Theater dialects

If you have dreams of being a movie actor, then you will have to learn a number of dialects and accents in order to be consider versatile and play a number of different character parts. However, if you have dreams of being a theater actor, that is live on stage night after night, then you will have to learn other dialects - theater dialects. These theater dialects may include some regular regional dialects, but theater dialects differ greatly from regular dialects because you learn to pronounce words clearly and loudly so that everyone in the live audience can hear you. For this reason, theater dialects put stresses on different syllables than you would normally speak in any regular dialect or accent.

To learn these theater dialects, you will need a speech coach. There is no way around hiring such a coach to help you learn theater dialects. This is because theater dialects are a professional standard and thus must be learned by a professional. You will actually be learning techniques on how to project your voice and use your diaphragm. These are not skills you can pick up by just hanging around live theater.

In New York, where live theater is so prevalent, there are literally hundreds of speech coaches that specialize in theater dialects. The best way to find a speech coach specializing in theater dialects is to ask your fellow actors and teachers in your various acting classes. Speech coaches that specialize in theater dialects are not cheap, so make sure that you are willing to commit and are willing to spend the money for the experience. Remember that learning theater dialects takes time and you must go to every one of your scheduled sessions with your speech coach in order to progress properly.

Do not think that you will be able to fool directors and producers that you have been professionally trained in theater dialects when you have not. All professional stage actors know exactly what the theater dialects should sound like and exactly what they should sound like. For this reason, if you try to fool any of them, you will simply end up making a fool out of yourself.
Just like movie acting, reputation is everything when it comes to stage acting. For this reason, be honest with yourself and others and only say you know theater dialect when you truly do. This will keep your acting reputation intact and allow you to make the most out of your acting career. Just keep practicing and you will have mastered your theater dialect in no time.

Linus Orakles
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