Publications

To place an order, please click on an image to the right or call (816) 419-6915.

The Joy of Phonetics and Accents

“This is a brilliant book on finding the joy in language through the study of sound and phonetics in the English language. A must-read for singers, actors, public speakers and anyone interested in the English language, Colaianni provides a unique approach to what could easily be a tiring subject. Colaianni seeks to make language tangible through his vocal exercises and his delightful idea of making alphabet pillows. Don’t just say language. Experience it! Taste it, touch it, play with it, love it, make it yours! his enthusiasm for the subject is infectious. Although written in a clear, easily understood manner, the joy he fells for sound will soon be yours once you begin to follow his simple instructions. Learn to love language!”
–Eva Kendrick, reader’s review, Amazon.com

Louis Colaianni’s book offers a refreshing approach to speech training for actors. He argues cogently for a reassessment of the automatic demand for Standard Speech made by training programs and directors, highlighting the very questionable grounds upon which rules of ‘good speech’ have been based.
Colaianni has devised wonderfully entertaining phonetic pillow games for student actors which result in an exuberant liberation of their inherent multiphonological abilities. The games are a creative alternative to the tyranny of measurable standards whose applications in the name correct speech have humiliated generations of aspiring speakers and crippled the talents of countless young actors.

“Far from denying the importance of ‘good speech’ The Joy of Phonetics throws open a door marked ‘This way to great speaking!’ and with sound common sense shows that versatile speaking and intelligibility are an integral part of the actor’s talent.”
–Kristin Linklater

“Louis Colaianni takes a subject which some people consider as dry as toast and turns in into a sensuous, full body experience. A way of radically rethinking what goes on when you talk. Guaranteed to produce student involvement.”
–Dramatics magazine

Bringing Speech to Life

The companion workbook to The Joy of Phonetics and Accents by Claudia Anderson and Louis Colaianni, guides students to read and write in phonetics and to analyze their own accents and the accents of others.

To order click on picture to right or call (816) 419-6915.

“Anderson and Colaianni, by inviting rather than prescribing, by exploring rather than standardizing, by playing rather than fixing, and encouraging rather than judging, allow the speaker to engage creativity, imagination and joy in Bringing Speech To Life.”
–Bonnie N Raphael, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Shakespeare’s Names: A New Pronouncing Dictionary

“American and British pronunciations of every name in Shakespeare. 10,000 cross-references. Widely used in educational and professional theatre. Claim American pronunciations for speaking Shakespeare! This dictionary is an urgent plea that Shakespeare’s plays not become museum curiosities, but remain a vital part of our living language.”
–Louis Colaianni

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“A long awaited updating of pronouncing guidelines for the most prevailing dramatic texts of the western world. It is an essential resource text for the most seasoned veteran to the greenest amateur director who has any inkling of producing a Shakespeare play, not to mention every American university professor of theatre or dramatic literature. It’s a definite must for any vocal coach.”
–Krista Scott, The Voice and Speech Review

“You can really pronounce the names and places of the Bard’s plays or poems with confidence. A handy reference work.”
–Dramatics Magazine

How to Speak Shakespeare

The simple, step by step process for speaking Shakespeare clearly and eloquently. Be not afraid of the Bard! Shakespeare belongs to everyone.

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“How to Speak Shakespeare is an invaluable, entertaining and informative book. This is the most accessible and un-intimidating work on the subject I have read. It will be a of equal interest to actors, scholars and lay people.”
–Vivian Matalon, Tony Award-winning director

Mr. Colaianni and Mr. Pritner have created an important book devoted to the technique for speaking heightened texts on stage. By studying the fundamentals Colaianni and Pritner here provide, the serious actor can begin a lifelong commitment to this important, and all too often ignored, essential part of the actor’s tools.
–Marco Baricelli, Artistic Associate American Conservatory Theatre; Leading Actor, Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Voice and Speech Review: Standard Speech Journal

Essays on Voice and Speech

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