Tovah Close

Tovah Close is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Drama at the University of Virginia (College of Arts and Sciences). As a theater artist and educator, she specializes in acting, voice, and embodied presence, integrating breath work, vocal presence, dialects, and student-centered pedagogical approaches into her teaching. Her practice emphasizes collaboration, rigor, and joy in cultivating both artistic and personal growth.

• Education:
  • MFA in Acting from American Conservatory Theater
  • BFA in Theater from UC Santa Barbara

Her research interests span voice and speech training, acting techniques, and community-driven educational methodologies. She has presented workshops at institutions including the University of Alabama, NYU Tisch School of Arts, A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory, and UVA's Darden School of Business. Her professional work includes vocal coaching for theater, film, television, and audiobook narration, with credits in productions at the American Shakespeare Center, Virginia Theatre Festival, and 59E59.

Tovah is certified in Knight-Thompson Speechwork and affiliated with the Voice and Speech Trainers Association and the National Alliance of Acting Teachers. Her acting roles include Heidi in What the Constitution Means to Me, Mary in A.C.T.’s A Christmas Carol, and Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest.