• Mimi Seton received her BA in Theatre Arts with a special focus on Acting from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio.
• She graduated from the Drama Studio, London, with honors in Acting.
• She began her career as an actress-singer at Berkeley Repertory and has acted /sung in Theatre, TV, Film, Voice-Over, bands and music recordings. See under “Resume” for a selection of her performances.
• Mimi’s first passion has always been to explore the capacities of the human voice as a vocalist, composer and healer. Her twin passion is to mentor others interested in any aspect of “voice work”.
• Since 1980, she has worked as a writer-composer and director of original Theatre-Music events, garnering many press awards for her creations.
• She has performed in and directed over 2000 voice-overs including commercials, animated TV, film narrations, educational tapes, etc.
• From 2003-5 she did graduate work in the MA in Counseling Psychology program at Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, and in the PhD in Integrated Healing program at Barron University, Los Angeles.
• She is licensed in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), a short-term “solutions-based” therapeutic process that works with the human nervous system to heal trauma, shift negative beliefs, conquer phobias, etc.
• For over 20 years, she has taught Acting, Public Speaking and Singing to professionals and lay people in universities, theatres, schools, businesses, prisons, community centers, retirement homes and government organizations.
• Seton devised her own system of voice training using techniques she has studied from Performing Arts, Martial Arts and Healing Arts.
  

The Goal? Lively, Charismatic, Clear Communication

We help students learn to communicate clearly and elegantly
by mentoring the growth of their Mind-Body Awareness
and Integrity. In Psychology, this could be called: CONGRUENCE.

What is CONGRUENCE?

The speaker/singer’s body, heart, mind and soul WORK TOGETHER HARMONIOUSLY to create a clear message to the listener, rather than ‘arguing’ with each other in such a way that the audience receives conflicting or muddied messages, looses interest, and disengages from the speech or singing performance.

Expressing oneself with CONGRUENCE is trust-worthy.
AUTHENTIC.

Being a more effective communicator, whether pro or amateur, is a by-product of TWO AREAS:

1. Solid vocal technique

2. Psychological authenticity

Who are our students?

• Professional and amateur actors and singers
• Members of the community interested in developing freer voices for the joy of it
• for work (e.g. for business presentations, political speech-making, etc)
• for ‘human development’ purposes, such as increasing confidence and authority

 

What are the benefits of Voice Made Visible training?

• healthier posture and breathing
• clearer use of gesture (especially the hands)
• increased awareness of spinal alignment
• greater sense of direction and space relationships
• increased awareness of the eyes
• greater vocal resonance
• crisper articulation
• increased confidence
• bolder freedom of expression
• sharpened sensitivity to the sound and meaning of words
• increased sensuality and pleasure in vocalizing
• greater awareness of subtext: how to find it, how to create it
• awareness and governance of the Small Self (Ego)
• learning to invite The Large Self (Soul) into your creative life
• greater rhythmic skill
• deeper commitment to personal excellence
• increased ability to concentrate
• letting go of The Internal Judge or Critic
• unblocking other self-defeating beliefs
• learning self-supporting syntax for healthier “self-talk”
• stress management
• stimulating the intuition through working with Images
• increased joy as personal creativity is activated
• greater flexibility working with others in a group

 

CLASS SHOWS:
Every class culminates in at least one class show in a theatre or cabaret club, as performing in public is the ‘acid test’ of the efficacy of the VMV process.

Los Angeles Venues have included: The Ivy Substation, Odyssey Theatre, Gardenia Club, Piano Factory Outlet, Space At Fountain’s End and The Studio Stage Theatre

MUSICIANS FOR VOICE MADE VISIBLE:
Mimi is honored to have had a number of top musicians accompany her students
for classes and for their student shows. These include:

MB Gordy, drummer with The Doobie Brothers, Rita Coolidge Groups, etc.
Matt Gordy, drummer with Aretha Franklin, Harry Connick Jr. Boston Pops, etc.
Nick Fryman, pianist for the Ann Margaret band
Chazz Frichtel, bass guitarist with Michael McDonald, Chuck Mangionne,
Christopher Cross, etc.
Louis Durra, Louis Durra Trio
Rich Eames, Rich Eames Trio
Peggy Baldwin, Cellist with Stevie Wonder, LA Philharmonic, etc

Conclusion:

VOICE MADE VISIBLE uses the study and practice of speech and singing to not only to increase vocal skill but also to help students emerge as freer, more authentic human beings.

