ktspeechwork.org

POSTURE WORKSHOP #3
2024-05-11 08:00 - 2024-05-12 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online, United States
A Two-Day Online Exploration of Oral Posture
A 4P Workshop
With Master Teacher Tyler Seiple
May 11th-12th, 2024, 8:00am-3:00pm Pacific Time.
There will be a daily meal break from 11:00am to 12:00pm Pacific.
Building off the recent publication of Experiencing Accents, the Posture Workshop is an exploration of oral (or vocal tract) posture within the context of Knight-Thompson Speechwork’s approach to accent acquisition. Open to anyone who has taken Experiencing Accents, this workshop is designed to empower participants with the identification of habitual configurations and movements of vocal tract muscles within accents and the integration of those habitual configurations and movements into accent work through analysis, embodiment, and playful curiosity. Participants are encouraged to bring all of their questions, challenges, and fresh discoveries, from the most essential questions of anatomy to the most advanced applications of posture toward authentic accent performance.
This course will be online only. All documents and audio materials will be shared through an online platform. All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants.

Early Bird Registration ($250) will be available through March 11th, 2024! The full registration fee is $275 USD.
Please note that Experiencing Accents is a prerequisite for this workshop.

Deadlines

In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. The full payment is due three weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on April 20th, 2024. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $75 USD if you inform us by April 27th, 2024. After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

KTS Webinar #51 Working with L2 English Speakers: Strategies for Accent and Acting Coaching
2024-05-19 11:00 - 12:00
Whether working in a university theater program or coaching on set in English, as teachers and coaches, we’re always looking for ways to effectively support students and clients for whom English is a second (or third, fourth, etc.) language: to help them embody the role, book the job, or give them the tools and confidence to serve them in their creative careers long-term.

Join us on Zoom for a conversation with KTS Certified Teachers and Hollywood accent coaches, Ron Carlos and Eliza Simpson, where we’ll explore accent work for actors who are L2 English speakers.

On Sunday, May 19th at 11am PST/2pm EST/7pm GMTTo convert this meeting to your time zone, click here.

Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. All registrants will also receive the recording and post-webinar survey after the meeting has ended and been processed.

Ron Carlos (he/him) is a graduate of the ART Institute at Harvard University, with an MFA equivalent in Advanced Theater Training with a Concentration in Voice and Speech Pedagogy. Ron taught voice, speech, and dialects at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, Marymount Manhattan College, City College of New York, and The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Ron is a certified teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork; a Lead Trainer of Fitzmaurice Voicework®; the Founding Coach for BoldVoice: a mobile pronunciation app for English learners; and the author of Introduction to Speechwork for Actors: An Inclusive Approach (Methuen Drama). Selected credits: Broadway: It’s Only a Play, The Glass Menagerie; Off-Broadway: Sweat, Mlima’s Tale, The Low Road, Kings, Gently Down The Stream, Plenty, Privacy (Public Theater); Mary Jane (NYTW); Charm (MCC); The Gentleman Caller (Abingdon). Regional: Seven Guitars, Cadillac Crew, Native Son, Assassins, War (Yale Rep); The Lily’s Revenge, The Glass Menagerie (ART); The Piano Lesson (Hartford Stage); Murder on the Orient Express (Alley Theatre); Skeleton Crew, Grounded (Westport Country Playhouse); Ava: The Secret Conversations (Geffen). Film and Series: Daisy Jones and The Six, Hunters (Amazon); Based on a True Story (Peacock); The Last Thing He Told Me (Apple); The Bagman (Lionsgate); The Comey Rule (Showtime); Orange is the New Black, The Week Of (Netflix).

Eliza Simpson is an NYC based accent and speech coach. Select credits include – Inside Out 2 (Disney), Apples Never Fall (Peacock), and Avatar: Frontieres of Pandora (Ubisoft Games.) She is also a head coach and content creator for BoldVoice, a top rated accent training app for English learners.

PHONETICS INTENSIVE #25
2024-05-28 08:00 - 2024-05-30 15:00 | Online, United States
A Three-Day Online Intensive in Phonetic Transcription
With Master Teachers Andrea Caban & Tyler Seiple
May 28-30, 2024, 8:00am-3:00pm Pacific Time.
There will be a daily meal break from 11:00am to 12:00pm Pacific.
This course will be online only. All documents and audio materials will be shared through an online platform. All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants.

Click here for a full description of our Phonetics Intensive workshops. The full registration fee is $450 USD.
Please note that Experiencing Speech is a prerequisite for the Phonetics Intensive.
*If you have already taken the Phonetics Intensive and are interested in re-taking it, add your name to the “re-taker” waitlist here. We will contact you two weeks prior to the start of the workshop to let you know if there is space for you.

Deadlines

In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason we ask for a deposit of $100 USD to secure your place in the workshop. This is due six weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on April 16, 2024. The full payment is due three weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on May 7, 2024. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $75 USD if you inform us by May 14, 2024. After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

ACTOR'S ACCENT TOOLKIT
2024-06-15 09:00 - 18:00
ACTOR’S ACCENT TOOLKIT:An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for Performers

When:Saturday, June 159am – 1pm & 2pm – 6pm, Pacific

Where:Online via Zoom

Taught by:Siobhan Dohertywww.speakingofaccents.com

Price: $250

$100 for repeat registration

To register: Email Siobhan at speakingofaccents@gmail.com.

Certified Teacher Siobhan Doherty leads an introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for performers and public speakers. This eight-hour workshop focuses on understanding what accents are and the skills needed to develop them. With a tailored blend of discussion, exercises, and context-building, students walk away with an understanding of the muscles that shape speech, the patterns that make up accents, and the tools they need to adopt any accent. It also introduces a more helpful, KTS-based approach to the idea of “Accent Reduction,” addressing the same goals without shame or guilt.

Space is limited. Register now by emailing speakingofaccents@gmail.com.

