Double Exposure: Acting for Singers, Singing for Actors
Course Description
Summary
Actors and singers study remarkably similar skills: efficient use of the body and breath, research and development of character and context, staying present and emotionally connected. But even the most seasoned performer feels doubly exposed when asked to sing and act at the same time. In this class, using repertoire as varied as incidental music for Shakespeare, musical theater and opera scenes, we will seek common language and explore tools such as the Alexander Technique to transform vulnerability into fuel for powerful expressivity. Students will show their work in a performance at the end of term.
Learning Outcomes
- Finding common ground between drama and vocal training, embodying skills of preparation for
simultaneous singing and acting
Prerequisites
Students should prepare, from memory, a short monologue or poem that is meaningful to them and an a cappella song. Each selection should be approximately one minute in length. Contact instructors (kryer-parke@bennington.edu or jrohn@bennington.edu) for audition information.
Students will be expected to have the necessary musicianship skills to learn music independently.
Corequisites
At least one Music Workshop performance and an occasional one-hour-long coaching lab, TBA.
Cross List
- Voice