The following is a summary of remarks I made at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference 2023 in Austin, TX. The panel discussion was sponsored by the Voice & Speech Trainers Association focus group and also included Irene Alby, Aimee Blesing, Amy Chaffee, Kristi Dana, and Colton Weiss. Panelists were asked to position… Continue reading VASTA @ ATHE Call to Action: Certifications
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Summary of Remarks at the 2023 VASTA/CEUVOZ Joint Conference
“Intentional Co-Evolution: Towards an Impact- Aware, Collaborative Voice Pedagogy” Co-Presenters: Ashleigh Reade (Boston University), Michael Shipley (Utah State University), Anne Thibault (Eastern Illinois University) The following blog post summarizes my contribution to the panel presentation “Intentional Co-Evolution: Towards an Impact- Aware, Collaborative Voice Pedagogy”: My goal is to describe some specifics of my continuing evolution… Continue reading Summary of Remarks at the 2023 VASTA/CEUVOZ Joint Conference
Invisible Storytelling: Production Dialect Design
First off, some brief lessons from sociolinguistics… Everyone has an accent. To say that someone’s speech lacks accent features is akin to saying that person lacks facial features. When someone is said to have “no accent” (or “just a hint of an accent”), it is likely they speak with an accent that reflects dominant identities… Continue reading Invisible Storytelling: Production Dialect Design
A Verse-Speaking Aesthetic
Although I have worked with many different directors of Shakespeare in many different productions, and I pride myself on being a supportive colleague and adaptable coach, it would be disingenuous of me to claim that I do not have certain personal aesthetic preferences when it comes to verse speaking. Primarily, I believe that poetry should… Continue reading A Verse-Speaking Aesthetic
Exercise Essay: A Progression for Teaching Place of Articulation
The Version of Record of this manuscript has been published and is available in the Voice and Speech Review, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23268263.2020.1757838
Reflections on the 2019 VASTA Conference: Connectors, Communicators, and Culture
The Version of Record of this manuscript has been published and is available in the Voice and Speech Review 14:1, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23268263.2020.1684017
Thoughts on Grading
Here’s the handout I gave to my students this term. It’s a big experiment, and it grew out of the fact that at the end of each term, I have to rank, categorize, and label all of the unique human beings I’ve gotten to know over the course of a semester. I want to be… Continue reading Thoughts on Grading
Principles of Self-Care for Student Actors
Only you are in charge of you. Your body is your own. You are not obligated to share it. Your personal life is your own. You are not obligated to share it. Don’t do things that hurt yourself or others. People that aim to “break you down” or “crack you open” are abusing you. They… Continue reading Principles of Self-Care for Student Actors
Dear Student: Failing
Dear Student, Thanks for being candid with me about your academic struggle this term and the shame you’re experiencing about it. I can’t help you process that, but I can say that I don’t need you to feel badly or even apologize. I trust that you’re having a valuable learning experience in some way. I… Continue reading Dear Student: Failing
Dear Student: Drama School (Know Before You Go)
Your education only begins with school. Two to four years of university training can give you a good foundation (if you are ready to make the most of it) but serious and successful actors continue to take class and learn new skills throughout their careers. You can expect to be in class for a long,… Continue reading Dear Student: Drama School (Know Before You Go)