TEACHER CERTIFICATION #10
2024-07-15 09:00 - 2024-08-02 17:00 | UC Irvine, United States
Knight-Thompson Speechwork will be offering a three-week Teacher Certification program in Knight-Thompson Speechwork in the summer of 2024, July 15th-August 2nd, taught by Co-Directors Phil Thompson & Andrea Caban, as well as Certified Teachers Nathan Crocker, Julie Foh, and Tyler Seiple. The program will be held in person in Irvine, CA. Sessions will take place five days a week, Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00 or 5:00pm PT. Prior to the start of the program, there will be three required webinars on weekend days between May 15th and July 14th. A list of required and recommended reading can be found here.
Program Goals
The purpose of the Certification is to make sure that its participants possess:

A thorough understanding of the Knight-Thompson approach to speech training.
A thorough knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet and an ability to use it effectively in teaching.
A thorough understanding of the Knight-Thompson approach to the methodology of accent training.
An ability to productively use research resources for accent acquisition, as well as efficiently learn and effectively model new accents.
A demonstrated ability to teach this material effectively and with full understanding.
A demonstrated ability to use this approach creatively in teaching and coaching.

The emphasis in the Certification program will be on individual development, and all participants will receive substantial individual attention and mentoring. Participation in the Certification program does not guarantee certification: in some cases we may require additional work to demonstrate understanding and teaching skill. Admission to the Teacher Certification Program is open only to participants who have already taken Experiencing Speech, Experiencing Accents and a Phonetics Intensive. Prospective participants in the Teacher Certification Program also must have some experience incorporating this approach in their own teaching or coaching before going on to Certification.
Application Process
Submit your application via this link. Then email an accent breakdown* and a link to an accent modeling sample to knightthompsonspeechwork@gmail.com.
Requirements for Accent Breakdown: include a section for each of the 4Ps as taught in Experiencing Accents; include cut sound samples and phonetic transcription for the Posture section and each of the token sounds in the Pronunciation section. An expanded version of a breakdown from Experiencing Accents coursework is acceptable.
Requirements for Accent Modeling Sample: A 2- to 3-minute fully-embodied performance of a memorized text in the accent from your breakdown.
Applications open October 1, 2023 and will close on April 30, 2024. There will be three rounds of application review by the KTS Council. The first review will happen after October 31, 2023; the second review will happen after January 19, 2024; and the third will happen at the close of applications on April 30, 2024. Priority will be given to early applications. Early applicants accepted into the cohort will receive feedback on their application and highly discounted re-taker pre-requisite workshop access. Please note that this program will happen in person only.
*KTS acknowledges this accent breakdown is your intellectual property and will be used for application review purposes only.
Please note that application to the Cert does not guarantee admittance.
Program Costs
Upon acceptance, the enrollment fee for the Certification is $4,000 USD. If you are accepted into the program, payment instructions will be provided.

Payment Deadlines
In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason, we ask for a deposit of $500 to secure your place in the workshop. This is due upon acceptance into the program. The full payment is due May 15th, 2024. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $100 if you inform us before May 15th, 2024. After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

ACTOR'S ACCENT TOOLKIT
2024-08-04 09:00 - 18:00
ACTOR’S ACCENT TOOLKIT:An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for Performers

When:Sunday, August 49am – 1pm & 2pm – 6pm, Pacific

Where:Online via Zoom

Taught by:Tyler Seiplewww.accentcoachla.com

Price: $250($175 for members of Stuart Rogers’ Studios)

$100 for repeat registration

To register: Email Tyler at accentcoachla@gmail.com or visit here for more information.

Master Teacher Tyler Seiple leads an introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for performers and public speakers. This eight-hour workshop focuses on understanding what accents are and the skills needed to develop them. With a tailored blend of discussion, exercises, and context-building, students walk away with an understanding of the muscles that shape speech, the patterns that make up accents, and the tools they need to adopt any accent. It also introduces a more helpful, KTS-based approach to the idea of “Accent Reduction,” addressing the same goals without shame or guilt.

Space is limited. Register now by emailing accentcoachla@gmail.com, or by visiting here for more information.

After the Actor’s Accent Toolkit, students are invited to take shorter classes with Tyler in a wide and expanding variety of accents. Using the foundation of the Toolkit, students will integrate target accents in less time and with a clear process. Upcoming accent classes can be found here.

KTS Webinar #52 A Free Intro to Knight-Thompson Speechwork: a skills based approach to speech and accent training.
2024-08-24 11:00 - 12:00
On Saturday August 24th, 11am PDT/ 2pm EDT/ 7pm BST

Join us, 2024 webinar co-curators, Jenny and Charlotte, as we jump into some of the fundamentals of Knight-Thompson Speechwork. We’ll introduce you to the KTS “Principles (perhaps)” and then embark on some exploration and play: making faces, making sounds, getting to know our vocal tracts and articulators. Whether you’re brand new to KTS or want to pop in for a refresher, we’d love to see you there.

To convert this meeting to your time zone, click here.

Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. All registrants will also receive the recording and post-webinar survey after the meeting has ended and been processed.

Jenny Greer is an actor, teacher, and dialect coach based in Los Angeles, CA. She is a lecturer in the Dept. of Theater and Dance at UC Santa Barbara and voice and speech faculty at AMDA College of the Performing Arts. Before that she was part of the theater faculty at California Institute of the Arts. As an actor, Jenny has performed in classical and contemporary plays, musicals, experimental and devised theater, as well as film and voiceover. Theater acting credits include: Incubator ArtsProject (NYC), Ensemble Studio Theater (NYC), Seaside Music Theater (FL), North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Cape Cod Theater Project, Living Arts (OK), First Works Festival (RI), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (UK), and in Los Angeles, the Bootleg Theater, Getty Villa, Son of Semele, Speakeasy Society, Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, Atwater Village Theater, and REDCAT. She has an MFA from California Institute of the Arts and a BFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Charlotte Markle is an accent/dialect coach and performer currently based in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to her work as a freelance accent/dialect coach, Charlotte is an Adjunct Instructor of Voice/Speech at The Theatre School at DePaul University and Chicago College for Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She is a Core Company Member of Proboscis Theatre Company and received her MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

KTS Webinar #53 An Intro to KTS Part Two: Speechwork into Accentwork
2024-10-05 09:00 - 10:00
Saturday, October 5th 9:00am PDT/ 12pm EDT/ 5pm BST

Join Knight-Thompson Speechwork Master Teacher Julie Foh for part two of our Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork Webinar series. Julie will take us on a journey, beginning with the very serious art of “gurning” and then into play and communication, exploring a wide variety of speech sounds through Omnish. This webinar will also introduce and explore the concept of Oral Posture, a key component of the KTS approach to accent work. Wondering what all of this means? Come and see! If you missed our most recent Intro Webinar, no worries! This webinar is open for all to attend, regardless of previous experience.

