Our work in Vocal Production 2 seeks to explore how our voice can serve the vibrancy of our human emotional experience, the complexity of our thought process and the power of our intention to enliven communication of our text. We are not training to adhere to some artificial “standard”, but to develop our creative artistry as storytellers, and to freely bring our unique personal perspective through our voice and body into our work. This class will continue to deepen the understanding of the Linklater progression of voice exercises - particularly focusing on opening and releasing specific tensions, strengthening the vocal resonating ladder, and building the actor’s range of expression as well as finding a clear, economical articulation of text. Each class will begin with a Linklater-based physical and vocal warm-up moving quickly through the first half, and then focusing on the second half of the voice progression where the breathing power, and strengthening the 3 to 4 octaves of vocal range develops a more dynamic energy and vocal strength. Finally, the students will find a personal connection to speaking text with presence, while exploring ways to create a character and free their vocal range for expressive choices through performance of classical and contemporary texts with individual coaching in front of the class. The goal is to hear the person through their voice in an authentic, connected, free and expressive way while at the same time honoring the clarity of thought and intention of the character within the world of the play.