PRESS
Below are a list of Reviews and Testimonials on Jennifer's work as an Actor & Singer and Voice & Dialect Coach. For a collection of production photographs and list of performers coached, simply visit the Gallery, and further details on some of her projects can be found in the Blog tab.
TOT MOM: Dialect Coach. Dir: Steven Soderbergh, Sydney Theatre Company
REVIEWS: PerformancesKISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN
Directed by Stephen Colyer Gaeity Theatre & Darlinghurst Theatre Company Nominated as "Best Musical", Sydney Theatre Awards * Samesame.com.au: The main characters connection to their women, for Molina his mother - played beautifully by Jennifer White, drive the story * Sydney Morning Herald: There is solid support from Jennifer White in the role of Molina's ailing mother. * North Shore Times: Jennifer White is perfect as Molina’s sorrowing mother * Australianstage.com.au: The cast is excellent, with Jennifer White as Molina’s Mother, filled with heartache * Divaknowsbest: Credit should also go to Jennifer White as Molina’s mother. Her participation in the songs “Dear One" and “You Could Never Shame Me” brought a quiet tenderness and gentle understanding to the piece, which is otherwise quite harsh, quite raw and extremely in your face. JENNIFER WHITE- TRIPPING (Cabaret): * AussieTheatre.com: ... a skilled singer and cabaret performer ... an utter delight. White is an accomplished actor and even though we haven't seen much of her work on the cabaret scene this show proves she has much to offer the genre - secure, professional, stylish and polished, one of the best cabarets I have seen for some time. ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN CABARET SHOWCASE Grand Finalist: * Sydney Morning Herald: ... the brilliantly funny Jennifer White. |
REVIEWS: CoachingTOT MOM
Directed by Steven Soderbergh Sydney Theatre Company * New York Times: flawless mannerisms and accent * Daily Telegraph (interview with director): "The cast is unbelievable, really good and their accents are better than mine," says Soderbergh. * Stagenoise.com: Mention has to be made of Jennifer White the production dialect coach. The variety and strength of the mainly Southern voices - and Nancy's extraordinary way with vowels - is a further peculiar pleasure of Tot Mom. * 3D World Magazine: The actors command an amazing range of southern accents and breathe extraordinary life and nuance into the most fleeting roles. It is triumphant work by dialect coach Jennifer White too. * Stagenoise.com (review on a classic Southern American play performed without the accents): It's not as if authentic American voices aren't possible on an Australian stage. In Charmian Gradwell we have a voice coach whose work at the Sydney Theatre Company is simply brilliant. And Jennifer White too: the varied regional and class voices in Tot Mom astonished visiting Americans ("how come you can bring in American actors?"). LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS Directed by Mark Kilmurry, Ensemble Theatre * Samesame.com.au: Jennifer White has helped develop faultless accents. You close your eyes and you believe you are in New York experiencing the various dialects you hear walking down the street. * Stagenoise.com: On the other hand, dialogue coach Jennifer White is the other star of the show: both Jamie Oxenbould and Sharon Millerchip maintain persuasive accents throughout and it's one play and style where Australianising the voices just wouldn't work. * Sun Herald: excellent New York accents. |
REVIEWS: CoachingAUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Directed by Anna D. Shapiro, Steppenwolf Theatre Company & Sydney Theatre Company * Crickey.com.au: Then down the stairs shuffled Judi Farr (understudy to Tony Award-winning actress Deanna Dunagan as Violet, the drug-addicted matriarch of the play). Under the speech altering drugs it was initially difficult to hear how she was managing a regional American accent. Her next entrance not only confirmed that she had nailed the accent BUT that she had completely pulled on the skin and inhabited the body of the best written female character in the modern American theatre canon. THE SEA PROJECT Directed by Paige Rattray Griffin Theatre Company & Arthur Productions * Crickey.com.au: Jennifer White’s voice coaching has resulted in overwhelmingly convincing accents. * Arts Hub: Meredith Penman plays Eva, a fabulously mysterious Polish woman (with an impeccable accent) ... Maciek is the villain of the piece, and Justin Cotta delivers his performance with passion (and another impeccable accent). * Samesame.com.au: Jennifer White is one damn fine voice coach – the Polish accents are flawless and at no point do the performers drop out of them. Well done Jennifer! TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE Directed by Mark Kilmurry Ensemble Theatre 2011 Australian Tour & 2009 Sydney Season * Briztix.com.au: The work of Voice and Dialect Coach extraordinaire, Jennifer White, was obvious in the accents and the occasional Yiddish uttered. SWEENEY TODD Dialect Coach to Tyran Parke as Toby - Peach Theatre Company, New Zealand * Theatrereview.org.nz: Stand-out performances are delivered by Sweeney Todd, Mrs Lovett and Tyran Parke who plays the boy Toby, Mrs Lovett’s assistant. His angelic singing in authentic Cockney accent gives his character a welcome Dickensian feel. |
TOT MOM opening night, Sydney Theatre Company. Jennifer with director Steven Soderbergh.