Tickets for this webinar are $10. Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. All registrants will also receive the recording after the meeting has ended and been processed.

To convert to your time zone click here

Julie Foh has worked professionally as a voice, text, and accent coach in theater and other media since 2008. She has coached projects for Marvel, Sony, Next Chapter Podcasts, Yale Repertory Theatre, Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, Clubbed Thumb, Irish Repertory Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Play House, BEDLAM, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, American Repertory Theater, Tectonic Theater Project, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Westport Country Playhouse, American Players Theatre, Second Stage (NYC), and others. She has taught at the University of Connecticut, Penn State, Rutgers, A.R.T., Harvard University, the Moscow Art Theatre School, Webster University, the National Theater Institute, the Shakespeare Academy @ Stratford, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Terry Knickerbocker Studio, and University of the Arts Helsinki, and she is currently an Associate Professor at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University. She is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and a Master Teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork. She is co-author of the textbook Experiencing Speech: A Skills-Based, Panlingual Approach to Actor Training. MFA, ART Institute at Harvard University. BA, Theater Studies at Duke University.

KTS Webinar #54 Spotlight on Coaching in Film: KTS co-director Andrea Caban discusses her work on Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis
2024-10-11 10:30 - 11:30
POSTPONED. FUTURE DATE TBD. We will update you soon!

KTS Co-director Andrea Caban will discuss her experience collaborating with Francis Ford Coppola as Dialect Coach for his upcoming film Megalopolis. It’s a really good story. She did many things she’d never done before…perhaps no one (??) had done before? But her KTS training supported the process and she lives to tell us about it.

This one won’t be recorded, folks! So if you want to hear the story, you must attend live!

Tickets for this webinar are $10. Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information.

To convert to your time zone click here

Andrea Caban is Co-Director of Knight-Thompson Speechwork, Full Professor and Head of Voice and Speech at CSU Long Beach, and holds a research appointment at UC Irvine in the Department of Neurology. She is the accent expert on HowCast.com demonstrating over 35 accents, a production coach for film and theatre (collaborated with Francis Ford Coppola on his career opus film Megalopolis), a public speaking coach (TED, Google, NY Times), and a community-based theatre maker. Also an award-winning solo artist, Andrea has performed her original works in Colombia, the UK, South Africa, Costa Rica, Spain, and across the US. She has adapted actor voice and accent training for the care of people living with ALS to prolong their ability to speak without assistive devices. She is co-author of two texts: Experiencing Speech: A Skills-based, Panlingual Approach to Actor Training, and Experiencing Accents: A Knight-Thompson Speechwork Guide to Acting in Accent. andreacaban.com. MFA, UC Irvine.

ACTOR'S ACCENT TOOLKIT
2024-11-09 09:00 - 2024-11-10 13:00
ACTOR’S ACCENT TOOLKIT:An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for Performers

When:Saturday, November 9, 9am – 1pm, PacificSunday, November 10, 9am – 1pm, Pacific

Where:Online via Zoom

Taught by:Tyler Seiplewww.accentcoachla.com

Price: $250($175 for members of Stuart Rogers’ Studios)

$100 for repeat registration

To register: Email Tyler at accentcoachla@gmail.com or visit here for more information.

Master Teacher Tyler Seiple leads an introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for performers and public speakers. This eight-hour workshop focuses on understanding what accents are and the skills needed to develop them. With a tailored blend of discussion, exercises, and context-building, students walk away with an understanding of the muscles that shape speech, the patterns that make up accents, and the tools they need to adopt any accent. It also introduces a more helpful, KTS-based approach to the idea of “Accent Reduction,” addressing the same goals without shame or guilt.

Space is limited. Register now by emailing accentcoachla@gmail.com, or by visiting here for more information.

After the Actor’s Accent Toolkit, students are invited to take shorter classes with Tyler in a wide and expanding variety of accents. Using the foundation of the Toolkit, students will integrate target accents in less time and with a clear process. Upcoming accent classes can be found here.

KTS Webinar #55 Panel Discussion on Coaching Asian Accents
2024-11-09 10:00 - 11:00
Saturday November 9th 10 am PST / 1pm EST / 6pm GMT

Join us for a panel discussion with dialect coaches Steven Eng, Joy Lanceta Coronel, and Jenru Wang as they discuss their work as it relates to coaching Asian accents in film and theater. In this webinar we hope to talk about strategies for culturally sensitive coaching as well as share stories, practical approaches, and resources.

To convert this meeting to your time zone, click here.

Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. All registrants will also receive the recording and post-webinar survey after the meeting has ended and been processed.

If you have any questions about this or other webinars, please email ktswebinars@gmail.com

Steven is on the faculty of NYU Tisch Undergraduate Drama where he teaches voice and speech. He’s directed productions and voice/dialect coached numerous projects in NYC and regionally. As an actor, he was most recently seen in Soft Power (Signature Theatre, VA). Other acting credits include: The King and I (London West End), Pacific Overtures (Lortel nom, Classic Stage Company), People’s Light, Utah Shakespeare Festival, American Conservatory Theater, 5th Avenue Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Huntington Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Alliance Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, TUTS, Dallas Theater Center, Prospect Musicals, MSTDA, and more, as well as in Germany, Austria, and Cambodia. He is co-founder of the nonprofit National Asian Artists Project in NYC. MFA George Washington University, BFA Southern Methodist University. www.StevenEng.us

