2nd Semester, 2nd Year, MFA Voice & Speech Class: Dialects

Teacher/Coach: Jan Gist

Spring, 2011: January 25 - April 7:  Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 - 2:25

This 4th semester of your two year training program will focus on:

         How to identify and analyze the ingredients of any accent/dialect

         How to apply those techniques into performances expressive of:

                  character, class, region, era, social/ethnic identity, intention

                  and style of play

         How to find the playwright’s clues of language in addition to accent

We will cover:

         Cockney, using  Harold Pinter’s plays

         Estuary/Current/Working Class London, in a variety of scripts

         Various American regions such as:

                 New York/Brooklyn area

                 South and Southwest

         Depending on time, possibly others such as Irish, Australian, German…

         Possibly: Dialect Project:

                  A dialect or accent of your choice, where you:

                  find a person or source to study

                  analyze, notate and record their speaking patterns        

                  present the information to the class

                  perform a speech or scene in this accent/dialect

Classes will include:

         Group study, analysis, drill-practice, feedback for each accent/dialect

         Performance of a speech or scene in each accent/dialect

         Materials for your own research project (tape? CD? Analysis?)

This semester is designed to continue developing your own personal joy, freedom, expressiveness, and power in your Voice/Acting work.  It is also meant to give you practice and confidence in dialect work so that you can go off and have an Acting career of learning and enjoying the accumulation of your own dialect library and personal approach.