Judylee Vivier
Professor
Theater
Location: 313 Whitehead Hall
Phone: 718.951.5000 x2763
Fax: 718.951.4606
Email:
Professor Judylee Vivier, director of the M.F.A. in Acting program, is a Fulbright scholar, actress, voice professional and professor. She has taught at Rutgers University, New York University, American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Michael Howard Studios; led classes/intensives nationally; and written/performed her original solo piece, "Oranges Like The Sun." An active member in the Voice and Speech Trainers' Association (VASTA) and Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), she is a recipient of the Claire Tow Distinguished Teacher Award (2007). She recently published a chapter in The Breath: Heart and Soul of the Actor and article in Dramatics; was a visiting voice lecturer at the Central School of Speech & Drama, London (2010); served as the voice consultant for the RSC at the Lincoln Center Festival (2011) and at BAM (2013); was elected to the VASTA board of directors; and visited RWCMD in Wales as the International Professor in Wales (2012 and 2013).
Education:
M.F.A., New York University - 1986 (Dramatic Arts)
M.A., University of Natal (Durban, South Africa) - 1982 (Speech and Drama)
B.A. (with honors), University of Natal (Durban, South Africa) - 1980 (Speech and Drama)
B.A., University of Natal (Durban, South Africa) - 1979 (English and Speech and Drama)
Areas of Expertise:
A specialist in acting and voice production for the actor, Vivier is interested in releasing and developing the power of each individual's true voice, which is integrally connected to breath, identity and the need to speak, express the self and be heard. She aims to develop the voice by freeing tension, develop the dynamic vocal range, and restore direct connection with the acting impulse, allowing the voice to reveal rather than describe emotions/thoughts so fulfilling the demands of the text.
Books and Publications
Vivier, J. and Kristi Dana. "Mentoring: A Personal Journey." The Voice and Speech Review. Routledge Online. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2014
"The Breath: Heart and Soul of the Self." Breath in Action: The Art of Breath in Vocal and Holistic Practice. Eds. J. Boston and R. Cook. United Kingdom: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2009
"Breathing and the Voice: Inhale Exhale." Dramatics April: 21-24, 56. (Books and Publications: Other Article) 2007
Review of Will Power: How to Act Shakespeare in 21 Days, by John Basil with Stephanie Gunning. The Voice and Speech Review 5, October. (Books and Publications: Book Review) 2007
"Introduction to Chapter 7." Make Your Voice Heard: An Actor's Guide for Increased Dramatic Range Through Vocal Training, by C. Jones. New York: Back Stage Books, an imprint of Watson-Guptill Publishers. 98. (Books and Publications: Other Article) 2005
"A Comparison Performance Review of Hamlet: Peter Brook's production of 'Hamlet' and the Royal National Theatre's Production of 'Hamlet.'" The Voice and Speech Review 2: 322. (Books and Publications: Other Article) 2003
Review of Make Your Voice Heard: An Actor's Guide for Increased Dramatic Range Through Vocal Training, by Chuck Jones. The Voice and Speech Review 2: 318. (Books and Publications: Book Review) 2003
Review of "A Dream Play," by Robert Wilson. Theatre Journal 53.2: 498-99. (Books and Publications: Other Article) 2001
Creative Work
Produce and supervise the annual Brooklyn College M.F.A. Actor Showcase for Professional Industry. Past collaborations: UMKC, Michigan State University and University of Iowa. 2001-present. 2014
Vocal support for Brooklyn College Department of Theater's production season, 1999-present. 2014
Vocal support and maintenance (voice coach) during the Royal Shakespeare Company's visit to BAM with the all-black production of Julius Caesar, directed by Gregory Doran. Responsibilities: pre-show warm-ups with the actors, maintenance of vocal health and supporting acoustic issues. April-May. 2013
Vocal coach for the Off-Broadway production of Regrets, by Matt Charman. Manhattan Theatre Club. February-March. 2012
Reading of South African play Green Man Flashing, by Mike Van Graan and directed by Barbara Rubin, in the role of Gabby Anderson. PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. CUNY Graduate Center. New York, April. 2011
Vocal support and maintenance (voice coach) for Royal Shakespeare Company's six-week residency with the Lincoln Center Festival, New York. Responsibilities: pre-show warm-ups with the actors, maintenance of vocal health and supporting acoustic issues in the reconstructed theater. July-August. 2011
Voice coach, Central School of Speech & Drama: third-year production of Remembrances of Things Past, by Proust, adapted by Pinter; second-year production of King Lear. 2010