Joy Lanceta Coronel is a theatre artist, writer, and voice and dialect coach. New York theatre: What Became of Us, The Great Leap, and Nomad Motel (Atlantic Theatre Company), Among the Dead and Once Upon a (Korean) Time (Ma-Yi Theatre), and additional collaborations with Comedy Central, NAATCO, and Playwrights Horizons. Regional credits (selected): The Sins of Sor Juana, Smart People, and Sense & Sensibility (American Players Theatre), King John (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Chonburi International Hotel & Butterfly Club (Williamstown Festival), The Heart Sellers (Milwaukee Rep and The Huntington), and The Far Country (Berkeley Rep). In addition to coaching, Joy is a teacher, researcher, and award-winning writer focused on topics related to accent work, identity, cultural sensitivity, and equitable coaching practices. www.joylancetacoronel.com

Jenru Wang, a BFA graduate in Film Acting, began his career in Taiwan’s film and theatre industries before earning an MFA in Voice Studies with distinction from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He has extensive experience working in theatre, film, and video game recordings, including My Neighbour Totoro with the Royal Shakespeare Company and AAA game projects. Passionate about East and Southeast Asian accents, Jenru focuses on coaching and promoting authentic representation. He has served as Head of Voice at Fourth Monkey Actor Training Company and taught at several leading drama schools. Currently, he is the Senior Voice Tutor at Mountview and continues his professional development under the mentorship of Kay Welch.

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2024-12-05 08:00 - 17:00

EXPERIENCING SPEECH #42 Online
2024-12-12 08:00 - 2024-12-18 15:00
THIS WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT, AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
If you wish you join the waitlist, please click here.
An Online Six-Day Workshop in:
the sounds of the world’s languages
the physicality of speech actions
introducing descriptive phonetics
the skills of adjusting linguistic detail in speech
With KTS Co-Founder Phil Thompson and Master Teachers Andrea Caban & Julie Foh
December 12-18, 2024, 8am-3pm Pacific Time
There will be an hour-long daily meal break from 11:00am to 12:00pm Pacific Time.
December 15th will be a day off.
All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants.
Click here for a full description of the workshop. Questions? Email us at knightthompsonspeechwork@gmail.com

Workshop Costs:

VASTA Members

$850 USD*

ANY Union Members

$850 USD**

Non-members

$950 USD***

* Use the code “vasta” when checking out.
** Use the code “unionpride” when checking out.
*** If you’re interested in repeating an “Experiencing…” workshop that you’ve already taken, add your name to the “re-taker” waitlist here. We will contact you two weeks prior to the start of the workshop to let you know if there is space for you and provide you with a discount code for 1/2 off the full price of the workshop (discounts cannot be combined).

There is also a PART ONE ONLY OPTION for $550 USD ($450 USD with union membership)!
This three-day session (Part One) focuses on:
Awareness and practice of precise articulation action
The physical actions that produce all the sounds of the world’s languages—”Omnish”
Vocal Tract Posture—the articulatory basis for the sounds in accents and languages
This session will also prepare the participant for Part Two, which includes detailed phonetic transcription and an exploration of the skills of adjusting linguistic detail in speech. (No phonetic transcription will be used in Part One of the workshop.) Email knightthompsonspeechwork@gmail.com if interested in a PART ONE ONLY OPTION.

Deadlines:

In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason we ask for a deposit of $200 USD to secure your place in the workshop. This is due six weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on October 31, 2024. The full payment is due three weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on November 21, 2024. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $75 USD if you inform us by November 28, 2024. After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

PHONETICS INTENSIVE #26
2024-12-20 08:00 - 2024-12-22 15:00
A Three-Day Online Intensive in Phonetic Transcription
With Master Teachers Andrea Caban & Tyler Seiple
December 20-22, 2024, 8:00am-3:00pm Pacific Time.
There will be a daily meal break from 11:00am to 12:00pm Pacific.
This course will be online only. All documents and audio materials will be shared through an online platform. All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants.

Click here for a full description of our Phonetics Intensive workshops. The full registration fee is $450 USD.
Please note that synchronous participation in the entirety of Experiencing Speech is a prerequisite for the Phonetics Intensive.
*If you have already taken the Phonetics Intensive and are interested in re-taking it, add your name to the “re-taker” waitlist here. We will contact you two weeks prior to the start of the workshop to let you know if there is space for you.

Deadlines

In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason we ask for a deposit of $100 USD to secure your place in the workshop. This is due six weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on November 8, 2024. The full payment is due three weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on November 29, 2024. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $75 USD if you inform us by December 6, 2024. After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

EXPERIENCING ACCENTS #29 Online
2025-01-02 08:00 - 2025-01-08 15:00
A SIX-DAY ONLINE WORKSHOP IN THE SKILLS OF ACCENT ACQUISITION
With Master Teachers Andrea Caban & Julie Foh
January 2-8, 2025, 8am-3pm Pacific Time.
Daily meal break 11am-12pm Pacific Time.
January 5th will be a day off.
All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants.
Click here for a full description of the workshop.
Please note that synchronous participation in the entirety of Experiencing Speech and Phonetics Intensive is prerequisite for Experiencing Accents.
For more about Knight-Thompson Speechwork, please visit About the Work.

Workshop Costs:

VASTA Members

$850 USD*

ANY Union Members

$850 USD**

Non-members

$950 USD***

* Use the code “vasta” when checking out.
** Use the code “unionpride” when checking out.
*** If you’re interested in repeating an “Experiencing…” workshop that you’ve already taken, add your name to the “re-taker” waitlist here. We will contact you two weeks prior to the start of the workshop to let you know if there is space for you and provide you with a discount code for 1/2 off the full price of the workshop (discounts cannot be combined).

Deadlines:
In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason we ask for a deposit of $200 to secure your place in the workshop. This is due six weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on November 21, 2024. The full payment is due three weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on December 12, 2024. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $75 if you inform us by December 19, 2024.
After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

ACTOR'S ACCENT TOOLKIT
2025-01-18 13:30 - 2025-01-19 17:30
ACTOR’S ACCENT TOOLKIT:An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for Performers

When:Saturday, January 18, 1:30 – 5:30pm, PacificSunday, January 19, 12:30 – 4:30pm, Pacific

Where:Online via Zoom

Taught by:Tyler Seiplewww.accentcoachla.com

Price: $250($175 for members of Stuart Rogers’ Studios)

$100 for repeat registration

To register: Email Tyler at accentcoachla@gmail.com or visit here for more information.