 

Mimi Seton's selected Resumes:

SELECTED Original Plays with Music & Music Commissions:

THE ABDUCTION OF LADY WEN CHI (2003). A staged reading - with - music (10 singers, violin, cello, percussion)/ The Japanese American National Museum special events series. Featuring Jennifer Paz, star of Miss Saigon, in the title role.

Slated to premier at La Mama ETC in New York City, Oct. ’08.

GOOD PERSON OF SEZUAN (2000). Samuel Beckett Center, Dublin. Directed by Lilly Susan Todd. Music commission.
BODY WITHOUT BONES (1999). A dark comedy on women and aging, Oscar Wilde House, Dublin. Featuring members of the Marcel Marceau Company.
The TROJAN WOMEN (1997). Commissioned to adapt the Jean Paul Sartre text into ‘pop-gospel’ style lyrics and compose music for the vocalists. Starring Mariette Hartley and Angela Paton.
BLUE CORRIDOR (1993). The Los Angeles Playwright’s Arena, produced by Jon Rivera.
SEE BELOW MIDDLE SEA (1987). Mark Taper Forum’s Taper, Too. Starring B.D. Wong. A multi-media piece uniting non-verbal ‘legit singing’, photography, and modern dance to look at the issue of sound pollution.
SIR VIVAL’S SWEEPSTAKES (1986). Mark Taper Forum. A musical theatre show originated with the Jacques D’Amboise Dance Program. Segment writer-director-composer working with 120 children performing in a cast lead by John Ritter.
SUPPERMAN (1985). The Los Angeles Museum of Science and Industry. A high-velocity performance for children, on the subject of nutrition.
SCHOOL TALK (1982). Mark Taper Forum’s Improvisational Theatre Project.
An original musical theatre work devised with fellow cast members, including Forest Whitaker and Michael Arabian.
WAZO WAZO (1984). LA Theatre Works. A non-verbal opera. Accompanied by Don Preston, synthesizer player for Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention.
BRAIN HOTEL (1980-83). The Odyssey Theatre; Cast Theatre (2 years); The Olympic Arts Festival; The House Dance Studio.

AWARDS and GRANTS:

California Arts Council grants for Artists in Social Institutions
Rockefeller Grant for Music Composition
Best Acting, Ghosts, LA Weekly
Best Acting, Ghosts, Drama-Logue
Best Music, Blue Corridor, Drama-Logue
Best Adaptation, Trojan Women, LA Ovation Award nominee
Best Music, Wazo Wazo, LA Weekly
Best Writing, Brain Hotel, LA Weekly
Best Writing, Brain Hotel, Drama-Logue
Best Acting, Brain Hotel, LA Weekly
Best Acting, Brain Hotel, Drama-Logue
NEW DIRECTIONS IN THEATRE AWARD, Brain Hotel, LA Weekly
Best Acting, Comedy Of Errors, San Francisco Chronicle

SELECTED Teacher Resume:

Voice Made Visible, Culver City, 2000-2007
UCLA Extension, 2004-7
Studio Group Theatre (workshops) 2006
Lee Strassberg Studios (sub. Dialects coach) 2002
Trinity College Dublin BA in Theatre program (1997-2000)
University College Dublin Masters in Theatre program (1998)
Dublin School of Acting (1997-2000)
The Arts Initiative of Dundalk, Northern Ireland (1997-2000)
The Allihies Language Center, Co. Cork, Ireland (1993, 1997)
The University of Paris, France (1990-93)
The Creative Acting Co., NYC (1994-97)
Stages Tri-lingual Theatre (1986)
Mark Taper Forum’s Improvisational Theatre Project (1982-5)

SELECTED Voice-over Resume:

Commercials & Industrials:
American Airlines
Dior
Air France
Orlane
Aer Lingus
Ponds
Aercel
Pink Phone
Printemps
Bank of France
Simpson Timber
Clorox
Starburst Ice Cream
Culligan’s Water
Guiness Beer
Toyota
Jane Fonda’s Workout
Universal Studio Tours
Lancome
Louis Vuitton Luggage
Mc Donnell’s Soup
Warner Music
Maybelline
Mars Candies
Renault
Datsun

Television:
Tracy Ullman Show, Real People, Silver Spoons

Animation:
Guest roles for: Disney, Dic, Hanna Barbera, Teletotta,
Disney France, France Animation, etc. including: Smurfs, Hank the Hound Dog, Yogi Bear. Viki the Viking, Kimbo

TITLE ROLES in Animated TV:
Viki the Viking; Kimbo (Paris)

Animation Directing:
Norman Normal, Flipper & Lopaka (Ireland)
TV Station Announcing:
The Playboy Channel

Radio Interviewer:
Before the News, KPFA (Berkeley, Calif.)

