Henry Higgins may have asked, "why can't the English learn to speak," but it will be an Englishman teaching Americans how to speak -- Shakespeare-style -- as Andrew Wade, Head of Voice for England's Royal Shakespeare Company, spends the week of Dec. 15-Dec. 20 coaching Twin Cities actors and prepping the Guthrie Theatre's resident company for their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, opening Feb. 2.

A native of Lincolnshire, Wade is on the board of directors of the British Voice Association and is the external examiner for the postgraduate diploma in voice studies. At the RSC, he co-directed (with Cicely Berry) the prose and poetry evenings Words Words Words (1994) and Journeys (1992).

"He is one of the most important and well-respected figures in the world in speech and voice training," Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling said of Wade. "I feel it is important for actors at the Guthrie and in the Twin Cities area to...work with someone of his caliber."

Shakespeare's woodsy romantic comedy will run at the Guthrie in repertory with Arthur Miller's comedy/drama of family discontent, The Price, Feb. 2-April 6, 1997.

For tickets and information on both shows, call (612) 377-2224. --By David Lefkowitz