… when I  was an actor known for a special knack at performing in accents and dialects other than my own. Over time my career emphasis shifted toward helping others achieve the same level of skill in speech work. From there I began deep-diving not only into linguistic matters, but also the historical and cultural underpinnings of the language used in each production, and the story being told. Thus I added dramaturgy to production dialect design and private dialect coaching.

As Resident Dialect Designer (and frequent Dramaturge) at Off-Broadway’s award-winning Mint Theater Company, I have worked on 40+ productions. I collaborate often with National Humanities Medalist and Jefferson Lecturer Anna Deavere Smith in her work on stage and screen. Other stage credits in New York encompass Broadway (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and work with many fine Off-Broadway companies, including Boomerang, Cherry Lane, Drama League DirectorFest, Keen, La Femme, Origin, Parity, the Pearl, and Playwrights Horizons. Regional engagements include work at American Repertory Theater, Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep, Huntington Theatre Co., La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf, People’s Light & Theatre, Peterborough Players, Piccolo Spoleto, and Theatrical Outfit. Film and television experience ranges from feature films such as Selma and Zola through television series including Dora the Explorer.

In addition to accents and dialects from around the world, I specialize in idiolects (unique speech patterns, often of real-life people). For instance, I’ve helped …

• Jessie Mueller (Tony Award) learn Carole King’s accent for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

• Carmen Ejogo (NAACP Image Award, Black Reel Award) learn Coretta Scott King’s speech pattern for Selma

• Anna Deavere Smith portray hundreds of people in their own words and voices for Notes from the Field, Let Me Down Easy, and other productions

• Justin Bartha to blend his speech with the real-life Jack Werner’s speech for WWII in HD

In private practice, I work with performers aged nine to ninety in New York and around the world. I’ve given workshops and seminars at institutions dedicated to the arts, linguistics, and social history. I’ve published articles on aspects of dialect work; also on theatre, film, and literature. And I’m proud to be an officer of VASTA, the Voice and Speech Trainers Association.