I’m a voice and dialect coach who has worked on over 80 productions in four different countries over the last decade. Over the years, I’ve created a list of what the best actors do in order to be heard. Keep these principles in mind the next time you audition or are on stage and increase your chances of getting hired and rehired.
Practice good breath support.Use an easy, full-bodied breath to support your sound. I’ve worked with actors who are able to fill the theater with their voice but not their feelings and connection. Other actors had great emotional connection, but no one could hear them. An easy, full-bodied breath is needed to achieve both of these.
Use clear, open sound.Work toward a clear and open sound, not breathy or tight. It’s tempting to become breathy or start to squeeze the sound out, especially at emotional moments, but the best actors on stage know that the more they use a clear sound, the more we, the audience, feel.
Find the right pitch.Every theater has an optimal pitch; find it and use it. While working in New Zealand, Ian McKellen stood on stage at the St. James Theater and said, “huh” a number of times at different pitches. After a while, he said, “That is the
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