Adjunct Theater Faculty
Natalie McManus
Natalie (B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Pennsylvania
State University; M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the
University of Iowa). She
has over 20 years of experience in the field of Speech-Language
Pathology. Natalie is a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher. She
was teacher-trained and designated by Kristin Linklater after
training with numerous Master Linklater Teachers in NYC and at
Boston University. She has been acting all of her life and actor
trained and teacher-trained at Shakespeare & Company, in Lenox,
MA. Natalie is also a Certified Forensics (Speech) Coach and works
with a competitive high school Forensics team in Germantown, MD.
She is also the Forensics Tournament Director for the Montgomery
County Public Schools, MD. Natalie is the President and Owner
of Puck’s Pals, LLC – a company dedicated to teaching
Shakespeare workshops to middle school students; working with
private voice clients; and teaching presentation skills workshops
for professionals.
Natalie teaches THR 300, Voice and Speech Fundamentals; and THR
301, Voice and Speech for the Performer.
THR 300 is an introduction to voice work for performance. Natalie
teaches the Linklater Voice Approach, a progression of exerciese
designed to help develop a voice with greater freedom, flexibility,
and confidence. Text is incorporated into the work , which includes
work on relaxation, physical awareness alignment of the spine,
breathing, resonance, articulation, voice health, and exploring
how the voice works and why it does not work. THe student will
learn to create a vocal warm-up to use prior to rehearsals and
performances. The course is fo speaking voice, but also enhances
the singing voice.
THR 301 is a continuation of the Linlater Voice Approach begun
in THR 300. VOcal warm-ups are reinforced with additional work
on sound and movement activities and character development using
original, modern, and Shakespearean text. Work on the IPA (International
Phonetic Alphabet) is encorporated into the sound and movement
work using Louis Colaianni's Phonetic Pillows. This work lays
the foundation for future work on dialects. Performance problems
with voice and speech are also explored.
Course List:
THR 300 Voice and Speech for the Performer
For current syllabi and Theater course listing, click on
Academics
