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Director / Actor Communication

Ann Frances Penistan began her teaching experience as an Alexander Technique teacher in 1986 with a background in theatre. She founded the Alexander Technique Program at the Ryerson Theatre School and was coach and advisor to the Northern Lights Dance Company, while running her own private teaching in Toronto Canada from 1986 to 1993.

In 1987 Ann became the assistant Alexander Coach with the Shaw Festival Theatre, and went on to become the head coach for the next ten seasons. In 1989 she commenced coaching for the Stratford Shakespearean Festival in Stratford, Canada and continued there each season until 1994. From 1995-2000 she gave numerous workshops with the theatre school at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta as well as coaching numerous productions with the company including Othello directed by Michael Langham starring Megan Follows.

In 1992-1993 she studied voice at the Central School of Speech and Drama for the Advanced Diploma in Voice Studies

During this time the opportunity to be the assistant director with an Alexander Technique Teacher Training program arose through David Gorman, the director for the Centre for Training in London, England. From 1993-1997 she held the position as assistant director giving Ann the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the process of learning and teaching. A new work emerged during the years of this training program and is now called LearningMethods.

In 2004 Duncan McIntosh invited Ann to come to Prince Edward Island to be part of the founding teachers wishing to develop a new Performing Arts Conservatory. She will be returning for a second year in the summer of 2005.

Her private teaching includes coaching Brent Carver in many productions, most notably through the full course of his role as Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Hal Prince in Toronto, London’s West End, and on Broadway. She also coached Colm Feore for many of his roles at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival and for his role as Glen Gould in 32 Short Films about Glen Gould, directed by Francois Girard

Ann continues to work with Theatre Companies on specific projects, as well as conducting ongoing private classes and workshops for the Performing Arts, Universities, Alexander Teachers, Voice Coaches and Equestrians, in Canada, England, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany.

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