New play development workshop: Staged reading of "The Great Harvest in the Role of Woman," by Dori Robinson, directed by Dennis Schebetta. Association of Theatre in Higher Education Conference. 2009
Dialect and cultural consultant for "Sorrows and Rejoicings," by Athol Fugard, directed by Kenneth Washington, NYU Graduate Acting Program. November-December. 2008
Directed "Rooms," a collage of three solo performance pieces, presented at The Prospect Theatre Company, New York. 2008
As mentor to the acting students in the Theater Department, will play the role of Arkardina in Chekhov's "The Seagull," directed by Mary Robinson. Brooklyn College. 2007
"Oranges Like the Sun." Original solo performance written and performed by Judylee Vivier, directed by Thomas A. Bullard, presented at the 78th Street Theatre Lab. 2005
Awards, Honors and Fellowships
PSC-CUNY Research Foundation Grant, to continue preliminary research begun at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff, Wales, regarding: "Actor Training Across the Cultural Divide." (Grants and Fellowships) 2013
PSC-CUNY Research Foundation Grant, to further the research begun previously in 2009 at the Roy Hart Theatre in Maleragues, France, on the "Extended Voice and Body" approach to actors' vocal training. (Grants and Fellowships) 2012
PSC-CUNY Research Foundation Grant, to continue research of the Roy Hart Theatre's "Extended Voice and Body" approach for actor training, begun in 2009. (Grants and Fellowships) 2011
Brooklyn College Travel Award, for research in South Africa based on the potential role of solo performance on "Healing of a Society." (Grants and Fellowships) 2010
Dorothy Mennen Award, VASTA: Voice and Speech Trainers' Association. Roy Hart Theatre in France. (Grants and Fellowships) 2010
Brooklyn College Travel Award, for "Workshop in Roy Hart Embodied Voice Technique." University of Illinois, Chicago. February. (Awards and Honors) 2009
Tow Faculty Travel Fellowship, for "The Roy Hart 'Extended Voice and Body' Approach to Actors' Vocal Training." Roy Hart Theatre, Maleragues, France. (Grants and Fellowships) 2009
Claire Tow Distinguished Teacher Award. (Awards and Honors) 2007
PSC-CUNY grant, for furthering research on the relationship between women performers and their voices. (Grants and Fellowships) 2007
PSC-CUNY grant, for research on the relationship between female performers and their voices. (Grants and Fellowships) 2006
Research Activities
"Scott Miller Voice Method Intensive: The Muscle of Presence: Speak, Breathe & Do." Brooklyn College. Jan. 24-26. 2014
Alexander Technique Workshop Intensive for Voice Practitioners and Actors, Moving Voices With Quiet Hands. Boston, May. 2011
Lessac Voice Workshop with Lessac master teacher Barry Kur (University of Pennsylvania) and Kate Ingram (University of Central Florida). New York, July. 2011
Vivier, Judylee and Marya Lowry. "Discovering Your Whole Voice. Roy Hart Voice Workshop Intensive, Brandeis University. Waltham, Mass., June. 2011
Roy Hart Intensive Voice Training Workshop. Provided a structure for both advancing in Roy Hart
voice work and theater training. Roy Hart International Arts Centre. Malerargues, France, October. 2009
"LeCoq Technique: The Art of Movement at the Service of the Actor, With Master Teacher Norman Taylor" five-day intensive workshop on the analysis of movement fundamentals, Jacques LeCoq's approach to artistic training. Ideal Glass Gallery. New York, July. 2008
"Breath and Performance" conference workshops. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. London. 2007
"Voice Workshops for Women" with Olympia Dukakis. Investigation of women's vocal and physical empowerment through theater exercises inspired by the Sumarian Myth, "The Descent of Inanna." INTAR Theatre. New York, June. 2007
Alba Emoting Effector Training Pattern Workshop. University of Cincinnati. June 22-July 1. 2007
Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums
"Performance" based presentation skills seminar and workshop sessions for summer research program, funded by the National Science Foundation. Bowling Green State University, Ohio: SETGO Science, Engineering & Math Gateway. June. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2013
"Personal and Vocal Journey: Chuck Jones" on mentorship; in collaboration with M.F.A. acting alumna Kristi Dana: Voice and Speech Trainers' Association (VASTA) Conference: Voices of Wisdom: Spanning Generations: Minneapolis, July-August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2013
"Voice and Acting" workshops. The Lyric Theatre. Belfast, Ireland, Oct. 7 - 8. Interviewed regarding workshops by BBC Radio Ulster for the arts and entertainment program Arts Extra. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2013
