Mary-Kate Mahaney
Pronouns: She/Her
Research Mentor(s): Jeremy Sortore
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Theatre & Drama / Music
Program:
Authors: Mary-Kate Mahaney
Session: Session 7: 4:40 pm – 5:30 pm
Poster: 67
Abstract
A year of being an Assistant Voice Coach for University Productions provided opportunities to explore how to diagnose actor difficulties with audibility, intelligibility, and sustainability; relational factors like being a voice coach and a peer actor; and uncovering the needs of current voice students in the Theater & Drama department. Physical mirroring, emotional empathy, and the balancing of positional power emerged as necessary tools for success. Observed among students were struggles with audibility and fatigue causing them to face avoidable production challenges. As a result, the main research finding was the need for further curriculum scaffolding, clarity of material, and incentives for success in order to help students practice more effectively. Student actors are showcasing difficulty in either bringing in a new voice practice to their artistic work or simultaneously practicing acting and voice skills. In turn, a discussion of the future of voice education and Assistant Voice Coaching for Theater & Drama emerged in hope to nourish more Michigan students into well-rounded artists.
