Stage One - Dialects with Emily

Emily Burnworth joins Stage One to discuss dialects.

Stepping away from all of the singing and dancing that exist within the world of musical theatre, the Stage One students got to spend some time with their speaking voices and dialects with the talented Emily Burnworth.

Emily is an actress and dialectician. Originally from Pennsylvania, Emily obtained her BFA in Acting and Minor in Linguistics from Brigham Young University before migrating back east. Emily has assisted as a dialect and vocal coach on numerous projects. Some of her favorite projects include Mr. Bellpond’s Materpiece; For Robbing the Dead (retitled: Rdemption); an enhanced dialect production of the musical, The Scarlet Pimpernel; My Fair Lady; Persuasion; Roofsliding; The Hasty Heart. Some of her favorite acting credits include Dancing at Lughnasa and the film Unicorn City. Emily is a graduate of Signature Theatre’s Overtures program and has been a huge fan of both Signature Theatre and the DC theatre scene ever since.

Emily answers questions
about rules when it
comes to speaking
with an Irish dialect.

As a dialectician, Emily clearly knows what she is talking about. Some tips, tricks, and insider info she had to lend the Stage One students during her master class included:

• Speak to and utilize friends, family and strangers that are native speakers and practitioners of the language and culture you are seeking to copy.

• Familiarize yourself with the international phonetic alphabet (IPA) and how to use sound substitutions in your dialect practice.

• Be able to hone in on particular sounds and alter them in a slight way to make them suit your given dialect.

• Establishing "rules" and consistencies in a dialect in regards to particular vowels, consonants and sounds can make learning a dialect a snap.

• Most books and plays come with a key or breakdown for particularly tricky words or phrases. These are often in IPA to differentiate the specific sounds from letter to letter and word to word.

• Always listen to people around you, particularly those with dialects and voices that interest you.

• A person's voice holds great sway over their personality and behavior. Be sure not to forget that a characters voice is just as much a part of them as the rest of their body. 

The 2014 Stage One class practices
their Irish Brogue.

Over the course of her master class aside from dispensing dialectic wisdom to the students, Emily also worked on an Irish dialect with the students. The students spent the rest of the class exploring, establishing, practicing and presenting the quick progress they made with the Irish dialect thanks to Emily.

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Overtures - Eric Schaeffer

Eric looks on as Neil presents "Try Me" (She Loves Me)

Yesterday, the one, the only, the Artistic Director of Signature Theatre, Eric Schaeffer joined the Overtures students for the second of two master classes on musical theatre performance. We were so very lucky to have Eric with us as he has so much information and experience to pass on to these young performers as they start their careers.

Joe sings a cut of "I Could Be
In Love With Someone Like You"
(The Last Five Years)

Underneath Eric's leadership, Signature Theatre has won 90 Helen Hayes Awards and received 340 nominations for artistic excellence in theatre. Over the course of his career, Eric has directed over 80 productions at Signature and received 6 Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Direction and 28 nominations. Eric has directed over 80 productions at Signature Theatre and served as the Artistic Director of the Sondheim Celebration at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he directed Sunday in the Park with George, and Passion. He also directed Mame, First You Dream: the Music of Kander and Ebb, and Follies at the Kennedy Center. On Broadway, his productions include Putting it Together starring Carol Burnett, Glory Days, Million Dollar Quartet and the Tony-nominated Follies. In the West End/London, he directed The Witches of Eastwick and Million Dollar Quartet. He has also directed at the Mark Taper Forum, Goodman Theatre, Arena Stage and Disneyland. He currently has productions of Million Dollar Quartet in Chicago, Las Vegas and on national tour. 

Leah presents "Passover" (Elegies)

This second master class with Eric was a relaxed and enjoyable experience for all. As the students presented cuts of songs they would be performing for an upcoming casting session, Eric interspersed words of wisdom and suggestions. Some of the most potent adjustments included things such as emotional vocal variation throughout a piece, visualization of whom you want to be singing a song to, and contextualizing an audition song. To Eric and other theatre heads around the DC metro area, one of the most important skills a performer can demonstrate is the ability to remain versatile throughout a performance / audition. As Eric stated, when you are auditioning for someone for the first time it is likely the first time they are seeing you. "The first time someone meets you is the only first impression you'll get to make on them." Therefore, it is best to leave a solid impression on those behind the casting table in regards to you. You want to be seen as flexible, supportive, and most importantly easy to work with.  

With another masterclass under their belts, the Overture students are one step closer to the Showcase this Saturday at 11:00 AM. We would love to extend an invitation to you, to see these brilliantly talented young men and women perform on the MAX Theatre stage. The performance is free and unticketed. Doors open at 10:30 AM.

Emily gets into her performance of "How 'Bout a Dance?" (Bonnie and Clyde)

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Overtures - NBC's Dean McFlicker

Dean McFlicker leads the Overtures
students in a camera performance exercise.

Yesterday, the Overtures students had the pleasure of getting to work with Dean McFlicker. Dean comes to Signature Theatre's Overtures Musical Theatre Institute from California where he is Vice President and Creative Director of NBC Entertainment Marketing. An award winning producer, director, and choreographer of countless productions, Dean has worked on and created campaigns for some of the most successful shows on television, including The Voice, America's Got Talent, ER, Law and Order, Smash, Heroes, The Apprentice, The West Wing, The Biggest Loser, and The Sound of Music. 

Dean McFlicker works with Allison
and Christina.

Having such a talented and valued member of the Hollywood executive scene join us here in Arlington was a delight for all involved. Throughout the day, Dean helped explain and explore the world of film and television, how it differs from the world of theatre, and how to best adapt one's skills to new platforms. This was one of the initial takeaways from Dean's time spent with us. 

Performers must be able to adapt and translate their skills to new mediums and avenues, particularly in this day and age where options are so varied and plentiful. The lines of entertainment are blurring and performers need to be ready to take the stage in whatever form it appears, whether it is a television show, movie, short film, web series, play, musical, one act, music video, awards show, television special, live event, etc.

After an in depth primer on the do's and don'ts of auditions in the world of film and television, Dean flipped a complete 180 and taught a brief dance routine to the students. After learning the steps the students were then taught how to play out for multiple cameras in a space. As they kicked, shimmied, and moved around to the music, Dean called out and changed their areas of focus quickly to different cameras, always keeping them on their toes. Keeping in time, focus and rhythm with several cameras around you is incredibly difficult, but if you can conquer that as a performer you can do anything.

Dean's time spent with the Overtures students was fantastic and we were so lucky to have him. Be sure to check Dean out on his Twitter and Instagram.

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeanMcFlicker
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/deanmcflicker

Half of the Overtures students strike their first pose in Dean's dance sequence.

We hope to see you at the Overtures Student Showcase, this Saturday, the 28th at 11 AM in the MAX Theatre. The event is free and unticketed. The doors open at 10:30 AM.

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