OUR CLASSES

DIALECTS 1

The human voice is one of the actor's most powerful expressive tools.

Once an actor's natural voice has been freed from unnecessary tension, habitual speech patterns, and self-consciousness, it becomes available for transformation. Dialect work is not simply about learning an accent—it is about expanding the actor's ability to inhabit lives, cultures, histories, and points of view beyond their own.

At Maggie Flanigan Studio, we believe transformational character work represents one of the highest expressions of the actor's craft. A truthful dialect allows an actor to disappear into a character without sacrificing authenticity, spontaneity, or emotional connection.

Beyond Imitation

Many actors approach dialects by imitation alone. They watch a few films, mimic sounds, and hope for the best. The result is often inconsistent, generalized, and disconnected from truthful behavior.

Professional actors understand that a dialect is far more than pronunciation. Every voice carries rhythm, geography, history, culture, and identity. The goal is not simply to sound different—it is to think, breathe, and communicate truthfully within another vocal world.

This class teaches actors how to build dialects with precision, consistency, and artistic integrity.

Voice in Service of Character

One of the greatest challenges of dialect work is maintaining truthful acting while speaking in a voice that is not your own.

Actors often become so focused on "getting the accent right" that they stop listening, responding, and living truthfully within the scene.

At Maggie Flanigan Studio, dialect training is always placed in service of storytelling. Students learn how to integrate vocal technique with imagination, emotional truth, and moment-to-moment behavior so the dialect becomes invisible and the character comes fully to life.

The goal is never to perform the accent. The goal is to inhabit the character.

Building a Repeatable Process

Dialects I introduces actors to some of the most frequently requested accents in professional theatre, film, and television, including:

Standard British
American Southern
Parisian French
West African French

In addition, every student develops an independent dialect chosen specifically to support their artistic interests and professional casting opportunities.

Rather than memorizing individual accents, students develop a repeatable process for approaching any dialect with confidence, curiosity, and specificity.

Throughout the course, actors learn how to:

Analyze speech patterns and vocal placement
Understand rhythm, musicality, and resonance
Recognize the cultural and environmental influences that shape speech
Maintain consistency throughout a performance
Integrate dialect work into truthful character development

Expanding the Actor's Range

Many of today's most accomplished actors are recognized for their remarkable ability to transform themselves through voice, behavior, and imagination.

Mastering dialects expands casting opportunities, deepens character work, and strengthens an actor's ability to fully inhabit another human being. More importantly, it develops a flexible, disciplined vocal instrument capable of serving any story.

Dialects I is a ten-week course designed to provide actors with the technical foundation and artistic confidence to approach dialect work with clarity, authenticity, and precision throughout their professional careers.

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

“I was placed in the intense reigns of Charlie Sandlan. I became a better artist, actor, friend, sibling and daughter because of the studio. Even now, I crave the studio every day. What I learned is present in my work every day. I truly believe in everything they stand for.”

Jes Macallan

“Maggie taught me that I could control my work, my acting, and to throw all of the bullshit out that I had in my head about ‘what I should be doing’ and to just listen and respond honestly, in the moment. She gave me a craft. She is, quite simply put, THE BEST.”

Leslie Bibb

“Maggie Flanigan taught me the true meaning of artistry, passion, and professionalism. I am certain that I continue to work as an actress because of my training with Maggie. At every audition and every performance, her guiding voice is with me. It is a gift beyond measure.”

Andrea Anders

VIEW MORE TESTIMONIALS

CONTACT

Address:

147 W 25th St 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001

Phone:

(917) 794-3878
(332) 262-7852
(917) 768-3852
(917) 606-0982

Email:

studio@maggieflaniganstudio.com

LATEST POSTS

DIALECTS 1

The human voice is one of the actor's most powerful expressive tools.

FEDRA RAMIREZ

Fedra is a voice and dialect consultant as well as a professional actor based in New York. She has particular insight into the demands and expectations that actors face when challenged with dialects. The ability to approach any dialect with a consistent and reliable process will add to the diversity and range of the roles an actor can pursue. Fedra’s expertise lies in perfecting dialect that is both supported by the text and also meet the demands and the vision of the particular project in question.

ACTING STUDIO NEW YORK NY

The Maggie Flanigan Studio is the leading acting studio in New York City where professional actors train for long careers. The acting programs at the drama school are based on the Meisner Technique and the work of Sanford Meisner. The two year acting program includes acting classes, movement classes, voice and speech for actors, commercial acting classes, on camera classes, cold reading, monologue, playwriting, script analysis and the Meisner Summer Intensive.