Master Teacher Tyler Seiple leads an introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for performers and public speakers. This eight-hour workshop focuses on understanding what accents are and the skills needed to develop them. With a tailored blend of discussion, exercises, and context-building, students walk away with an understanding of the muscles that shape speech, the patterns that make up accents, and the tools they need to adopt any accent. It also introduces a more helpful, KTS-based approach to the idea of “Accent Reduction,” addressing the same goals without shame or guilt.

Space is limited. Register now by emailing accentcoachla@gmail.com, or by visiting here for more information.

After the Actor’s Accent Toolkit, students are invited to take shorter classes with Tyler in a wide and expanding variety of accents. Using the foundation of the Toolkit, students will integrate target accents in less time and with a clear process. Upcoming accent classes can be found here.

ACTOR'S ACCENT TOOLKIT
2025-03-08 12:00 - 2025-03-09 16:00
ACTOR’S ACCENT TOOLKIT:An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for Performers

When:Saturday, March 8, 12 – 4pm, PacificSunday, March 9, 12 – 4pm Pacific

Where:Online via Zoom

Taught by:Tyler Seiplewww.accentcoachla.com

Price: $250($175 for members of Stuart Rogers’ Studios)

$100 for repeat registration

To register: Email Tyler at accentcoachla@gmail.com or visit here for more information.

Master Teacher Tyler Seiple leads an introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for performers and public speakers. This eight-hour workshop focuses on understanding what accents are and the skills needed to develop them. With a tailored blend of discussion, exercises, and context-building, students walk away with an understanding of the muscles that shape speech, the patterns that make up accents, and the tools they need to adopt any accent. It also introduces a more helpful, KTS-based approach to the idea of “Accent Reduction,” addressing the same goals without shame or guilt.

Space is limited. Register now by emailing accentcoachla@gmail.com, or by visiting here for more information.

After the Actor’s Accent Toolkit, students are invited to take shorter classes with Tyler in a wide and expanding variety of accents. Using the foundation of the Toolkit, students will integrate target accents in less time and with a clear process. Upcoming accent classes can be found here.

EXPERIENCING SPEECH #43 Online
2025-03-14 08:00 - 2025-03-23 15:00 | Online, United States
An Online Six-Day Workshop in:
the sounds of the world’s languages
the physicality of speech actions
introducing descriptive phonetics
the skills of adjusting linguistic detail in speech
With KTS Co-Founder Phil Thompson & Master Teacher
Tyler Seiple
March 14-16 & 21-23, 2025, 8am-3pm Pacific Time
There will be an hour-long daily meal break from 11:00am to 12:00pm Pacific Time.
March 17-20 will be days off.
All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants.
Early Bird Registration ($100 off the Full Workshop Fee) is available through December 31, 2024!
Click here for a full description of the workshop.

Workshop Costs:

Early Bird Registration

$850 USD*

Regular Registration

$950 USD**

* Early Bird Registration will be available through October 29, 2024.
** If you’re interested in repeating an “Experiencing…” workshop that you’ve already taken, add your name to the “re-taker” waitlist here. We will contact you two weeks prior to the start of the workshop to let you know if there is space for you and provide you with a discount code for 1/2 off the full price of the workshop.

There is also a PART ONE ONLY OPTION for $550 USD ($450 USD with Early Bird Registration through October 29, 2024)!
This three-day session (Part One) focuses on:
Awareness and practice of precise articulation action
The physical actions that produce all the sounds of the world’s languages—”Omnish”
Vocal Tract Posture—the articulatory basis for the sounds in accents and languages
This session will also prepare the participant for Part Two, which includes detailed phonetic transcription and an exploration of the skills of adjusting linguistic detail in speech. (No phonetic transcription will be used in Part One of the workshop.) Email knightthompsonspeechwork@gmail.com if interested in a PART ONE ONLY OPTION.

Deadlines:

In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason we ask for a deposit of $200 USD to secure your place in the workshop. This is due six weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on January 31, 2025. The full payment is due three weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on February 21, 2025. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $75 USD if you inform us by February 28, 2025. After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

PHONETICS INTENSIVE #27
2025-04-04 08:00 - 2025-04-06 15:00 | Online, United States
A Three-Day Online Intensive in Phonetic Transcription
With Master Teachers Andrea Caban & Tyler Seiple
April 4-6, 2025, 8:00am-3:00pm Pacific Time.
There will be a daily meal break from 11:00am to 12:00pm Pacific.
This course will be online only. All documents and audio materials will be shared through an online platform. All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants.

Click here for a full description of our Phonetics Intensive workshops. The full registration fee is $450 USD.
Please note that synchronous participation in the entirety of Experiencing Speech is a prerequisite for the Phonetics Intensive.
*If you have already taken the Phonetics Intensive and are interested in re-taking it, add your name to the “re-taker” waitlist here. We will contact you two weeks prior to the start of the workshop to let you know if there is space for you.

Deadlines

In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason we ask for a deposit of $100 USD to secure your place in the workshop. This is due six weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on February 21, 2025. The full payment is due three weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on March 14, 2025. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $75 USD if you inform us by March 21, 2025. After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

EXPERIENCING ACCENTS #30 Online
2025-04-11 08:00 - 2025-04-27 15:00 | Online, United States
A SIX-DAY ONLINE WORKSHOP IN THE SKILLS OF ACCENT ACQUISITION
With Certified Teachers Andrea Caban & Nathan Crocker
April 11-13 & 25-27, 2025, 8am-3pm Pacific Time.
Daily meal break 11am-12pm Pacific Time.
April 14-24 will be days off.
All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants.
Click here for a full description of the workshop.
Early Bird Registration ($100 USD off the Regular Registration cost) will be available through December 31, 2024!
Please note that synchronous participation in the entirety of Experiencing Speech and Phonetics Intensive is prerequisite for Experiencing Accents.
For more about Knight-Thompson Speechwork, please visit About the Work.

Workshop Costs:

Early Bird Registration

$850 USD*

Regular Registration

$950 USD**

* Early Bird Registration will be available through October 29, 2024.
** If you’re interested in repeating an “Experiencing…” workshop that you’ve already taken, add your name to the “re-taker” waitlist here. We will contact you two weeks prior to the start of the workshop to let you know if there is space for you and provide you with a discount code for 1/2 off the full price of the workshop (discounts cannot be combined).