"Performance" based presentation skills seminar and workshop sessions for this summer research program, funded by the National Science Foundation. Bowling Green State University, Ohio: SETGO Science, Engineering & Math Gateway. June. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012
"Training/Educating Voice Practitioners for a Rapidly Changing World." The Voice and Speech Trainers' Association Conference (VASTA). Washington, D.C., August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2012
International Perspective Panel: Practitioners/scholars from Australia, South Africa and Singapore. Royal Shakespeare Company Conference on Classical Theatre Training. Royal Shakespeare Company. Stratford-Upon-Avon, United Kingdom, September. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011
"Innovative Strategies to Launch Graduate Actors Into the Business of Theater" panel moderator and co-participant with Mary Beth Easley, Brooklyn College M.F.A. acting alumni and New York industry professionals. Association of Theatre in Higher Education Conference. New York, August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2009
"Women (Performers) and Their Relationship to Their Voices." Voice and Speech Trainers Association Conference. New York, August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2009
"The Act of Teaching," a workshop on teaching skills for new faculty, introducing basic acting skills and tools that enable effective communication into classroom presentation. New Faculty Retreat. CUNY Graduate Center. New York. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2008
"Solo Performance: Practice and Pedagogy." Voice and Speech Trainers' Association Annual Conference. The National Center for Voice. Denver. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2007
"The Acting Voice: The Need for the Word" workshop for undergraduate actors. Kennedy Center's American College Theater Festiva. SUNY New Paltz. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2007
"Voice and The Expressions of Self" workshop presentation on the development of solo performance as an expression of the metaphorical voice. Voice and Speech Trainers Association Conference at the National Center for Voice and Speech. Denver, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2007
Represented Brooklyn College on panel "Everything You Need and Want to Know About M.F.A. Acting Programs." Kennedy Center's American College Theater Festival: Catholic University, University of Delaware, Towson University, Shakespeare Theatre Company and The Actors' Studio. SUNY New Paltz. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2007
"The Acting Voice" workshop for voice professionals (mainly speech-language pathologists and otolaryngologists interested in the performer's voice). The Voice Foundation Symposium. Philadelphia. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2006
Professional Leadership
Nominated to serve on the Brooklyn College Presidential Advisory Committee on Distinguished Professors for a three-year term. Convener. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2014
Re-elected to the board of directors for VASTA: international Voice and Speech Trainers' Association. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2012
Member, board of directors, The Voice and Speech Trainers' Association, 2004-07. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2007
Pedagogical Achievements
International Visiting Professor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD Conservatory), Cardiff, Wales, for five weeks. Designed / taught voice and acting courses: B.A. and M.A. actors; voice coach / consultant for Thebans, by Liz Lochhead. September-October. 2013
M.F.A. actors invited to audition for the Public Theatre's upcoming season with graduates from Juilliard, NYU, Yale and Brown Universities: casting directors Heidi Griffiths and Jordan Thaler. 2009-present. 2013
Voice instructor, five-week summer conservatory training for undergraduate students from Muhlenberg College. Larry Singer Studios. New York, July. 2013
International Visiting Professor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD Conservatory), Cardiff, Wales, for five weeks. Designed / taught voice and acting courses: B.A. and M.A. actors; voice coach / consultant for A Month in the Country by Turgenev. September-October. 2012
Invited to teach and head the voice program during fellowship leave at the Department for the B.A. in Devised and Collaborative Theatre, Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, University of London. April-August. 2010
Presented workshop at the Royal Shakespeare Company for South African actors, sponsored by the Brett Goldin Bursary, to promote their training/education. July. 2010
Other Professional Activities
Peer reviewer: The Voice and Speech Review 2005: Shakespeare Around the Globe; Voice and Gender, 2007 for the Pedagogy and Coaching and Voice Production, Voice Related Movement Studies sections. 2005-10. 2010
