In the article "A Keynote Conversation with Tré Cotten," Cotten engages in a critical discussion with Joe Hetterly about the intersection of voice, identity, and storytelling within his work as an artist and educator. Featured as part of the 2021 VASTA virtual conference, Cotten reflects on how his Southern heritage and familial influences have shaped his approach to voice and performance.
Cotten emphasizes the significance of cultural authenticity, particularly in his application of idiolects—individualized speech patterns informed by a character’s specific context—such as his work with Sam Cooke in *One Night in Miami*. He advocates for a departure from Eurocentric pedagogies, instead proposing a more inclusive approach that integrates elements of jazz, hip-hop, and Black cultural expressions into classical texts like Shakespeare.
Through this conversation, Cotten highlights the need for acting practices that honor the diverse experiences of marginalized communities, framing storytelling as both an artistic and activist endeavor. His work seeks to challenge traditional frameworks and expand the representation of underrepresented voices within the performance industry.
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