Gregory Hoffman has been teaching and directing in Universities, Dramatic Conservatories, and Theaters in Europe, Asia, and the United States since 1984. After studying Anthropology, Fine Arts and Theatre at Stanford University, with further studies of Movement Arts in New York City, and studies of Classical Theatre in London, Gregory has worked as a Theatrical Producer, Director, Fight Director, Movement Coach, Theatrical Combat Instructor, and now Independent Filmmaker. He is the winner of numerous awards and has earned over 200 theatre credits in the last 10 years alone. He has extensive training in Martial Arts and Dance and is also an instructor of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Laban-Bartenieff Movement Studies. A Founding, and Honorary Member of the Nordic Stage Fight Society, and for 15 years a Recognized Fight Director and Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors, Gregory was the Resident Fight Director and Instructor at The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco for 10 years. In 1991, with noted Sword Master, Mike Loades, Gregory co-directed, the feature length educational video, “Blow By Blow Guide to Swordfighting 'In a Renaissance Style'. In 2005 he thru released thru Dueling Arts Videos, “And They Fight”, a 23 hour comprehensive Instructional DVD Series on Theatrical Swordfighting covering Medieval Broadsword, Rapier and Dagger of The Renaissance, Transitional Single Rapier, and The Smallsword of The Restoration, which he wrote, produced and directed. In January of 2006, Gregory released his first independent feature film “Upside Out” featuring Olympia Dukakis and is now currently in post-production on another educational DVD covering Theatrical Techniques of The Quarterstaff. In addition to his ongoing work with Dueling Arts International and Dueling Arts Entertainment, he recently founded an independent film company focused on developing and producing period style action films.

Tiza Garland is currently an Assistant Professor of Theatre at the University of Florida. Prior to moving to Florida Tiza taught movement and acting courses at the University of Alabama as well as stage combat and movement at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, University of Miami, Florida, and Barry University. Tiza has also taught various movement and stage combat workshops at universities across the country including; Trinity University in Texas, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Georgia College and State University, Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. In addition she has also taught at many state theatre conferences and at the Southeastern Theatre Conference.

A classically trained actor, Tiza earned her MFA in Theatre at Virginia Commonwealth University. She continues to supplement her work as an actor and teacher by pursuing training in Grotowski based work, Meyerhold's Biomechanics with Ganadi Bogdanov, and presently Laban-Bartenieff Movement Studies in New York. Tiza has also trained with the United Stuntmen's Association in Seattle, Washington, and experimented with aerial techniques with Frequent Flyers in Boulder, CO.

Michael Jerome Johnson is a recognized Senior Instructor with Dueling Arts International as well as a Fight Director and Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD). He has been active in stage combat as an actor, teacher and/or fight director since 1974. Michael began more formal training in stage combat in 1976 as a student at the North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA), choreographing fights for his first show a year later at NCSA. After graduating in 1980, Michael continued to perform in, teach and choreograph fights, eventually meeting and training extensively under SAFD Certified Teacher, Brad Waller in 1989. In addition to his work in stage combat Michael has also trained extensively in the martial arts – especially Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino Martial Arts – which influence both his personal style, and also his perspective on teaching, creating and performing staged violence, and the related consequences thereof.

Michaels teaching credits include the Maryland Opera Studio at the University of Maryland, College Park since 1997, creating and teaching the stage combat program at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts from 1992 – 2003, and AMDA – NY from 2004 – 2006, as well as many other regional and national stage combat training workshops. He has also been a guest instructor at many university and conservatory acting programs across the country. As a Fight Director Michael has directed fights for well over 100 productions for theatre companies, universities and conservatories, and independent films, and he is a full partner with Fights 4, one of NYC’s premier stage combat organizations, and host of the Summer Sling training workshop in New York.

Peppe Ostensson: Born and currently living in Sweden Peppe has worked as a teacher, actor and fight director for theatre, television and film throughout Scandinavia including The National Theatre in Norway and Malmöbaletten in Sweden. The founder the Nordic Stage Fight Society (FSFS), Peppe was also chairman of the NSFS from 1995- 97 and again from 2003 thru 2005. He was also Artistic Director for International Order of the Sword and Pen (IOSP) since 2001. In addition to creating and founding the International Nordic Stage Fight Summer program in 1992, he has taught at a number of stage fight workshops in Estonia, Canada and USA, and is an Honorary Fight Master by Fight Directors Canada.