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CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Australian Tour
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THE SEA PROJECT. Dir: Paige Rattray, Griffin Theatre
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Testimonials - Executives
Photo: Kurt Sneddon, Blueprint Studios
SANDRA BATES Artistic Director of Ensemble Theatre:
Jennifer White has an excellent understanding not only of dialects from around the world but an enviable ability to draw excellent results from the actors she works with.
GABI OVERTON Associate Producer of TML Enterprises:
She proved to be an invaluable company member, due to her professional and friendly work ethic. Jennifer was well liked by the cast and production team as she was always dedicated, reliable and respectful.
JILL BROWN Head of Voice, School of Performance, University of Western Sydney:
Jennifer has been a valued colleague of the Performance staff and equally respected by her students. She has a depth of embodied knowledge about the performer's voice and specifically the pedagogy of accents and dialects. Jennifer is a fine teacher, skilled in practice, and perhaps most importantly she effortlessly instils a joy of learning in her workplace.
PETER COUSENS Artistic Director of Kookaburra Musical Theatre Company:
Jennifer has shown herself to be a fine dialect resource for actors, directors and producers, and her commitment and expertise is a huge benefit to the industry as a whole. She brings not only her grace and sense of humour but also the resources of an expert in accent and dialect and the sensibilities of an actor.
Jennifer White has an excellent understanding not only of dialects from around the world but an enviable ability to draw excellent results from the actors she works with.
GABI OVERTON Associate Producer of TML Enterprises:
She proved to be an invaluable company member, due to her professional and friendly work ethic. Jennifer was well liked by the cast and production team as she was always dedicated, reliable and respectful.
JILL BROWN Head of Voice, School of Performance, University of Western Sydney:
Jennifer has been a valued colleague of the Performance staff and equally respected by her students. She has a depth of embodied knowledge about the performer's voice and specifically the pedagogy of accents and dialects. Jennifer is a fine teacher, skilled in practice, and perhaps most importantly she effortlessly instils a joy of learning in her workplace.
PETER COUSENS Artistic Director of Kookaburra Musical Theatre Company:
Jennifer has shown herself to be a fine dialect resource for actors, directors and producers, and her commitment and expertise is a huge benefit to the industry as a whole. She brings not only her grace and sense of humour but also the resources of an expert in accent and dialect and the sensibilities of an actor.
Testimonials - Performers
J. EDGAR Damon Herriman & Leonardo di Caprio
DAMON HERRIMAN Coached for film J. EDGAR:
When I was cast in Clint Eastwood's film "J. Edgar" as a German who'd spent eight years in the Bronx, I knew I'd need a pretty amazing dialect coach to help me pull it off! Jennifer came highly recommended and she did not disappoint. Not only does she make you feel completely at ease, but her attention to detail; her research; her ear for accents; her ability for not only hearing but speaking accents - are all second to none. Could not have done it without her.
CAROLINE GOODALL Coached for film MENTAL:
Thank you for your help. PJ said I nailed it!! And Anthony LaPaglia asked if I came from Adelaide.
[Goodall is a UK actress known for her roles in Schindler's List, White Squall and The Princess Diaries. For Mental directed by PJ Hogan, she was coached in an Educated Australian accent. Adelaide, referred to above, is considered a well-spoken, educated, slightly British-based Australian accent]
GLENN HAZELDINE Coached for play TOT MOM:
I guess Jennifer's become my go-to person when faced with the demands of a foreign dialect. It's reassuring to have her mighty shoulders to stand on. She's sensational! We recently collaborated on a project where ten actors had to adopt 30 or so regional US dialects for an American director (Steven Soderbergh). Hers was an outstanding feat... such detail and rigour. And being a performer herself, she brings a gentle actor's sensibility to the task. I will earnestly shout her praises from the rooftop in whatever accent you choose!
