You are here

UCF Digital Collections ยป ETD Collection

DEFINING A CHARACTER THROUGH VOICE QUALITY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTER "GEORGE" IN SONDHEIM AND LAPINE'S "SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE" USING THE ESTILL VOICE MODEL

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
2007
Abstract/Description:
This thesis explores the use of the Estill Voice Model, in particular six voice qualities (Speech, Twang, Falsetto, Cry/Sob, Belt and Opera) and their permutations, to define character, character traits and emotions. Traits and emotions that specific voice qualities can influence are, but are not limited to, location, age, background, socioeconomic status, genre, intelligence, nationality, class, culture, gender, promiscuity, disposition, pain and revelations. In particular, this thesis explores the use of voice qualities to show specific human qualities of the character "George" from Sondheim and Lapine's "Sunday in the Park with George" and the people he imitates in his painting by letting the characters' given circumstances (textual and subtextual), the way other actors portray the characters and the director's and musical director's input inform the choices in voice quality. By using the specific technical aspects of the Estill Voice Training System™ and combining them with the limitless aesthetic aspects of theatrical character, this thesis shows that this new structural analysis does not pigeonhole an actor, but rather it makes one more aware, accessible, adept and flexible to the needs of the character and the spontaneity of each new performance. This thesis provides a new paradigm of character analysis through voice.
Title: DEFINING A CHARACTER THROUGH VOICE QUALITY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTER "GEORGE" IN SONDHEIM AND LAPINE'S "SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE" USING THE ESTILL VOICE MODEL.
284 views
225 downloads
Name(s): Swickard, Michael, Author
Chicurel, Steven , Committee Chair
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2007
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: This thesis explores the use of the Estill Voice Model, in particular six voice qualities (Speech, Twang, Falsetto, Cry/Sob, Belt and Opera) and their permutations, to define character, character traits and emotions. Traits and emotions that specific voice qualities can influence are, but are not limited to, location, age, background, socioeconomic status, genre, intelligence, nationality, class, culture, gender, promiscuity, disposition, pain and revelations. In particular, this thesis explores the use of voice qualities to show specific human qualities of the character "George" from Sondheim and Lapine's "Sunday in the Park with George" and the people he imitates in his painting by letting the characters' given circumstances (textual and subtextual), the way other actors portray the characters and the director's and musical director's input inform the choices in voice quality. By using the specific technical aspects of the Estill Voice Training System™ and combining them with the limitless aesthetic aspects of theatrical character, this thesis shows that this new structural analysis does not pigeonhole an actor, but rather it makes one more aware, accessible, adept and flexible to the needs of the character and the spontaneity of each new performance. This thesis provides a new paradigm of character analysis through voice.
Identifier: CFE0001570 (IID), ucf:47133 (fedora)
Note(s): 2007-05-01
M.F.A.
Arts and Humanities, Department of Theatre
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Estill
Swickard
Sunday in the Park with George
Defining a Character
Voice
Voice Quality
Sondheim
Lapine
Thesis
Theatre
Musical Theatre
EVTS
Seurat
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001570
Restrictions on Access: public
Host Institution: UCF

In Collections