Voice / Speech, Level 1
Limited to 12 students.
Voice and Speech, Level 1 is designed for actors who want to develop a strong, clear, and responsive speaking voice capable of meeting the demands of professional work.
Each class is divided into two segments. The first 45 to 60 minutes focus on voice work, followed by approximately one hour devoted to speech and text.
Voice
The voice work begins with releasing habitual throat tension and developing ease through relaxation, breath support, sound connection, and sound release. From there, actors build mask resonance, vocal ring, resonance blending, expanded range, and clearer articulation. By the end of the course, each actor leaves with a personalized daily vocal warm up regimen to support ongoing growth and consistency.
“ In a famous exchange, when asked by Konstantin Stanislavski what an actor must develop above all else,
Tommaso Salvini, whom Stanislavski considered the greatest living example of his acting technique, replied
Number one, voice. Number two, VOICE. Number three, VOICE!!!’
His answer reminds us that without vocal freedom, clarity, and strength, truthful acting remains private and unheard.”
Speech
The second portion of class applies this work directly to speech and text. Actors address problem consonant and vowel sounds and gain practical tools for handling challenging prose and poetry, including phrasing, inflection, and rhythm.
Speech training focuses on eliminating sloppy speech and neutralizing regional dialects through the development of Standard American Speech. Actors learn to recognize and correct habitual speech patterns and prepare for future dialect study. The results include greater confidence and ease with both classical and contemporary texts, and an expanded ability to take on a wide range of theatrical roles.
This class is not appropriate for students with strong foreign accents. Students with strong foreign accents must have successfully completed Foreign Accent Reduction class before admission to Voice and Speech.
Students with strong foreign accents must take Accent Reduction class before being admitted to Voice/Speech.| Session: | Term | Instructor | Day | Hours | Begins | Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2026 | 8 wks | Workman | Sat | 12:30-2:30 pm | Feb 7, 2026 | $390 | |
| Spring 2026 | 8 wks | Workman | Sat | 12:30-2:30 pm | Apr 11, 2026 | $390 | open |
| Summer 2026 | 8 wks | Workman | Sat | 12:30-2:30 pm | Jun 20, 2026 | $390 | open |
| Fall 2026 | 8 wks | Workman | Sat | 12:30-2:30 pm | Oct 3, 2026 | $390 | open |
| Winter 2027 | 8 wks | Workman | Sat | 12:30-2:30 pm | Feb 6, 2027 | $390 | open |
