Education: Speaking Voice
Western Washington
Ellen Taft (ADVS)
(206) 323-6983
www.publicspeakingskillsinstruction.com
Email:
[email protected]
“ I can coach anyone into a better performance through breathing and freeing the voice.”
Voice, speech and dialects teacher Ellen Taft received the Advanced Diploma of Voice Studies from London’s Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD), a post-graduate program training teachers of the speaking voice, dialects, textual analysis, Shakespeare and communication skills. Using a very physical approach that features 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 instructors were David Carey, formerly assistant voice coach of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) 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 the 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.
Gin Hammond (MFA)
(646) 283-8033
Website: Ginhammond.com
Gin holds an MFA in acting from The American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University/Moscow Art Theatre where she was a student of Catherine Fitzmaurice. Her performance credits include regional theatres such as The Guthrie and Arena Stage, 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, and Capitol Hill Arts Center. Additionally, she has worked with former Seattle Repertory Theatre Artistic Director, Sharon Ott, at Horizon Theatre in Atlanta and at Kansas City Repertory. Ms. Hammond has taught voice at Northwest Actor’s Studio and Freehold and was certified as an associate teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework in 2006.
Michael J. Loggins
(206) 819-2476
Email: [email protected]
A graduate of UNT in Theatre and Voice and London’s Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), Michael J. provides private personalized Coaching for Acting, Auditioning and Speaking Voice- including Improvisation to aid with spontaneity, vocal variety and clarity with a goal of captivating your audience. In addition -when requested -he can provide dialect and accent training and adjustments.
He also teaches at Seattle Talent – a training studio- where he Coaches: Acting for Commercials, TV and Film, Improvisation and Auditioning in downtown Seattle. At Seattle Children’s Theatre he designed and taught ‘Acting for the Camera’.
Adrienne MacIain (PhD)
(425)-313-8937
Email: [email protected]
Adrienne MacIain holds a Ph.D in Dramatic Arts from the University of California at Santa Barbara and has a BA in French.
Mary McDonald-Lewis (MFA)
(206) 295-4997
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.Marymac.com
Mary McDonald-Lewis has worked in Los Angeles and Portland as a voice talent, dialects coach and voice-over coach for over 30 years. In LA, she has worked in both film and television. In Portland, she has worked at Center Stage and for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She has an MFA from the University of Portland.
Orla McGovern
A Native of southern Ireland, Ms. McGovern, an actor, polishes Irish and British accents
Email: [email protected]
Judith Shahn
(206) 650-6270
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vibrantspeaking.com
Judy Shahn is a designated Linklater teacher (certified in 1991) Ms. Shahn taught at the University of Washington’s PATP program, Cornish College of the Arts and at most of Seattle’s theatres as well as for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Shan specializes in voice production for the actor: freeing the voice, increasing range and power and Shakespearean text.
Voice Training Websites
Fitzmaurice Technique
Website for Catherine Fitzmaurice and Fitzmaurice voicework
Arthur Lessec Training Program
Kristin Linklater Techinque
http://www.thelinklatercenter.com/designated-linklater-teachers/alphabetical
Kristin Linklater has been a voice teacher for over 40 years. Her site contains a list of certified Linklater voice teachers.
Voice and Speech Teachers Association(VASTA)
The Professional organization for voice teachers in the US.