Deadlines:
In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason we ask for a deposit of $200 to secure your place in the workshop. This is due six weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on February 28, 2025. The full payment is due three weeks prior to the start of the workshop, on March 21, 2025. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $75 if you inform us by March 28, 2025.
After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

KTS Webinar #56: Voiceover in Anime
2025-04-26 08:00 - 09:00 | Online, United States
Saturday, April 26th 8:00am PDT/ 11am EDT/ 4pm BST

Ever wondered how voiceover works when dubbing anime into English? Join professionals Branden Loera and Jack Stansbury for a discussion about how they got started in voiceover work, what it’s like to work on the English dubs for anime shows, how the dubbing process works, and more!

Tickets for this webinar are $10. Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. All registrants will also receive the recording after the meeting has ended and been processed.

To convert to your time zone click here.

Branden Loera is a Hispanic, Dallas based, classically trained actor/director from Hardin-Simmons University (Musical Theatre/Opera). Currently, he’s best known for his VO roles in Heaven Official’s Blessing (Lang Qianqiu), Link Click (Felix), Black Butler (Cheslock), Bluelock (Itsuki Wakatsuki), Tying The Knot With An Amagami Sister (Uryu), and One Piece (Kazekage). Some other shows/games he’s in are Genshin Impact, Reincarnated As A Slime, Campfire Cooking, No Longer Allowed In Another World, 7th Prince, Bucchigiri?!, Vinland Saga, etc. He also loves the stage and has been seen in a number of plays, musicals, operas, and Shakespeare across DFW. When Branden isn’t acting, he can be found playing video games, watching cooking shows, cooking, working out, playing soccer/disc golf/baseball/ultimate frisbee, loving his 2 cats Kess and Guen, or playing D&D.

Jack Stansbury is a voice actor known for being the English voices of Axel in Shinichirō Watanabe’s upcoming series LAZARUS, Aqua in Oshi No Ko, Ragna in Ragna Crimson, and Mendo in Urusei Yatsura. He also voices in Genshin Impact, Kaiju No. 8, The Dangers in my Heart, The Eminence in Shadow, Akiba Maid War, and many, many more. Outside the world of anime Jack can be heard as the entire male cast of the popular animated series SolarBalls on YouTube, which has over 1.6 million subscribers and 300+ million views. When not in the booth Jack also plays in the Houston theater scene, having most recently played in Houston Shakespeare Festival’s productions of Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

KTS Webinar #57: Community Conversation- School Year Debrief
2025-05-17 10:00 - 11:00
Saturday, May 17th 10:00am PDT/ 1pm EDT/ 6pm BST

Let’s celebrate the end of the school year! This community conversation is an invitation to all educators to unpack the school year. Come share your innovations, challenges, and triumphs!

Please note, this meeting will not be recorded.

Tickets for this webinar are free. Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. To convert to your time zone click here.

ACTOR'S ACCENT TOOLKIT
2025-06-07 09:00 - 18:00
ACTOR’S ACCENT TOOLKIT:An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for Performers

When:Saturday, June 7, 9am – 1pm & 2 – 6pm, Pacific

Where:Online via Zoom

Taught by:Siobhan Dohertyspeakingofaccents.com

Price: $250

$100 for repeat registration

To register: Email Siobhan at speakingofaccents@gmail.com or visit here for more information.

Certified Teacher Siobhan Doherty leads an introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for performers and public speakers. This eight-hour workshop focuses on understanding what accents are and the skills needed to develop them. With a tailored blend of discussion, exercises, and context-building, students walk away with an understanding of the muscles that shape speech, the patterns that make up accents, and the tools they need to adopt any accent. It also introduces a more helpful, KTS-based approach to the idea of “Accent Reduction,” addressing the same goals without shame or guilt.

Space is limited. Register now by emailing speakingofaccents@gmail.com, or by visiting here for more information.

KTS Webinar #58: Production Coaching 101
2025-06-16 13:00 - 14:00
Monday, June 16th 10:00am PDT/ 1pm EDT/ 6pm BST

Have you ever been curious about vocal or dialect coaching a production? Do you already coach but wonder how someone else approaches the job? Join experienced coaches Sara Becker, Amani Dorn, and Rosie Ward as they discuss their approaches to production coaching!

Tickets for this webinar are $10. Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. All registrants will also receive the recording after the meeting has ended and been processed.

Convert to your time zone here.

Sara Becker is the head of Voice and Text at American Players Theatre where she has coached over 40 productions over sixteen seasons. Highlights include: King Lear, Hamlet, Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Taming of the Shrew, Cymbeline, Exit the King, A View from the Bridge, The Cure at Troy, Travesties and Endgame. She was a FAIR fellow at Oregon Shakespeare Festival under the mentorship of Scott Kaiser, and has worked on 11 productions there, including coaching Hamlet, As You Like It, American Night, Don Quixote, and Throne of Blood. Other coaching highlights include the Henriad history play cycle (Richard II, Henry IV part I and II and Henry V) at the Guthrie Theatre, The Alley Theatre (Twelfth Night, Pygmalion and others), ACT Seattle, Colorado Shakespeare, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, BAM NYC, The Acting Company and The Milwaukee Repertory Theater (Pride and Prejudice, I Am My Own Wife). She is an endowed professor of Shakespeare and Voice at the North Carolina School of the Arts. She previously taught in the MFA program at the University of Houston, and was the Head of the BFA Acting program. She won the Ross Lence award for excellence in teaching at the University of Houston in 2014. Ms. Becker holds a BA from Fordham University and is an MFA graduate of UW-Madison, where she trained extensively under Susan Sweeney.

Amani Dorn is a Dialect coach /actor/singer/dancer/teacher from Austin, Texas, currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia. She received an MFA in Acting from the University of California, Irvine and has 18 years of professional experience in performance, teaching, and coaching. She got her start performing in musicals in Austin while an undergrad at the University of Texas and has since performed and coached with and for actors all over the world. While pursuing her MFA, she was introduced to Knight-Thompson Speechwork and Fitzmaurice Voicework, and has since completed certifications in both. She continues her career as a dialect coach and looks forward to the future for this young generation of artists!