Edward "Ted" Sharon Is Recognized as a Senior Instructor with Dueling Arts International, and a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. Ted, holds an M.F.A. in voice and movement from Boston University School for the Arts and has served on the voice staff at the American Repertory Theatre and Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. Ted has worked internationally as an actor and fight director and currently teaches voice, movement, theatrical combat and scene study in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the State University of New York in FREDONIA. His work as a fight director has been seen at the California Shakespeare Festival, the Boston Lyric Opera, the Chautauqua Conservatory Theatre Company of New York, the Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and internationally in Taiwan R.O.C. and in mainland China. Ted has also taught theatrical combat for Boston University, Harvard University, M.I.T., the Rocky Mountain Theatre Association and Brigham Young University. Ted is a featured player in Dueling Arts International Video Training Series on Theatrical Swordfighting, "And They Fight."

D.C. Wright. A Senior Instructor with Dueling Arts International and a Certified Teacher with the SAFD D.C. is currently the Head of Movement and Stage Combat at Western Illinois University. D.C. has been very active in teaching at national, regional, and local stage combat workshops including the DAI Winter Workshop, DAI Teachers Symposium, DAI Fight Director and Performance Workshops, the SAFD National Stage Combat Workshop in Las Vegas, the SAFD Winter Wonderland Workshop in Chicago, the Rumble in the Rockies in Denver, the Stage Combat Training Workshop in Eureka, IL and the United Stuntmen’s Association’s International Stunt School in Seattle

D.C’s work as a Fight Director has been viewed at numerous venues around the country including: the Off Broadway production of The Blowin of Baile Gall at the Donaghy Theatre at the Irish Arts Center, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, and Henry VIII at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and Of Mice and Men and Romeo and Juliet for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Additionally his work has been seen at the Boston Playwrights Theater, Boston Musica Viva, Boston University Theater, Boston University Opera Institute, Tuachan, Actor’s Repertory Theater Ensemble, Brigham Young University, University of Kansas, University of Utah and Western Illinois University. In addition, In conjunction with Dueling Arts International, D.C, wrote, directed and/or performed in three Wild West Stunt Shows for Leo Foo amusement park in Taiwan and he has also acted in and/or been the stunt coordinator/fight director for several commercials and industrial films. Most notable is the recently released DAI production called “And They Fight…”, a 23 hr. six volume stage combat instructional series covering all major weapon styles in which he is a primary demonstrator.

D.C.’s biggest success by far is his family, which will be growing by one come May ‘06!

Aaron Anderson is currently Assistant Professor of Movement and Voice at Virginia Commonwealth University. He holds an MFA in Acting and Asian Theatre from The University of Hawaii at Manoa and an Interdisciplinary PhD in Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University. He is internationally certified as a Teacher of Stage Combat by the Society of American Fight Directors, the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat, and Dueling Arts International. He has worked professionally as an actor and stuntman in Honolulu and Chicago, taught Theories of the Theatre at the University of Illinois, and taught movement, voice, and acting at numerous theatres and universities: including The Banff Center for the Performing Arts, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Northwestern University, The University of Hawaii, and both the Italia Conti School for the Performing Arts and the City Literary Institute in London.

Sean Boyd: He has been teaching martial arts and theatrical combat for over 20 years and has worked with Dueling Arts International since January 2000. Sean currently serves as Assistant Professor of Movement and Acting at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he teaches Stage Combat and Michael Lugering’s Expressive Actor Voice and Movement Technique. Sean has created fights for The Sacramento Music Circus, Nevada Conservatory Theatre, Cockroach Theatre and Genesis Shakespeare Festival; as well as a number of Universities and Independent Films. His recent credits include the National Tour of “Camelot” with Michael York. Sean can also be seen in the stage combat instructional video series: And They Fight, He holds a MFA in Acting from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and a member of Actor’s Equity.

