Arthur Lessac: 1998 ATHE Award

by Dorothy Runk Mennen

Arthur Lessac received ATHE's 1998 Career Achievement Award in Academic Theatre. This outstanding recognition brings special pride to VASTA, not only because Arthur is an Honorary Member of VASTA, but because it gives special attention to the lifelong work of a voice teacher-trainer-artist. Kristin Linklater received the award in 1994, also a voice teacher-trainer-artist and an Honorary Member of VASTA.

The life-long career of this spirited, active man was documented by his teaching, research and training program, unique in the discipline. Arthur Lessac began his work with a voice scholarship at Eastman School of Music. He went on to earn a B.A. and an M.A. in Voice-Speech Clinical Therapy from New York University, and a clinical certificate from ASHA.

Perhaps his first world-wide recognition was his training of the original Lincoln Center theatre company, along with Robert Lewis and Anna Sokolow in 1962-63. His continuing involvement in actor training prompted Robert Redford to invite him as "Actor and Resource Specialist" for the Sundance Institute's Playwright Conference in 1984, 85, 86.

Until he finally was convinced to accept a full-time university position at SUNY Binghampton, where he retired as Professor Emeritus in 1981, he concentrated his work in his New York City studio and as adjunct professor at several universities. Between 1967-95 he conducted more than sixty-five intensive annual workshops and training programs throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Germany, Yugoslavia and Mexico.

Arthur Lessac has received great recognition for his seminal text The Use and Training of the Human Voice, A Bio-Dynamic Approach of Vocal Life. This important work, along with Body Wisdom, The Use and Training of the Human Body, has put him in the forefront of current research in the areas of body energy, body movement and body health.

This past June, twenty teachers, including two from South Africa and one from Germany, met at Swarthmore College to form a permanent organization to establish a national and international organization that supports and promotes the work of Arthur Lessac.

From all of VASTA, congratulations Arthur!

VASTA Conference 1999!

Make plans now to attend next year's VASTA

Conference August 1-3 Toronto, Canada! The planning committee has been working on a theme about "Building Professional Bridges" bridges between speech therapists, pathologists and voice trainers, between voice and movement training, and between vocal work in the U.S. and Canada. The winter newsletter will have more details. Mark your calendar for our 13th annual conference, in Toronto! For further information or to offer input, contact conference chair Candice Brown at (716) 673-3597, Email <brownca@fredonia.edu>.

International Training

PANTHEATRE announces its Annual Professional Training Programme in Paris from January 11 to February 19 (5 weeks/ 5days a week/ 5 hours per day, for 8500 fr (app. $1525.00).

Limited to 16 participants. Includes training in voice, breathing, singing, and improvisation.

Complete info on their web age:<http://ourworld. compuserve.com/homepages/pantheatre> or by mail to: Pantheatre, 20 rue St. Nicolas 75012 Paris, Tel & Fax: 33-(0)1 44 67 70 53.

Deadline dates to the editor :
December 15, 1998
March 15, 1999
September 15, 1999