Rosie Ward is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Rosie has trained actors in voice and text at international conservatories, as well as U.S. actor training programs. Teaching credits include: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (UK), Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (UAE), Northampton University (UK), University of Houston (US), and Brigham Young University (US). Rosie has voice coached and acted in various productions at Prague Shakespeare Company, Utah Shakespeare Festival, American Players Theatre, Alley Theatre, Kentucky Shakespeare, AD Players, Main Stage Theatre, Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University, and the University of Houston. She holds an M.A. in Voice Studies from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of Houston.

TEACHER CERTIFICATION #11
2025-07-14 09:00 - 2025-08-01 17:00
Knight-Thompson Speechwork will be offering a three-week Teacher Certification program in the summer of 2025, July 14th-August 1st, taught by the KTS Co-Directors Andrea Caban & Phil Thompson. The program will be held in person at the University of California, San Diego. Sessions will take place five days a week, Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00 or 5:00pm PT. Prior to the start of the program, there will be two to three required webinars on weekend days between May 15th and July 13th. There will also be assignments due between May 15th and July 13th, including articulator isolation & gurn videos and drafts of accent breakdowns. Participants will receive feedback on those assignments from the Cert Teaching Team. Additionally, there will be two to three online Knowledge Celebrations due within the same time period. Participants will be paired with a KTS Certified Teacher as a Mentor during this process who will support them with two private sessions before the three-week certification, and two private sessions after. A list of required and recommended reading can be found here.

Program Goals

The purpose of the Certification is to make sure that its participants possess:

A thorough understanding of the Knight-Thompson approach to speech training.
A thorough knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet and an ability to use it effectively in teaching.
A thorough understanding of the Knight-Thompson approach to the methodology of accent training.
An ability to productively use research resources for accent acquisition, as well as efficiently learn and effectively model new accents.
A demonstrated ability to teach this material effectively and with full understanding.
A demonstrated ability to use this approach creatively in teaching and coaching.

The emphasis in the Certification program will be on individual development, and all participants will receive substantial individual attention and mentoring. Participation in the Certification program does not guarantee certification: in some cases we may require additional work to demonstrate understanding and teaching skill. Admission to the Teacher Certification Program is open only to participants who have already taken Experiencing Speech, Experiencing Accents and a Phonetics Intensive. Prospective participants in the Teacher Certification Program also must have some experience incorporating this approach in their own teaching or coaching before going on to Certification.

Application Process

Submit your application via this link. Then email an accent breakdown* and a link to an accent modeling sample to knightthompsonspeechwork@gmail.com.

Requirements for Accent Breakdown: include a section for each of the 4Ps as taught in Experiencing Accents; include cut sound samples and phonetic transcription for the Posture section and each of the token sounds in the Pronunciation section. An expanded version of a breakdown from Experiencing Accents coursework is acceptable.

Requirements for Accent Modeling Sample: A 2- to 3-minute fully-embodied performance of a memorized text in the accent from your breakdown.

Applications open September 9, 2024 and will close on May 3, 2025. There will be three rounds of application review by the KTS Council. The first review will happen after October 31, 2024; the second review will happen after January 19, 2025; and the third will happen at the close of applications on May 3, 2025. Priority will be given to early applications. Early applicants accepted into the cohort will receive feedback on their application and highly discounted re-taker pre-requisite workshop access. Please note that this program will happen in person only.

*KTS acknowledges this accent breakdown is your intellectual property and will be used for application review purposes only.

Please note that application to the Cert does not guarantee admittance.

Program Costs

Upon acceptance, the enrollment fee for the Certification is $4,700 USD. If you are accepted into the program, payment instructions will be provided.

Payment Deadlines

In order to plan effectively for these workshops, it’s important to have a clear sense of the commitment of potential participants. For that reason, we ask for a deposit of $500 to secure your place in the workshop. This is due upon acceptance into the program. The full payment is due May 15th, 2025. If your plans change, and you are unable to attend, we will refund any payment less $100 if you inform us before May 15th, 2025. After that date, however, no refunds are possible. Please plan accordingly.

KTS Webinar #59: The Vowel Jam
2025-07-14 10:00 - 11:00
Monday, July 14th 10:00am PDT/ 1pm EDT/ 6pm BST

In contrast to the clear-cut “recipes” of the consonant chart—“Tip of tongue taps alveolar ridge,” for example—the precise realization of target phthongs on the vowel chart often proves more elusive (finding oneself in a jam, perhaps?). How can we tune our ears and mouths to the subtle shifts between, say, cupping the tongue for [ɜ] versus [ʌ]?

Like a musical jam session, The Vowel Jam is a space to play, explore, and refine. In a relaxed, creative, and collaborative environment, we’ll engage in exercises designed to sharpen our perception and production of vowel sounds. Through play, you’ll strengthen the connection between your ear (the vowel you hear) and your mouth (the vowel you make), building greater precision and confidence as you navigate the vowel chart for clients and students.

Tickets for this webinar are $10. Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. All registrants will also receive the recording after the meeting has ended and been processed.

Convert to your time zone here.

Gregory Charles Jones is certified teacher of Knight-Thompson Speeechwork® and a Lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at Loyola Marymount University. An actor, writer, and teacher raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Gregory most recently guest starred in a 2025 episode of FBI and played a supporting role in Amazon’s 2024 feature film Música. Other credits: Magic/Bird on Broadway, the Red Dead Redemption II video game, and audiobook narrations for Jumpman: The Making and Meaning of Michael Jordan; One Square Mile of Hell: The WWII Battle for Tarawa; and Yearbook by Seth Rogen. MFA Performance Pedagogy — Loyola Marymount University. BFA Acting — NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Marc Williams teaches voice, accents, acting, and directing at the University of Mary Washington. His professional work includes over 100 credits as a director and voice/accent coach. He is a certified Associate Teacher of both Fitzmaurice Voicework and Knight-Thompson Speechwork, and is a Lessac Kinesensics Certified Trainer. He leads the UMW Theatre in London program, a study abroad experience for UMW students. He served as the casting director for the Fredericksburg Theatre Company and the Director of New Works at Burning Coal Theatre in Raleigh, NC. Marc was the 2018 recipient of the Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching at Arkansas State University. He holds an MFA in directing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

ACTOR'S ACCENT TOOLKIT
2025-08-03 09:00 - 18:00
ACTOR’S ACCENT TOOLKIT:An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for Performers

When:Sunday, August 3, 9am – 1pm & 2pm – 6pm Pacific

Where:Online via Zoom

Taught by:Tyler Seiplewww.accentcoachla.com

Price: $250($175 for members of Stuart Rogers’ Studios)

$100 for repeat registration

To register: Email Tyler at accentcoachla@gmail.com or visit here for more information.

