On Tue, 2 Apr 2002, David Grogan wrote:
> > I am looking for any opera friendly acting programs (or coaches, for that > matter) anywhere near Texas. I have always felt uncomfortable on the stage, > and I would like to take some proactive steps to help. Any suggestion? > They don't have to be near Texas, but that would be helpful to me...
Don't rule out the idea of taking a non-operatic acting class - either musical or not. Particularly nowadays, with the increasing demand for singers who can truly *act*, and act "naturalistically", you may find that getting some acting technique under your belt, without the added "distraction" of all of the musical and vocal concerns that opera adds, may actually be more helpful, as it will let you concentrate fully on "the basics" like how to move onstage, how to interpret text, how to interact with other actors, etc. Particularly a class that includes (or focuses on) Shakespearean literature and technique: I've found that the Shakespearean work I did when I studied "straight" acting has definitely influenced and informed my operatic acting, because of similar demands in terms of marry text to the "music" - in the case of Shakespeare, the poetry (rhythms, accents, etc.) of the verse - and the balane one must strike between 20th century "naturalism" and the lyricism required by the Elizabethan sensibilities that cannot (SHOULD not) be ignored in the texts.
Karen Mercedes http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html *************************************** In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:6
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