Jill Matarelli Carlson is an Assistant Professor at East Carolina University where she teaches Movement, Stage Combat, and Acting. She is thrilled to be Recognized as Full Instructor with Dueling Arts International. Jill is also a Certified Teacher and Advanced/Actor Combatant with The Society of American Fight Directors, recognized in: Unarmed, Rapier & Dagger, Broadsword, Quarterstaff, Single Sword, Smallsword, Sword & Shield, and Knife. She has worked as an Entertainment Cast Member for Walt Disney World and co-founded The Odyssey Express Touring Theatre Company, whose goal was to bring quality theatre experiences to children in the Chicago-land area. Jill has worked professionally all over the United States as both an actor and fight choreographer. Most recently she staged the violence for the world premiers of Chalk in Chicago and The Gray Ghost in Virginia. Jill received an MFA in Acting with a Movement Concentration from Western Illinois University. Favorite roles include: Mama Morton in Chicago; Antigone in Antigone; Mrs. Walker in Tommy; Amy in Company; Lindsay in Some Girl(s); Tigerlily in Peter Pan; The Herald in Marat/Sade; Jill in A Tribute to Shel; Cinderella in Cindy’s Fella; Jan in The Jackie Sexknife Show; and Katya in Wenceslas Square. Jill lives in Greenville, NC with her husband, John.

Christopher DuVall, currently an AEA Acting Company member at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Chris has also worked extensively as a fight director, assistant fight director, fight consultant, fight captain, and stage combat instructor at a variety of theatres, conservatories, high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the west. Additionally, Chris has served as a university adjunct and guest instructor of acting, voice/speech, and movement for the actor. Representative credits as a fight director have included productions of Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Oleanna, Private Lives, Richard III, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, The Birds, Henry V, Tom Jones, Interrogation of Nathan Hale, and A Midsummer Night's Dream at such regional theatres and universities as South Coast Repertory, Utah Shakespeare Festival School Tour, Oregon Shakespeare Festival School Tour, Shakespeare Orange County, Laguna Playhouse, Long Beach Playhouse, Pomona College, El Camino College, California Institute of Technology, Southern Oregon University, Southern Utah University, Irvine Valley College, Whittier College, and Chapman College, among others. Chris has trained with Dueling Arts International, Society of American Fight Directors, Academy of Theatrical Combat, and the International Order of the Sword and Pen. He holds a BA in Theatre Arts from California State University Fullerton, an MFA in Acting from the University of California Irvine, and continues to pursue training in Alexander and Feldenkaris Techniques. He is an active student of Aikido and holds the rank of 1st degree blackbelt.

Erik Heger has been working with Dueling Arts International since 1995, and has taught, fought, directed, and choreographed theatrical combat for stage and film throughout the U.S. as well as Taiwan and Denmark and has received numerous awards and distinction for his work as a performer, director, and choreographer. Erik holds a B.A. in Drama and a B.A. in Religion from Colorado College, as well as an M.F.A. in acting from American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Erik currently resides in New York working as an actor with over 40 credits in theater, film, and television.

Michelle Ladd has a MFA from University of Alabama in acting, and is recognized as a Certified Teacher of Stage combat by The Society of American Fight Directors and Dueling Arts International. With over 20 years training in ballet she is a member of SAG and the United Stuntmen's Association. Currently living in Los Angeles Michelle has worked in Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States as a Teacher, Director, Actor and Stuntwoman. She is featured in the soon to be released 27 hour comprehensive Instructional Training Video Tape Series on Theatrical Swordfighting produced by Dueling Arts Intl., and she just completed 6 months work in New Zealand as a consultant for, ‘Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’.

Nicolas Logue was born in North Carolina but soon abandoned Dixie for the balmy clime of Buffalo, where he received two B.A.s from the State University of New York at Buffalo in Theatre and Chinese Studies. His interest in all things Chinese took Nick to Beijing on a Fulbright grant after graduation where he studied Jingju and martial arts while teaching western acting technique at the Central Academy for Drama. After receiving a grant extension, Nicolas spent another year in Beijing producing, co-writing and directing plays and working on projects involving students at the Chinese Academy of Traditional Opera and the Central Academy for Drama. With the grant money gone and nowhere to turn but grad school, Nick found himself at the University of Hawaii teaching acting classes, translating for visiting Chinese teachers of Jingju, immersing himself in the Randai and Silat of Western Sumatra and laughing his way through Kyogen training with Akira Shigeyama. In the meantime he supports himself by writing adventures for Dungeons and Dragons. He will complete his M.F.A. in Asian Theatre in spring of 2006.

