RESUME
Ellen Taft, ADVS
Seattle, WA
(206) 323-6983
actorshandbook@etaft.net
Training
Central School of Speech and Drama London Advanced Diploma of Voice Studies (ADVS)
(A post-graduate degree comprising Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Voice, Movement, Alexander Technique, practical voice work based on Linklater and Berry methods, phonetics, accents, text and communication skills. Main instructors: David Carey, formerly asst voice coach at the Royal Shakespeare Co. and Sally Grace formerly head of voice at Rose Bruford Drama School. Completed 1989
Teaching Practice-RADA-accents with Charmian Hoare
Mt. View-voice, voice through phonetics with Jeanette Nelson
CSSD-African American English to drama students
Voice Workshops- Cicely Berry, Patsy Rodenberg,
Special Workshops in voice
Kristen Linklater, Arthur Lessac
Accents Teaching
Gen. American: Sexual Perversity in Chicago (RADA), Bird Bath (RADA), Talk to Me Like the Rain (CSSD); Southern: Look Homeward, Angel; Black American: For Colored Girls;(CSSD) German: The Diary of Anne Frank, The Man in the Glass Booth; RP (Standard British): Old Times by Harold Pinter, directed by James Venturini, Arms & the Man by G.B. Shaw, Stevie, Pack of Lies, ; Castillian Spanish: The Odd Couple, directed by Laurie Levine
American English Pronunciation for actors who are British, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Asian Indian and Bronx natives.
Voice Teaching
Daily warm-up classes-5 times a week, a drop in class for actors 1990
Shakespeare and the Actor’s Voice-PCA, Seattle, Saturday classes 1993-1995
Individual coaching in voice and accents to actors for 15 years
Shakespeare and the Actor’s Voice to middle school students-Villa Academy
Directing
Biedermann und die Brandstifter by Max Frisch (in German) U of Minnesota;
Frau JennyTreibel by Claus Hammel (in German) U of Minnesota;
The Valiant by John Middlemass, New City Director’s Festival, Seattle;
Brilliant Traces, Abracadabra Theatre, Seattle
Stalking Rainbows, New City Playwright’s Festival, Seattle
Ricitos de Oro y los Tres Osos, (in Spanish)Polyglot Players
Acting Training
American Conservatory Theatre STC, 1984
University of Minnesota: Shakespeare-David Thompson; Oral Interpretation- Virginia Fredericks; Acting & Stage Combat-Doug Berry; Voice-Geraldine Braden; Speech-Selma Toy.
Guthrie Theatre: Acting-Claudia Wilkens; Stage Movement- Charlotte Holtzermann
Matt Smith-Improvisation
Administration
Artistic Director- Chestnut Hill Theatre, founded and administrated a "Shakespeare in the Parks", Philadelphia, 1986-88.
Managing Director Polyglot Players 01- present
Producer: 2 shows U of MN. 5 shows Chestnut Hill Theatre,
Educational Outreach: 2 shows, U of MN, Polyglot Players.
Roles
Rosalind- As You Like It; Kate- The Taming of the Shrew; Bottom- A Midsummer Night's Dream; Maude- Coupla White Chicks; Jenny- Cry of Players; Mrs. Frank- Anne Frank, Mama Oso- Ricitos de Oro
Special Skills
Tai Chi, Yoga, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique. Armed and Unarmed Stage Combat, downhill & X Country Skiing, canoeing, rowing, expert swimmer, Pilates, Radio Announcer and producer,
Languages
German,(some Spanish & French)
Language Teaching
Lecturer in English as a Foreign Language - Harehills English Language Project, Leeds, U.K., taught multi-national classes Chinese, Poles, Pakistani & Indians 76-77
Dozentin-Volkshochschule, Frankfurt, Germany (EFL)77-81
Teaching Associate - Dept. of German, University of Minnesota 81-82
Education
University of Iowa, B.A. in History with Honors, 1976;
University of Maryland B.A. in German Language and Literature 1981;
University of Minnesota, graduate work in German and Theatre Arts. 1981-84
Miscellaneous
U.S. Citizen, permanent residency status U.K. Member of VASTA
Three years residency in the U.K., (West Country, Yorkshire & London)
Four year residency in Germany,
SAG Book Pal, Seattle
Extensive travel: Europe, Soviet Union ,Costa Rica, South Africa and Indonesia
Play minimal piano
St. Joseph’s choir 10 years
Immaculate Conception Choir 1 year
Singing lessons - Ellen McLain 5 years
St. Thomas Choir - five years
St. Mark's Cathedral Women's Choir - currently
Can sing in High Church Anglican, Appalachian, German, French, Spanish, Latin and Tagalog ( Philipino)
Published Books
The Actor's Handbook - Five editions since 1990
Seattle & Eastside Private School Guide by Marie Bonfils (pseudonym)
The Publicity Handbook
Office Skills
Bookkeeping Capitol Hill Press, 90- present, Excel
Philadelphia Shakespeare in the Park ( 7 shows)
Microsoft Word, Excel
Publicity
Publicity for 7 shows, 7 books as well as miscellaneous shows, organ recitals etc.
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