‘’Get ready, ya’ll!!! It’s. Goin’. Down. A dialect workshop featuring three prominent regional sounds for Black American dialects: LA (Compton); New York; and Atlanta. You ever wonder when you get that audition that requires an accent and think WTH do I do with this? Cuz all the materials you find feature native speakers who ain’t Black. Feel you. I too have been there. That’s where this workshop is gonna be a game changer. So come on down, and get the tools to do your best work.’’ – Alicia Richardson, workshop instructor. 

ACTRA Montreal’s DEIB committee is organizing the African American Vernacular English (AAVE) accents and dialects coaching workshop. This workshop aims to enhance the career prospects of ACTRA Montreal’s Black performers by expanding their range and authenticity in delivering Black American regional accents—both on-screen and in voice work.  

Learning objectives 

• Identify and Distinguish Regional AAVE Accents 
• Develop Authenticity in AAVE Delivery 
• Enhance Skills for On-Screen and Voiceover Roles 
• Prepare for Role-readiness in Black American Characters 

Application process 

• Submission of your most recent resume highlighting any accent/dialect training  
• Submission of a recent headshot
• A brief statement explaining why you want to take this workshop
• If not mentioned on your resume, please list here any previous training in voice (speech not singing) and dialects
• Let us know when submitting your application if there are any additional barriers to access that you would like us to know about for this workshop. This will not affect your eligibility 

Key dates  

• Saturday, October 4^th 2025 : Group 1: 09:00 to 12:30, Group 2: 13:30 to 17:00  
• Sunday, October 5^th 2025: Group 1: 09:00 to 12:30, Group 2: 11:30 to 16:00 (One hour in common with both groups)
• Deadline for participants to send their applications: Wednesday, September 15^th, 2025  

Location: ACTRA Montreal, 1450 City Councillors, #530, H3A 2E6, Montreal 

Cost: $100 

Duration: 6.5 hours  

Number of participants: 16 (two groups of 8)  

Language: English   

Admission criteria:   

• Age range: 18+   
• Proficiency in English   
• Must be an active member of ACTRA (Full member or apprentice member) 
• Self-identifies as a Black performer 

Instructor  

ALICIA RICHARDSON is an actor-writer, as well as a voice and dialect coach who graduated from York University’s MFA Acting & Diploma of Voice Teaching Programs. Her body of work spans voice-over, television, film, and theatre. As a voice & dialect coach, Alicia has worked for Soulpepper Theatre Company, The Shaw Festival, Cahoots Theatre Company, and as a member of faculty at York University, George Brown College, and Sheridan College / U of T Theatre Drama Studies Program.