I had briefly looked over the Fitzmaurice site and had in my mind simply doing exercises on my vocal cords. We would talk about stage voice techniques, you know, the stage whisper, projecting you voice, enunciation, etc. The first night of class was physical stretching and relaxation from head to toe. And I thought, “This is not what I signed up for”. I went back for the second class thinking we would eventually get to the techniques. After the second class, I was not sure I wanted to return.

But I had paid for it after all, so wanted to continue just to get my moneys worth. In the third class, we find out that Cynthia usually teaches this at a college for a period of 2 classes a week for 10 weeks. We were getting the condensed version of just 6 classes.

Fitzmaurice has several stages of technique which starts with breaking down and then moving into reconstruction. We were getting the break down with a touch of reconstruction. What I mean by all this is that this is an exercise that will eventually allow your body to breathe and relax, so that you can react (to the pinch) naturally.

At the end of the 6 weeks, I loved this class. Some people do Yoga, others Tai Chi, but I think I will be perusing this as my exercise of choice. Cynthia is planning on opening a studio in Atlanta early in 2005.

Cynthia Barrett is currently a freelance actor and coach in Atlanta, Georgia. She was previously an Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina-Greensboro teaching vocal production, speech, dialects, text, and acting, and has also taught on the performance faculties of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, University of California-Davis, University of Illinois, and Interlochen. She has worked as an actor and voice/text coach for the Georgia Shakespeare Festival, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Illinois Repertory Theatre, Metro Theater Company, and the Alliance Theatre Company.

MFA University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign; BA Indiana State University.

Fitzmaurice Voice Technique with Cynthia Barrett
Mondays – Sept 13 – Oct 18 – 6:30pm ? 8:00pm
at Actor’s Express
This class will help develop the skills necessary to confidently use dialects, explore physical techniques to open up your body, breath and voice and exercise the flexibility and strength of your diction. We will examine the music, rhythm and mechanics of some of the world’s dialects. And put it all in practice with selections from plays.

Cynthia Barrett holds an MFA from the University of Illinois and is a Certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework. She has been on the theatre voice faculties of UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Charlotte, University of Illinois and Interlochen. She has coached voice/text/dialect for the Alliance Theatre Company, and served as coach and actor for Georgia Shakespeare Festival, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Charlotte Rep., Illinois Rep. and Metro Theatre Company.

To register, please email Kristin Hathaway-Hansen at kristin@actorsexpress.com or call 404-875-1606.