I need to have a spanish accent for my schools production of WSS?

Question

I'm a freshman, with no acting experience, and I auditioned for West Side Story, the school musical this spring. I am a Shark, a sophisticated young puerto rica, fighting for the American Dream, and I need to have some sort of a spanish accent for "America" and some lines. I am taking spanish I right now in my curriculum, but it doesn't help with the accent. Any useful tips? try not to pick a type of speaking that puts too much strain on the voice, as the show plays for 4 nights in a row. Thank you very much!

problem is, i live in maine. good luck finding someone who speaks the spanish. Is there any specifice vowles or anything i need to aniceiate, or anything? this may seem impossible, but let me know. Thanks!

Answer 1

If you have access to a good theatre library or bookstore, you can buy/borrow accent tapes that will teach you step-by-step. Or get 'em online--try googling Actor Accent Tapes.

Keep in mind that what you want is a Puerto Rican accent, not a Spanish accent. Or Mexican/general Latin American will also be close.

But if you only have to learn for West Side Story, why not get the movie or CD and learn from that? Chita Rivera (original broadway cast) has the most realistic accent--unfortunately, many of those "hispanic" actors, back in the 60's when the show first came out, are themselves white folks trying to do (very lame) accents.

Answer 2

It really depends on the person, some find french easier while others find spanish easier. You might want to take french since you have family from there. I'm half Puerto Rican and have family in Puerto Rico. When I was younger I only learned a few spanish words. Before starting high school I considered french but then once I started taking spanish I found it easier and am really picking up spanish fast. It seems that if u have family from the country of the language your studying,learning the language is a lot easier. Also if you need help with homework you can always ask for help from someone who already knows all the answers!

Answer 3

Did your director specifically ask you to have a Spanish accent? Unless s/he asked you to use an accent, don't do it! I have seen so many accents so horribly done, and it really ruins a show. When non professional actors (ie highschools) try to do a show with accents there are so many different accents going on in the cast that there is no continuity what so ever. Ugh.

If your director does want accents then don't try to over do it. Definitely watch the movies just to get a very basic idea of the accent. Re-write your lines phonetically and practice them that way. That will definitely help.

Answer 4

I find the best way to mimic an accent is to rent a movie with someone with a Spanish accent [in your cast West Side Story], and if they say a line, pause it and try to mimic it, keep doing this, and eventually it will sound much better. I had to get a Chicago accent down when I played Rizzo in Grease, when I first tried I sounded Scottish, but after a while I finally was able to pick it up.
Hope this helps!

Answer 5

The characters are Puerto Rican, not Spanish. If there is a Puerto Rican neighborhood near where you live, go there and listen to the accents. Take a micro-taperecorder with you to tape what you hear.

Answer 6

Rent out some movies starring Raul Julia. He was a famous Puerto Rican actor. Go to the IMDB.com and look up his films to see which are on DVD. He kept his accent pretty strong in most of his films. Try "The Morning After", "Kiss of the Spider Woman", "Romero", "Havana", & "Tequilla Sunrise" for instance.

Note: "Kiss of the Spider Woman" is very adult, set in a prison.

Answer 7

Listen to Spanish radio or go to he Libraray and list to spanish tapes.

Answer 8

Are you Chino? or Nardo!?....or another guy? lol....watch the movie.....It'll help you....it has natile wood in it.....

Try this:
MIe (long i sound) sizter(slurr the second s) iz a presouch jewel


that's a line nardo says....just try watching the movie...you'll get it....practice makes perfect....

Answer 9

try and be around people that actually SPEAK, and live the language, and not a teacher. He/She might know that language, but that person doesn't live through that language!