Master Teacher Tyler Seiple leads an introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for performers and public speakers. This eight-hour workshop focuses on understanding what accents are and the skills needed to develop them. With a tailored blend of discussion, exercises, and context-building, students walk away with an understanding of the muscles that shape speech, the patterns that make up accents, and the tools they need to adopt any accent. It also introduces a more helpful, KTS-based approach to the idea of “Accent Reduction,” addressing the same goals without shame or guilt.

Space is limited. Register now by emailing accentcoachla@gmail.com, or by visiting here for more information.

After the Actor’s Accent Toolkit, students are invited to take shorter classes with Tyler in a wide and expanding variety of accents. Using the foundation of the Toolkit, students will integrate target accents in less time and with a clear process. Upcoming accent classes can be found here.

KTS Webinar #60: FREE Intro to KTS!
2025-09-20 10:00 - 11:00
Saturday, September 20th 10:00am PDT/ 1pm EDT/ 6pm BST

Are you an actor? Teacher of actors? Accent coach or aspiring accent coach? Linguist? Speech language pathologist? Someone who’s curious? Knight-Thompson Speechwork is for you!

Whether you’re brand new to the work or have already begun your exploration, join Certified Teachers Molly Wetzel and Natalie Blackman for a free workshop as we outline the KTS guiding principles (perhaps), and lead participants through an exploration of the vocal tract and the ingredients of accent work!

Tickets for this webinar are free. Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. All registrants will also receive the recording after the meeting has ended and been processed.

Convert to your time zone here.

Natalie Blackman is a certified teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and Knight-Thompson Speechwork™. She serves as Assistant Professor of Voice and Acting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Voice and Text Coach for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. She and her collaborator, Amani Dorn, received the 2025 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Award for Outstanding Dialect Coaching. Natalie has also worked as a professional actor in New York and across the United States for nearly 20 years. She holds an MFA from Illinois State University and a BFA from the University of Utah. natalieblackman.com

Molly Wetzel is a voice and dialect coach, and actor. As a coach she has worked in many professional theatres in the Houston area including the Alley Theatre, Stages Repertory Theatre, and Theatre Under the Stars. As a performer, Molly has worked for regional theatres around the country, including the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Pacific Conservatory Theatre, and the Texas Shakespeare Festival. She is an Assistant Professor of Voice and Speech at the University of Houston and serves as the American English pronunciation specialist for Atsueigo Online in Japan. She is a certified teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork™.

KTS Webinar #61: The Globalization of Fitzmaurice Voicework® & Knight-Thompson Speechwork™ in the 21st Century
2025-10-13 17:00 - 18:00
Monday, October 13th at 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT

Tuesday, October 14th at 8am SGT / 11am AEDT

Fitzmaurice Voicework® and Knight-Thompson Speechwork™ were originally developed together in the U.S., but have now embraced a growing international community of artists and educators. Join us for a conversation with three teachers certified in both techniques: Julie Foh, Petrina Kow, and Michael Shipley. We will discuss how the contributions of this international community continue to enrich and evolve the two techniques, as well as the challenges of endeavoring to create a truly global pedagogy.

Tickets for this webinar are free. Registration will close 12 hours prior to the event and participants will then receive Zoom link information. All registrants will also receive the recording after the meeting has ended and been processed.

Convert to your time zone here.

Julie Foh is a voice, accent, and text coach based in CT. She is currently on faculty at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, and her professional work has included projects for Marvel, Yale Rep, Next Chapter Podcasts, Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, McCarter Theatre, and others.

Petrina Kow is the only Singaporean certified in Fitzmaurice Voicework® and Knight Thompson Speechwork®. Adjunct voice teacher at LASALLE College of Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. She coaches CEOs, politicians and corporate leaders in voice and public speaking, and organises and teaches voice and accent workshops in Singapore and around the region.

Michael Shipley is an Associate Professor of Theatre. As a teacher, director, and coach, he seeks to help actors integrate voice skills and acting technique in performance, giving them greater creative freedom and authenticity. He is certified in Fitzmaurice Voicework, Knight-Thompson Speechwork, and Vocal Combat Technique, and holds an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre.

ACTOR'S ACCENT TOOLKIT
2025-11-08 09:00 - 2025-11-09 13:00
ACTOR’S ACCENT TOOLKIT:An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for Performers

When:Saturday, November 8, 9am – 1pm, PacificSunday, November 9, 9am – 1pm Pacific

Where:Online via Zoom

Taught by:Tyler Seiplewww.accentcoachla.com

Price: $250($175 for members of Stuart Rogers’ Studios)

$100 for repeat registration

To register: Email Tyler at accentcoachla@gmail.com or visit here for more information.

Master Teacher Tyler Seiple leads an introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork for performers and public speakers. This eight-hour workshop focuses on understanding what accents are and the skills needed to develop them. With a tailored blend of discussion, exercises, and context-building, students walk away with an understanding of the muscles that shape speech, the patterns that make up accents, and the tools they need to adopt any accent. It also introduces a more helpful, KTS-based approach to the idea of “Accent Reduction,” addressing the same goals without shame or guilt.

Space is limited. Register now by emailing accentcoachla@gmail.com, or by visiting here for more information.

After the Actor’s Accent Toolkit, students are invited to take shorter classes with Tyler in a wide and expanding variety of accents. Using the foundation of the Toolkit, students will integrate target accents in less time and with a clear process. Upcoming accent classes can be found here.
