Rebecca Bonar

Texas and most of the South (I can add an extra syllable to anything) Minnesota (dontcha know) British posh (that indefinable "Mid Atlantic") Working class Northern Brit/Scottish (my true roots) Plain ole me. (Well, no -- never plain)

My vo life began with my life as an improv actor -- starting back in Houston with The Comedy Workshop, headed by the founders of Dudley Riggs' Brave New Workshop. When I moved to LA, I answered a blind ad in The Hollywood Reporter, and went to work for Dick Orkin and his Famous Radio Ranch. At the same time, I began my association with The Groundlings, first as a student, then a full company member, and ultimately as their President. My landing a job with Dick Orkin led to a simultaneous career as a radio spot writer and producer, for which I have won a bunch of cool trophies and done some work I'm really proud of. My time in comedy landed me countless jobs. Some of my favorites include: Wanda (of Fred and Wanda, spokescouple for Southern Cal Gas Co) Becky & Jane for Safeway (a three-year campaign with the incredibly wonderful Jane Lynch as my cohort) The voice of Cleopatra at Caesar's Palace My training has mostly been on-the-job I fell in with a gang of actors who did voiceovers, and they kinda dragged me along. When it comes to workshops, mostly, I teach. I have an English degree from Rice University. I did as much theatre as I could cram into my 20's, and then headed to Tinsel Town. I was part of a professional improv company while still in Houston, where I learned my basics (including a short course with Del Close) and once out in LA, I was the first person to go from the Groundlings School to the new Sunday Company and into the full performing company. I have worked off and on as a professional radio producer since 1984, including running my own company, doing a freelance stint as the radio promo producer for the WB (CW?) and now I work as a booth director for WMEE, my vo agency. I have access to a number of studios, and can easily do auditions and sessions from my home (my musician husband is my engineer; he runs pro tools and we have a Shure KSM32 mic). I can access, for a very reasonable fee, an isdn line in a state of the art studio. I have won numerous industry awards as a writer and producer of radio spots, both as a free-lancer and while on staff at The Famous Radio Ranch. Two radio drama series spoofs I produced while partnered with Jerry Houser (we also are featured in them) are part of the permanent collection in the Museum of Radio and Television. I have a keen ear for editing, and I am really good at directing talent. I am especially good at creating sfx and finding music. However, if I'm an actor hired for a spot, I am strictly an actor. I definitely play well with others. Basically, I love all things aural. And I'm pretty darn good at them.