EDUCATION: Speaking Voice
Ellen Taft, ADVS (206) 323-6983
“ I can coach anyone into a better performance through breathing and freeing the voice.”
Voice, speech and dialects teacher, Taft received the Advanced Diploma of Voice Studies from London’s Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD) a post-graduate training program to train teachers of the speaking voice, dialects, textual analysis, Shakespeare and communication skills.
Using a very physical approach to free the voice, through improved breathing, alignment and meaningful articulation work, Taft analyzes the needs of each student individually and chooses exercises appropriate to the student.
At CSSD, Taft’s main instructor was David Carey, formerly asst. voice coach of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Sally Grace, former head of voice at Rose Bruford. Guest workshops were taught by Cicely Berry and Pasty Rodenberg, both of the RSC, as well as Meribeth Bench. In addition, Taft has taken workshops with Kristen Linklater and Arthur Lessec, and while attending American Conservatory Theatre (A.C.T.)she studied with an Edith Skinner disciple, Bernard Vasch. Taft uses a very physical approach to free the natural voice and organically connect the voice, the breath and the thought.
Taft is the former Artistic Director of Philadelphia's Shakespeare in the Park.
www.ShakespeareInstruction.com
E-Mail actorshandbook@etaft.net
Brennan Murphy (206) 853-9168
A graduate of the Yale School of Drama ( MFA in Acting) and the Central School of Speech and Drama, London with a post-graduate degree: the Advanced Diploma of Voice Studies ( ADVS),Brennan has worked extensively with the following voice practitioners: Patsy Rodenburg, Cecily Berry, Catherine Fitzmauice, David Carey, Dudley Knight, and several certified Linklater teachers.
His voice and speech work focus on breath, alignment, relaxation, articulation and text work. The specific needs of the client dictate how the sessions evolve. He teaches acting and voice at Freehold Studio/Theatre Lab in Seattle Washington and works with private clients on voice/speech/presentation skills through his company Vox Box Inc.
Previously he had a twenty-year career as a professional actor in New York City and at regional theatres around the United States. On Broadway he was a featured actor in Angela Lansbury's revival of Mame, the critically-acclaimed Hal Prince/NYC Opera production of Candide, as well as Take Me Along, the musical version of Eugene O'Neill's classic, Ah, Wilderness!
As an educator, he has taught acting, voice, and movement at New York City's Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, California State University-Sacramento (Head of Acting), Illinois State University, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, SUNY at Buffalo State College, and at several of London's leading drama schools: Central School of Speech and Drama, Rose Bruford College, and Middlesex University. Brennan has taught master classes at universities around the United States and was a guest lecturer at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth.
E-mail: voicebox@yahoo.com
Gin Hammond (646) 283-8033
Gin holds an MFA in acting from The American Repertory Theatre Institute, for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University/Moscow Art Theatre, where Catherine Fitzmaurice taught voice. Her performance credits include, The Guthrie and The Arena Stage, several regional theatres and the Moscow Art Theatre and the Roadside Theatre, in Heidelberg, Germany.
In Seattle Gin has worked as a voice and dialect coach for Book-It, Stone Soup, Annex, Capitol Hill Arts Center. In addition, she has worked with former Seattle Rep Artistic Director, Sharon Ott at Horizon Theatre in Atlanta, as well as Kansas City Rep. Ms. Hammond teaches voice at Freehold and Northwest Actor’s Studio. Ms. Hammond was certified as an associate teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework in 2006.
Website Ginhammond.com
Michael J. Loggins (206) 819-2476
A graduate of London’s Academy of Music and Drama, Michael J. Loggins has taught dialects and voice for over 25 years. ( see acting coaches)
Mary McDonald-Lewis (206) 295-4997
Mary McDonald-Lewis has worked in Los Angeles and Portland, OR as a voice talent, dialects coach and voice-over coach for over 30 years. In L.A., she has worked on Hollywood Films and for television. In Portland, she has worked at Center Stage and for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She has an MFA from the University of Portland. To contact Ms. McDonald-Lewis, please email her at Mary@Marymac.com
www. Marymac.com
Adrienne MacIain (425)-313-8937
Ms. MacIain holds a Ph.D in Dramatic Arts from UC Santa Barbara and has a BA in French. She teaches voice and dialects at Northwest Actor’s Studio and is bilingual French/English.
Adrienne@umail.ucsb.edu
Kate Wisniewski (206) 297-1042
Kate Wisniewski is an actor, instructor, and private coach. She holds an MFA from the American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. She is a Certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and teaches at Freehold and at Seattle University. ( see Shakespeare)
Orla McGovern
A Native of southern Ireland, Ms. McGovern, an actor, polishes Irish and British accents
E-mail: findyourlight@yahoo.com
Relevant Websites:
www.Kiristinlinklater.com ( Kristin Linklater has been a voice teacher and training for over 40 years. Her site contains a list of certified Linklater voice teachers )
www.VASTA.org (website of Voice and Speech Teachers Association. The Professional organization for voice teachers in the U.S.)
www. fitzmauricevoice.com ( the website for Catherine Fitzmaurice and Fitzmaurice voicework)
www.lessecinstitute.com (website of Arthur Lessec training program )