Voice II: Shakespeare and Greeks

How does the actor authentically meet a passionate text that goes beyond everyday speech? In this course, students will practice bringing to life the language of Shakespeare and classical Greek playwrights. Students will explore passionate thought, including metaphor, argument, rhythm, imagery, and sound to realize these powerful texts fully and joyfully. The course will involve discovering the structures in the speeches and scenes which provide clues to the actor as to how to perform them. Using the voice safely with full breath support (so as to avoid injury) while releasing extended sounds like laughing, wailing, crying, and screaming will be explored. Various translations of the Greek texts will be used including those of Luis Alfaro, Declan Donnellan, Anne Carson, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Rush Rehm, Ellen McLaughlin, and others. This class is designed to be the natural next class after taking Voice for the Actor (Voice 1). Students will leave the class with at least one classical monologue suitable to use for auditions. Pre-requisite: Voice for the Actor (TAPS 121V) or approval of the instructor