CV

THOMAS L. CUNNINGHAM
Assistant Professor of Theatre, Virginia Commonwealth University
2429 Hanover Ave, APT B
Richmond VA, 23220
804-543-7121
thomaslcunningham@gmail.com
http://www.tlcunningham.com

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

  • Current Head of Voice and Speech at Virginia Commonwealth University, teaching Graduate/Undergraduate Vocal Extremes, Graduate Voice Pedagogy, Beginning Voice & Speech for the Actor, Introduction to Shakespeare, and Dialects
  • Current Faculty of Speech Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University, teaching Speech for Business Professionals
  • Ten years experience working as a Professional Actor
  • Eight years Professional University Teaching experience
  • Seven years experience as a Professional Consultant in both accent and dialect acquisition, and monologue preparation
  • Five years experience Dialect Coaching for professional theatre companies including Virginia Repertory Theatre, Richmond Shakespeare, Henley Street Theatre, Richmond Triangle Players, and Savannah Cultural Arts Theatre

EDUCATION

PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies: Media, Art, & Text; ABD
Specialization in performance studies, linguistics, and textual analysis
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011 – Present

Master of Fine Arts: Theatre Pedagogy
Specialization in voice and speech, Shakespeare, and dialect pedagogy
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011

Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a minor concentration in English
Specialization in early modern drama, medieval literature, and Shakespeare
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007

EMPLOYMENT

Virginia Commonwealth University
Head of Voice and Speech
2015 – Present

Adjunct Professor of Voice and Speech/Theatre
2013 – 2015

Assistant to the Head of Voice and Performance
2012 – 2015

Director of Public Speaking
Assistant Professor of Theatre
2008 – 2011

Henley Street Theatre/Richmond Shakespeare
Education Director
Head of Middle School and High School Programming

2014 – 2015

MASTER CLASSES AND SPECIALTY COURSEWORK

Shakespeare & Company with Dennis Krausnick
Shakespeare for the actor and for instructors, an introduction to the Shakespeare & Company method of text analysis and performance.
Richmond, VA 2010

Voice-Over Master Class with Chip Bolcik
A week long intensive in the fundamentals of vocal narration and commercial recording.
Richmond, VA, 2010

From Personal to Collective Memories with DAH Theatre
A devised theatre intensive, showcasing the DAH Theatre’s methods of collaborative creation.
Sibiu, Romania, 2012

Archetypes in Voice with Frankie Armstrong
Incorporating Jungian archetypes into character creation and exploration of voice and communication.
Herefordshire, England, 2002

AREAS OF TEACHING SPECIALIZATION

Voice and Speech
Ranging from beginning actors to graduate level techniques for a range of vocal skill including vocal health, support, diction, characterization, meter, vocal extremes, and heightened text including Shakespeare.  A strong foundation in the work of Patsy Rodenburg  and Kristen Linklater, with supplementary training from a variety of backgrounds including Knight, Laban, Colaianni, and Skinner.

Acting
Techniques in the western modern tradition for levels ranging from introductory technique to advanced scene study and audition technique.  Period styles and period technique ranging from classical, to medieval, to renaissance. Devised and postmodern styles, including archetypal theatre and forum theatre. Fundamentals in Mask and Clown technique.

Dramatic Literature
Integrating the literary experience with the theatrical to produce a more complete understanding of dramatic text.  Informing successful scholarship through contextual and analytical reading.  Areas of specialization include tragedy (genre), modernism, post-modernism, Shakespeare, medieval, and Greek/Roman theatre.

Mass Communications
Modern, post-modern, and contemporary approaches to communication theory and practice. Media and text analysis from diverse perspectives and theoretical approaches. Applications of communication theory to literary criticism and analysis, political theory, and social justice. Specializations include hypertext remediation, linguistic anthropology, and criticism.

Public Speaking
Effective speech techniques, with an emphasis on spoken word as both empowering and accessible.  Fundamentals of rhetoric, speech ethics, contemporary communications theory, audience interpretation, and linguistic coding. Application of logic and composition to both speech delivery and composition.

Theatre History
Exploring historical events, texts, and personalities as a means of illuminating social and cultural context through a variety of periods. Expanding students understanding of art as symptomatic of social content, and as a tool for cultural analysis.

Audition Technique
A thorough examination of professional audition strategy, audition as a job interview, and tactics for cold reading, monologue prep, and monologue/song selection.

Play and Text Analysis
Analysis of literary structure found in multiple historical and theatrical genres including style and aesthetic elements necessary for theatrical realization.

COURSES TAUGHT

Graduate Voice and Speech: Shakespeare Pedagogy
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2016
Assistant: 2010
A close examination of heightened text and pedagogy resources for Shakespeare as dramatic text versus literary text.

Advanced Voice and Speech: Dialects
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2007 – 2010, 2013 – 2016
Effective and practical dialect acquisition for the actor, based largely on Paul Meier’s accent and dialect pedagogy.

Speech for Business and the Professions
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2007 – 2010, 2015, 2016
Develop and practice effective speech for the business professional utilizing a variety of speech settings and situations.  Course culminates in a Mock Interview and Resume Review.

Voice and Speech II
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016
Employed Lessac and Linklater progression toward improving vocal production and speech skills.

Special Topics: Graduate/Undergraduate Vocal Extremes
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2015
Advanced voice techniques ranging from sustained screaming and extension, to Alba emoting and Laban techniques applied to breath and voice.

Advanced Voice and Speech: Shakespeare
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015
Learn basics of approaching heightened text and maintaining a truthful, connected sense of body and voice.  Application of Patsy Rodenburg’s exercises and techniques.