DUBBING (Paris, France):
Catherine Deneuve, Marie Christine Barrault, etc. For such directors as Roger Andrieux and Wim Wenders.

Public Service Announcing:
Bay Area Water Conservation, Bay Area Planned Parenthood,
Doctors Without Borders, etc.

Guide Tracks:
John Stevenson’s “Animal Farm” (for Helen Hunt’s role) and Wendy Apple’s “The Final Cut” (for Kathy Bates’ narration)

SINGER-ACTRESS Shows:

BERKELEY REPERTORY: Comedy of Errors (The Courtesan), Charlie’s Aunt (Kitty), Petrified Forest, Dracula A Musical Nightmare, The Misanthrope
BERKELEY STAGE CO: Nightclub (Bubi), Dream Gumbo (Lead), Good Person of Sezuan (God #1)
NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE CO: Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), The Tempest (Ariel), Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice)
EPIC WEST: Calendar Tales (Yvette from Mother Courage), Messingkauf Dialogues (The Galileo Ballad singer), dir. R.G. Davis (SF Mime Troupe) and Carl Weber (Berliner Ensemble)
CINCINATTI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: The Imaginary Invalid (Beline)
CAFÉ LA MAMA: Ad Hoc Roc Band. Singer with Shelley Hirsch, and drummer, David Van Tiegham
MARK TAPER FORUM IMPROVISATIONAL THEATRE PROJECT ~ 2 years
Actress-singer, songwriter. Dirs: Jack Bender (The Sopranos) & Peter Brocius, with Forest Whitaker, Soccoro Valdez, etc.
NATIONAL TOUR: The Odd Couple, starring Sherman Helmsley (Cecily)
BRU HA HA IMPROV CO.: Company member, dir. Viola Spolin
BURBAGE THEATRE L.A.: Ghosts by John O’Keefe
CAST THEATRE & OLYMPIC ARTS FESTIVAL: Brain Hotel (writer-performer, played the role of the Soul)
MARK TAPER FORUM: Green Card, dir. Joanne Akalaitis
THEATRE GREVIN, Paris: The Geography of Yearning (Fanny)
NATIONAL TOUR: VOICES by Susan Griffin (Erin)
FESTIVALE DU THEATRE ANGLOPHONE, Paris The Fever (solo piece by Wallace Shawn)
LAUDERDALE HOUSE, London, The Fever
CENTER FOR THE VICTIMS OF POLITICAL TORTURE, London, The Fever
THEATRE TOUR TOUR, Paris: Private Lives (Amanda)
THE GOLDEN NUGGET SHOW, (originated musical role of Diamond Lil) Disney France (for presentation to Michael Eisner).

THEATRE Director:

ESPACE DOUZE, PARIS, Frankie and Johnny at the Claire de Lune, Director
LES MECHANIQUES D’IMPRECISIONS, University of Paris, 3 years, Director
TRINITY COLLEGE SHOWCASE AT THE ABBEY THEATRE Dublin, 2 years, co-directed monologues, and music directed all songs as well as accompanying the shows on acoustic and electric pianos.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE, Allihies Language Center, Co. Cork Ireland

Education Details:

Graduate work in Couseling Psychology, Pacific Graduate Institute
Grad work in Integrated Healing: Barron University PhD program
BA Theatre Arts, Antioch College, Ohio
Acting Diploma (with Honors), The Drama Studio, London
Music Theory Levels 1-3, Dick Grove School of Jazz, LA
South Indian Singing, The New School, NYC
Dance workshops with Rudolph Nureyev, Boston
Singing: Seth Riggs, LA; Lillian Loran, Berkeley (leider)
The History of Jazz, The New School, NYC
Acting: Paul Richards, Berkeley
Voice and Feldenkreiss: Francois Combeau workshop, Dublin
Buttho Dance workshop, Dublin
Ear training and therapy: Centre Tomatis, Paris
Audition Technique: Rosemarie Tischler, Public Theatre, NYC
Playwriting: Marie Irene Fornes, NYC
BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, NYC
Energy Healing, France Blanchet, Paris
Massage, Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing, LA
Animation voicing: Susan Blue, Andrea Romano, Michael Bell, LA