sadness and frustration when he referred to the Moscow Art Theatre studios as Lear's daughters. The studios, which he founded and supported, had betrayed the ideals and teachings of their master in their search for their own aesthetic identity. This is a story about the studios and the artists who worked side by side with Stanislavsky in the development and practical application of his System of Actor Training, which forms the foundation of most Western acting schools today.