Voice and Speech I
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2009, 2010, 2015
Basics of body, breath, phrasing, and articulation. Self awareness and vocal health.

Virginia Theatre Association (VTA) Auditions, South-Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC), United Professional Theatre Auditions (UPTA)
Coach: 2012, 2015
Monologue and song preparation for conference auditions.

Graduate Voice and Speech: Dialect Pedagogy
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2014
Assistant: 2008, 2010
Introduction to a wide variety of pedagogical techniques and approaches to dialect study; teaching future teachers of acting, movement, and speech how to approach dialects as an integrated aspect of performance.

Acting with Archetypes
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2012
Based on the work of Janet Rodgers and Frankie Armstrong. Using Jungian Archetypes as a basis for transformative and character-driven voice and acting performance.

Acting I
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2011, 2012
Fundamental Stanislavsky-based techniques, following exercises and methods from teachers such as Uta Hagen and Sandy Meisner.

Graduate Dramatic Literature: Tragedy
Virginia Commonwealth University
Assistant: 2010
Roundtable style discussion of plays in the modern theatre canon.  Topics vary from history, social context, styles, literary devices, images, and aesthetic elements required for theatrical realization.

Effective Speech
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2008, 2009, 2010
Develop and effective speech habits for optimizing team work, hireability, and clarity of thought. Course culminates in a Mock Interview and Resume Review.

Graduate Voice and Speech: Archetypes in Voice
Virginia Commonwealth University
Assistant: 2009
Based on the work of Janet Rodgers and Frankie Armstrong. Using Jungian Archetypes as a basis for transformative and character-driven voice and acting performance.

Acting Intensive: Romeo and Juliet
Virginia Commonwealth University
Instructor: 2009
Romeo and Juliet as an introduction to Shakespeare.  Course culminated with a devised production.

Dialect Study for Bachelor’s of the Arts
Virginia Commonwealth University
Curriculum Director/Instructor: 2009
A course for non-actors, introducing technicians and managers to vocal coaching and dialect work.  

English Drama 900 – 1642
Virginia Commonwealth University
Assistant: 2008
Focusing primarily on literary and linguistic analysis of Boethius and Chaucer.

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTION

Celebrating Shakespeare at the VMFA!
Richmond VA, 2016
A teacher training workshop focused on expanding course materials and pedagogy of Shakespeare, sponsored by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Outdoor Voices for Performance
Richmond VA, 2010, 2014, 2015
A two-day intensive designed to promote vocal health, preparedness, projection, and clarity in outdoor venues.

Speech for Debate
Richmond VA, 2013 – 2015
A workshop designed for Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School’s Nationally ranked “We The People” team, to enhance effective time-limited debate tactics and body language.

Teen Shakespeare Acting Intensive
Richmond VA, 2011 – 2014
An annual week-long summer intensive workshop series focused on performing and understanding Shakespeare.  Middle School and High School level.

Introduction to Shakespeare
Richmond VA, 2011 – 2014
A week long Shakespeare program done in cooperation with Henrico High School.

Building a Relationship with your Audience
Richmond VA, 2011
A featured lecture at the Medical College of Virginia during the 19th annual WISDM Conference, focused on enhancing research and presentation skills through audience analysis.

Children’s Performance Workshop
Richmond VA, 2011
Designed for 7 – 12 year olds, focused on creating and imagining unique characters and expressing them through movement and voice.

Character Creation and Audition Technique
Richmond VA, 2011
A two week series of lectures and practicum designed to help young actors make strong physical and vocal choices, and to demonstrate those skills in an audition environment.  High School level.

The Initiate
Richmond VA, 2010
A guided performance workshop based on the work of Robert Bly and Janet Rodgers, designed to give the actor access to the experience of a young boy’s journey to adulthood.

Archetypes and Shakespeare Study
Richmond VA, 2010
An introduction to Frankie Armstrong and Janet Rodgers’ vocal archetypes as applied to the text of Shakespeare’s War of the Roses.

COACHING AND DIRECTING

Unexpected Tenderness – CAT/5th Wall Theatre
Dialect Coach
Richmond VA, 2016

Boy from Oz – Richmond Triangle Players
Dialect Coach
Richmond VA, 2015

Hamlet – Quill Theatre
Voice and Text Coach
Richmond VA, 2015

Romeo and Juliet – Henley Street Theatre/Richmond Shakespeare
Voice and Text Coach
Richmond VA, 2015

Richard III – Richmond Shakespeare Festival
Vocal and Clown Coach
Richmond VA, 2014

Oliver! – Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Dialect Coach
Richmond VA, 2014

The Tempest – Henley Street Theatre/Richmond Shakespeare
Vocal Coach
Richmond VA, 2013

Steel Magnolias – Cultural Arts Theatre
Dialect Consultant
Savannah GA, 2010

The Grapes of Wrath – Barksdale Theatre
Dialect and Vocal Coach
Richmond VA, 2010

Alive and Well – Old Globe Theatre
Dialect Consultant
San Diego CA, 2009

To Kill a Mockingbird – Cultural Arts Theatre
Dialect Consultant
Savannah GA, 2009

Copenhagen! – Shafer Alliance Theatre
Dialect Coach
Richmond VA, 2008

Bitter Sauce – Virginia Commonwealth University
Director
Richmond VA, 2007

The Annals of 1908 – Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Director
Richmond VA, 2004

ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICE

Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA)
Member
2010 – Present

Virginia Commonwealth University Title IX Review Panel
Member
2015 – Present

New Voice in the Theatre
Volunteer Reader/Manager
2004 – 2009