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BIOGRAPHY OF ARTHUR LESSAC |
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Arthur Lessac is
among the most highly regarded teachers of
voice, speech, singing and movement in the
training world. Among the three generations
of actors, singers, and dancers touched by
his teaching are Martin Sheen, Beatrice
Straight, George Grizzard, Faye Dunaway,
Irene Daily, Carol Haney, Chris Lloyd,
Michael Douglas, Frank Langella, Michael
OKeefe, Peter Scolari, Morris Charnovsky,
Linda Hunt, Nina Foch, and Cathrine
Malfitano. His two books, The Use and
Training of the Human Voice: A Bio Dynamic
Approach to Vocal Life and Body Wisdom: The
Use and Training of the Human Body, have
become required reading for countless
students and remain a lasting contribution
to the field of acting and performing.
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Arthur Lessac received his BS and MA degrees
from New York University and has studied a
wide variety of teaching and training
techniques throughout the country. A
professor at S.U.N.Y. from 1970-1981 (now
Emeritus), he has also served as a
distinguished visiting professor at the
University of Puerto Rico, California State
University--Fullerton, and the University of
Virginia--Charlottesville. In 1962 Mr.
Lessac was invited by Elia Kazan and Robert
Whitehead to train the original Lincoln
Center Repertory Theatre Company along with
Robert Lewis and Anna Sokolow. Lessac six-
to eight-week summer intensive workshops
have been held at college campus across the
United States and in Germany, Puerto Rico,
Yugoslavia, Canada, and Mexico. IN 1991 he
received the Southeastern Theatre
Conference's Distinguished Career Award and,
in 1998 was recognized for Career
Achievement as Outstanding Teacher by the
Association for Theatre in Higher Education.
(Address to the 1998 ATHE Conference ). In
2002, he was honored to accept the North
Eastern Theatre Conference 'Excellence in
Theatre Education Educator of the Year'
Award. |
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In addition to his
widely acclaimed books, Lessac has published
numerous articles in Quarterly Journals of Speech,
Secondary School Theatre, Players Magazine, The New
York Times, and Southern Theatre. |
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Mr. Lessac has taught,
performed, and directed on Broadway, in Puerto Rico,
Germany, Yugoslavia, Canada, Mexico and extensively
throughout the United Sates, from the Bard College
Summer Theatre and School to the Sundance Institute
Playwright's Conference with Robert Redford. TV and
film work includes guest appearances on Cheers and
Sara and in the film Mickey and Maud. He serves as a
distinguished keynote speaker around the country and
is recipient of numerous honors from colleges,
universities and theatre associations nationwide. As
well, he is an acting member in the Voice and Speech
Trainers Association, Association for Theatre in
Higher Education, Speech Communication Association,
American Speech and Hearing Association, American
Alliance for Health, Physical Education, recreation
and Dance and Association of Theatre Movement
Educators. |
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Baltimore School for the Arts Theatre Sophomores
Suzannah Brown, Julia Klavans and Micky Hellerbach
pose with Arthur at a recent matinee (October 6,
2007) of Michael Lessac's Truth in Translation at
the Atlas Performing Arts Center in DC. |
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