Barney Hammond, Drama Emeritus faculty, has passed

Dear UNCSA Community, 

I am saddened to share that School of Drama Emeritus Faculty member Barney Hammond passed away earlier this month, on April 10, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem. He was 80.

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Barney was a highly distinguished and internationally recognized voice, speech, acting and Shakespeare text specialist. He served on the UNCSA School of Drama faculty from 1988 to 2001, when he was named the founding director of voice in the M.F.A. acting program at the University of Texas, Austin, where he served until 2016.

Professionally, Barney coached more than 50 productions at the Canadian Stratford Shakespeare Festival, as well as at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario; Shakespeare Theatre of Washington, D.C.; San Diego’s Old Globe; the John Houseman Acting Company; the Alley Theatre in Houston; and many other notable theater companies.

He received his undergraduate training at Carnegie Mellon University, his master’s in directing at the University of Houston, and did postgraduate studies in voice at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

Barney was beloved by his students. What follows are just some of the many tributes I have received.

Alumnus J.T. Rogers, a Tony Award-winning playwright, wrote: "Barney Hammond was one of my true mentors at School of the Arts, teaching me so much about the theater and being an artist. I use the tools he gave me daily in my life and my career.”

Tony-nominated actress and alumna Lauren Ward wrote: “Barney was kind, thoughtful and full of enthusiasm for his students and their discoveries. He gave practical techniques to understand and break down a text so that you could then connect what you were saying to the mind, the body and the voice and ultimately unlock the soul of the character within yourself. He … helped me grow into who I am today as a performer and a person.”

Alumnus Jeremy Webb, who is presently starring in the national tour of “Girl from the North Country,” wrote: “Barney demystified voice work and provided a space for the actor to think about acting as an extension of voice and vice versa. Central to Barney's teaching was his warm-up, a warm-up I have used a version of for 30 years now.”

Michael Abbott Jr., who was recently seen in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” wrote: “Barney Hammond’s passionate approach to teaching speech and voice was absolutely unparalleled. His unwavering commitment to the artist’s craft was in a class of its own. … I can unequivocally say that Barney Hammond’s love and support for his former students never faltered.”

To read more about Barney’s life, please see his obituary.

Per his wishes, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to celebrate Barney Hammond’s life and career may consider donating in his name to the School of Drama, UNCSA, in care of the UNCSA Office of Advancement, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27127, telephone 336-770-3330.

Sincerely,

Brian Cole 
Chancellor