READ ALOUD: Bring Literature to Life

Presented by Meg Bussert, Tony-nominated actor, South Church member and recently retired NYU Steinhardt Associate Professor of Acting and Music Theatre Studies

A 3-part Workshop sponsored by the South Church Worship Committee

Reading the written words of someone else in a public setting can feel daunting. But if you know how to approach it, the experience might not feel so out of reach. It can even be meaningful, engaging, and FUN!

Meg Bussert will offer a short workshop that will focus on simple tools that will build confidence and clarity.

WORKSHOP DATES: Sunday April 23, April 30, May 7

• Meeting: 3 sessions
• Time: 90 minutes duration.
• Fee for students: $40 total for three 90-minute sessions (scholarships available)

INTRODUCTORY GATHERING: Sunday, April 16, after worship and quick coffee hour (soup & salad)

• Time: 30-45 minutes in the sanctuary
• Purpose: to offer an abbreviated “example” of the workshop to answer questions and gauge interes

READ ALOUD: Bring Literature to Life
You, as the reader, can relay the writer’s intention. You may be reading a story, an essay, a
famous speech, a poem, or a piece of scripture. You are not acting; you are not playing a character.
Your job is to help the audience hear the author. The audience will then interpret what they hear.

This course will help you understand:

• HOW you speak, HOW you organize phrases and HOW you adjust the tempo are all important.
• HOW you color words and inflect as you speak can help your audience hear the words and the intent.

Oral Interpretation is a term often applied to this reading technique. It does borrow from public speaking and theater tools. But it does not have to be complicated. We will look at some pieces of literature and we will play! We will practice with the applications and read aloud!! These skills will be useful for readers who participate in worship service at South Church – AND the workshop will be a great opportunity for all participants to learn a new skill.

Meg Bussert, a longtime member of South Church, is a recently retired NYU Steinhardt Associate Professor of Acting and Music Theatre Studies, a founding member of Musical Theatre Educators Alliance as well as a certified NYS Teacher with a Master of Arts in English/secondary. Before adventures in academia, Meg appeared on Broadway and regional theatres throughout the country. She received critical acclaim with a Tony Nomination, a Theatre World Award, and a CableACE Award Nomination. Meg is a member of performing unions AEA, SAG-AFTRA.

For more see: MegBussert.com