The Dialect of the British Isles: A Four Part Intensive

Arizona Actors Academy presents The Dialect of the British Isles

A Four Part Intensive Led by Guest Artist Diane Senffner

We are so pleased to offer this incredible intensive taking the actor on a journey through the British Isles. One of the most important skills for professional actors is dialects. Having the practice, skills and know how to seamlessly bring a dialect into your character prep is critical. American actors work regularly on British material so this is a great opportunity to work with our region’s leading dialect expert and gain these skills. We are offering this by section at pandemic prices because we want every actor who needs this to be able to take advantage! Every actor works in every class of this intensive receiving ample practice. Sign up for a specific dialect/workshop or save $ and assure your spot in all four. Space is limited.

THIS WORKSHOP IS ON ZOOM

You can participate in this workshop from anywhere.

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Intimacy Workshop

The Dialect of the British Isles: A Four Part Intensive! Led by Diane Senffner!

Sundays, November 1st, 8th, 15th & Dec 20th  1:00pm-4:00pm MST | $65.00 each | $200 Full Program

About your coach.

Diane has been working in theater for over 35 years and honed her craft at the venerable University of Cincinnati CCM and the famed Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston, IL with amazing educator and founder, the late Byrne Piven. She’s also worked with iconic coaches such as Gillian Lane Pleschia and Paul Meier in her journey through various dialects and more recently with Knight-Thompson Speechwork. Diane has coached for Julliard and is proud to have worked with Eve Shapiro on a production of Pygmalion in 2008. She is also a licensed speech therapist.  Diane formed Dialect911 in 2004 and over the years,has professionally coached hundreds of actors and companies all over the U.S. and in the U.K. as well!  As she worked in the U.K., she is especially adept at coaching a variety of British dialects.  In 2019, she won the coveted AriZoni Award for Theatrical Specialization:  Dialect Coaching for my work as a coach on The Elephant Man.

She has coached Emmy nominated Hollywood actors Ron Livingston, Lizzie Kaplan and Matt Walsh to name a few and some you know VERY well.

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November 1st 

Standard British or Received Pronunciation

The Classic British accent.  Although you don’t hear it in it’s perfect form much today, it is the basis for many of today’s British accents and the absolute format in which period playwrights such as Shaw, Wilde and Coward should be spoken – as they were written.  In this class we learn the oral posture of the accent, the sounds that make up much of the accent, intonation and stress (prosody) and the unique pronunciation of many English words in the U.K.  We’ll work on text from period monologues and perfect the societal trappings of the day.

November 8th

London Accent or Modern RP

What Brits speaks today.  Today, British speech is very influenced by multi-cultural, estuary casual and American influences.  Today’s London accent is more glottalized, more open and very accessible.  The challenge for the stage version is to not make it so connected and casual that American audiences can’t understand it (think American mumblespeak).  This is the British version of our casual English.  We’ll examine lots of examples and work on monologues that are contemporary.

November 15th

Dublin Ireland 

Ireland proper used to be part of the U.K.and it was as late as 1937 when it happened. Ireland was a very, very poor country and struggled with famine and poverty without British support. Hence, the British and the Irish are still somewhat at odds today although Ireland is a prosperous country at the moment.  Irish retained the Celtic lilt and the rhythm of the language as well as the hard ‘r’ sound.  We’ll discuss the signature sounds of the accent – the key phrases that are stressed, the articulation switches and the famous ‘lilt’ that makes it one of the most fun accents in the world to do on stage.

December 20th

Scotland

The Scottish accent, as most accents, can be very mild or very unintelligible to those outside the country.  We’ll learn their famous trilled ‘r’ sound, their unique rhythm of speech, signature sounds and how it applies to any English text (it’s a utility accent that is GREAT to know).  Scots are proud and people who are much more emotional than their English counterparts.  We’ll have fun with this one.

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• PAYMENT Your total tuition fee will be presented before submitting and charged upon completed registration using the information provided.
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• INSTRUCTOR EMERGENCY In the event of emergency, we will send email notifications if classes are cancelled. Any cancelled classes will be offered a make-up class with ample time to adjust your schedule.
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We strive every day to create the safest creative environment for artistic development. This requires a working space of the highest integrity for personal risk taking and artistic exploration, both on and off the stage. Please review our student expectations.

Class Waiver & Policies For New Students

Terms of Enrollment
• PAYMENT Your total tuition fee will be presented before submitting and charged upon completed registration using the information provided.
• REFUNDS Your payment is refundable with cancellation by June 18th. All cancellations thereafter are non-refundable.
• INSTRUCTOR EMERGENCY In the event of emergency, we will send email notifications if classes are cancelled. Any cancelled classes will be offered a make-up class with ample time to adjust your schedule.
• Class Etiquette
We strive every day to create the safest creative environment for artistic development. This requires a working space of the highest integrity for personal risk taking and artistic exploration, both on and off the stage. Please review our student expectations.
Waiver of Liability:
As a participant in any program or class at Arizona Actors Academy/Theatre Upstairs (Hotchner Studios LLC), understand and agree that in participating in any acting/voice/movement class, workshop, rehearsal or performance, there is a possibility of physical injury or death. I recognize and acknowledge there are certain risks of physical injury, and I agree to assume the full risk of injuries, including death, damages or loss that I or my minor child may sustain as a result of participating in any activities connected with or associated with such program or class. I agree to waive and relinquish all claims I or my minor child may have as a result of participating in any program or class against Arizona Actors Academy/Theatre Upstairs. (Hotchner Studios LLC) and its officers, agents, servants, employees and independent contractors. I further agree to indemnify and hold harmless and defend Arizona Actors Academy/Theatre Upstairs (Hotchner Studios LLC) and it's officers, agents, servants, employees an independent contractors from my claims resulting from injuries including death, damages and losses sustained by me or my minor child that arise out of, in connection with, or in any way associated with the activities of this program.
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Please check this waiver if you will permit use of you or your child's image as described below. If you do not check this waiver, we will not use you or your child's image. I understand that Arizona Actors Academy/Theatre Upstairs (Hotchner Sudios LLC) is a non-profit organization that promotes acting as an art form not only to it's students, but also to the community at large. As such, articles, brochures, videos and websites may be used either promotionally or educationally and may include images of Arizona Actors Academy/Theatre Upstairs (Hotchner Studios LLC) students or other participants in our programs. I hereby permit the use of my, or my daughter/son's image to be photographed, videotaped or otherwise recorded for the use in Arizona Actors Academy/Theatre Upstairs (Hotchner Studios LLC) publicity or educational materials. These materials include, but are not limited to, photographs of classes and performances, newsletters, various other school publications, Arizona Actors Academy/Theatre Upstairs (Hotchner Studios LLC) internet webpage and video of class/performances.

Covid-19

Covid-19 protocols:
We no longer require masks to participate in our classes.
It will be up to you whether to wear a mask or not while attending classes and events.
The choice to wear a mask or not until our country reaches herd immunity is up to each individual.
No commenting on, shaming, deriding or judging of another's choice to wear or not wear a mask will be tolerated.
Please help us hold in place, with integrity, this space for creative expression and personal risk taking by fostering acceptance and understanding of your peers personal choice in this matter.
Additionally we will operate at full capacity.
By taking part in these classes you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
Do not participate in any classes if you are feeling sick. Exceptions can be made in the case of late cancellation due to illness.

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