ZOE VENTOURA Coached for film FATAL HONEYMOON and for TV's PACKED TO THE RAFTERS:
I found her to be a very thorough and proficient teacher with a positive and friendly manner. She not only gives clear and constructive information and feedback, but also integrates the dialect with work on the character itself, which I found to be enormously helpful.
TYRAN PARKE Coached for play MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING & musicals SWEENEY TODD and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE:
More than just a standard voice teacher, Jennifer is exceptional in both her understanding of established acting techniques and most importantly, in her ability to understand and express human behaviour. Jennifer’s attention to detail goes far beyond linguistic necessities to also inspire creative acting choices and inform character.
SARAH JANE KELLY Private student accepted into NIDA's Acting Degree:
Jennifer is a whirlpool of information. In 2010, she began coaching me in dialects (her knowledge in this field is amazing!), the business side of this industry, then helped me prepare for my NIDA and WAAPA auditions, really pin-pointing details in my monologues that would have been overlooked. I got callbacks for both and was offered a place at NIDA. Seeing her has changed my life in a way I couldn't imagine. I wish I could carry her around with me in my pocket - she is a valuable asset! I loved working with Jennifer. She is my mentor, a woman I look up to and a wonderful friend.
LINDEN WILKINSON Coached for play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Sydney Theatre Company & Steppenwolf Theatre Company):
You leave the lesson truly empowered; trusting that the ground work has been done, as you begin to embody the character and let the language flow. She is an enthusiastic and inspired teacher. I have no hesitation in recommending her. In fact, I’d be inclined to invent reasons to make an appointment.
Copyright 2013 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
When I was cast in Clint Eastwood's film "J. Edgar" as a German who'd spent eight years in the Bronx, I knew I'd need a pretty amazing dialect coach to help me pull it off! Jennifer came highly recommended and she did not disappoint. Not only does she make you feel completely at ease, but her attention to detail; her research; her ear for accents; her ability for not only hearing but speaking accents - are all second to none. Could not have done it without her.
CAROLINE GOODALL Coached for film MENTAL:
Thank you for your help. PJ said I nailed it!! And Anthony LaPaglia asked if I came from Adelaide.
[Goodall is a UK actress known for her roles in Schindler's List, White Squall and The Princess Diaries. For Mental directed by PJ Hogan, she was coached in an Educated Australian accent. Adelaide, referred to above, is considered a well-spoken, educated, slightly British-based Australian accent]
GLENN HAZELDINE Coached for play TOT MOM:
I guess Jennifer's become my go-to person when faced with the demands of a foreign dialect. It's reassuring to have her mighty shoulders to stand on. She's sensational! We recently collaborated on a project where ten actors had to adopt 30 or so regional US dialects for an American director (Steven Soderbergh). Hers was an outstanding feat... such detail and rigour. And being a performer herself, she brings a gentle actor's sensibility to the task. I will earnestly shout her praises from the rooftop in whatever accent you choose!
ZOE VENTOURA Coached for film FATAL HONEYMOON and for TV's PACKED TO THE RAFTERS:
I found her to be a very thorough and proficient teacher with a positive and friendly manner. She not only gives clear and constructive information and feedback, but also integrates the dialect with work on the character itself, which I found to be enormously helpful.
TYRAN PARKE Coached for play MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING & musicals SWEENEY TODD and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE:
More than just a standard voice teacher, Jennifer is exceptional in both her understanding of established acting techniques and most importantly, in her ability to understand and express human behaviour. Jennifer’s attention to detail goes far beyond linguistic necessities to also inspire creative acting choices and inform character.
SARAH JANE KELLY Private student accepted into NIDA's Acting Degree:
Jennifer is a whirlpool of information. In 2010, she began coaching me in dialects (her knowledge in this field is amazing!), the business side of this industry, then helped me prepare for my NIDA and WAAPA auditions, really pin-pointing details in my monologues that would have been overlooked. I got callbacks for both and was offered a place at NIDA. Seeing her has changed my life in a way I couldn't imagine. I wish I could carry her around with me in my pocket - she is a valuable asset! I loved working with Jennifer. She is my mentor, a woman I look up to and a wonderful friend.
LINDEN WILKINSON Coached for play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Sydney Theatre Company & Steppenwolf Theatre Company):
You leave the lesson truly empowered; trusting that the ground work has been done, as you begin to embody the character and let the language flow. She is an enthusiastic and inspired teacher. I have no hesitation in recommending her. In fact, I’d be inclined to invent reasons to make an appointment.
Copyright 2013 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
