The Joy of Dialects: A Whirlwind Trip Around the World
an arvold.education discussion led by Janet Rodgers
Part of an actor’s craft is giving his/her character an authentic voice, literally! Dialect is a crucial part of preparing (and, let’s be honest, booking) a role, one that cannot be overlooked or put off until the last minute. Janet Rodgers, dialect coach will lead this discussion to demystify the art of dialects. She’ll give a basic overview, as well as discuss what is involved in successful study and preparation.
Mid–Atlantic actors, you know that Virginia in particular attracts period projects (Turn, Lincoln, Killing Lincoln, John Adams) which require especially authentic British, Scottish, and sometimes French and Irish accents. The proper dialect should be a tool in every actor’s toolbox – come find out how to make sure it’s one in yours.
Topics covered will include:
— Dialect vs. accent, and the basics of each
— The differences in British dialects
— Nuances of working dialects with different schools of acting
— How and when to work with a dialect coach
— The importance of enjoying dialect study
Saturday, March 21
1-3pm
Tickets are $50 in advance
$60 starting March 16
All film artists, at all levels of experience, are welcome and encouraged to attend! Children under 17 must be accompanied by a guardian. Participation and the willingness to try some basic dialect exercises is encouraged!
To reserve your tickets, click here:
About Janet Rodgers
Janet Rodgers has dialect coached well over 120 theatre and film productions (most recently Cadence Theatre’s production of Sight Unseen and AMC’s Turn) in the Richmond area. She is Professor Emerita of Theatre at Virginia Commonwealth University where she taught for 25 years, was Head of Performance for seven years and created the first MFA with emphasis in Voice and Speech Pedagogy in the USA. Prior to coming to VCU, she taught at the Boston Conservatory of Music and was a principal actress with The Boston Shakespeare Company and Boston’s Lyric Stage, as well as performing Off-Broadway at La Mama Theatre.
A Fulbright Scholar to Romania, she directed American and Romanian students in a production of Caryl Churchill’s play, Mad Forest, which was performed at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in 2004. Recently she was recognized as a ‘Distinguished Member’ for her many years of leadership in the international Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) and in 2009 received the ‘Distinguished Teaching Award’ from VCU’s School of the Arts.
Ms. Rodgers holds a BA in Theatre Arts and Speech from Mount Holyoke College and an MFA in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University. Additional training included one year at the American Center for the Performing Arts in Boston, Shakespeare training with Jeremy Geidt at Harvard University, and a Directing Internship at Harvard’s American Repertory Theatre under the tutelage of David Wheeler.
In 2013, she co-founded the Studio 2424 West Main for the purpose of creating an inviting space where creativity and a sense of community takes place through explorations of voice, movement and language. It is a studio that brings together artists of all disciplines.
Teacher, Author, Actress, and Director, Ms. Rodgers’ career has always been devoted to the highest principles of the art of theatre and helping actors achieve their best performances.