Tony Pisculli is Hawaii's premiere fight director. He has been teaching and directing stage combat in Hawaii for over seven years and has worked at every major theatre on Oahu. He currently teaches stage combat at the Mid-Pacific School of the Arts and teaches annual workshops at UH Manoa and Leeward Community College. He holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and directs and produces theatre locally. He serves on the boards of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth (vice-president) and the Lizard Loft (President) and is the producer and co-founder of the Hawaii Summer Shakespeare Festival.

Karl Ramsey has had a long association with Dueling Arts International, having taught for Dueling Arts throughout the San Francisco Bay Area as well at National Combat and Professional Training Programs throughout the country. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado and the San Francisco based Bennett Theatre Lab three year professional training program, and has a broad and inclusive training in improvisational theatre. Currently based in Los Angeles where he works as an actor, fight director and theatrical fight instructor, he has received distinguished recognition for his work. Karl has directed and acted in fights for theater and film alike, and as a member of the Actor’s Equity Association (AEA), his credits also include work in theatre, commercial, voice-over and film alike. Upcoming features include find Karl playing Romeo in an Dueling Arts Instructional Training Video Series on Theatrical Swordfighting, and the lead role of Otto, in a Straw Hat Production independent feature film “Wrong Time, Rite Spot”.

Glen Wall has been working with Dueling Arts International since 2000 and has attended and taught at numerous DAI workshops including; the annual DAI Winter Workshops in Las Vegas, NV, his alma mater Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, and Armed in Alaska I & II, in his home town of Anchorage, AK. As a Fight Director Glen has directed fights for a number of theatres across the country including; the Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake, NY, the Mermaid Players in Carlisle, PA, the Three Baron’s Renaissance Faire in Anchorage, AK, and for a number of other theatres in Anchorage Area including the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Theatre for Young People. Glen has a B.S. in physics from Dickinson College and currently resides in Anchorage Alaska where he works as an actor, teacher, and bartender.

Associate Instructors:

Erik Van Beuzekom, an Associate Instructor with Dueling Arts International, is classically trained actor who is currently working as the Artistic Director of The Paradise Theatre School in rural Washington State. A leading educational and cultural force in the Pacific Northwest the school offers classes in stage combat, acting, directing and playwriting. Encouraging discipline and theatrical risk – taking in students, the theatre produces both new plays and adaptations of the highest quality addressing the problems and also the possibilities of our time.

Having received his BFA in theatre from Chapman University in Southern California, Erik co – found theatre companies in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. While living in San Francisco he also worked as the teaching assistant with Gregory Hoffman for classes held on the campus of Stanford University, University of Hawaii and also classes taught in the city San Francisco.

Most recently Erik directed the fights for Romeo & Juliet, Spit Fire Grill, A View From a Bridge, and The Distance From Here.

Michael Burns is a working actor, director, combat choreographer, and educator. His credits include productions at theaters in London, South Korea, New York City and throughout the United States. Currently an assistant professor at Eastern Connecticut State University where he teaches acting, children’s theatre, and stage combat Michael is a Fulbright research grantee researching Asian and children’s Theatre and was a member of the famed Mokwha Repertory Theatre in South Korea.

Tiffany Burris' first thrust into the world of stage combat in 1996 and has been training and working with Dueling Arts International ever since assisting and teaching at numerous national workshops in Las Vegas and in Hawaii. Now working as a Fight Director, Teacher and Actor Tiffany has worked both on stage and in film. Having received a BA in Theatre from UNLV, which apparently stands for U Never Leave Vegas as she still lives there, Tiffany currently works for Cirque du Soleil's “Ka” at the MGM Grand in the Props and Puppetry department where one of her myriad of duties includes building and repairing Wushu weapons for the show. Tiffany also works as a writer, producer, director and performer for the Wasteland Comedy Troupe, aka The Hanging Jester in the renaissance faire realm. Being a kind of "Jack of all theatrical trades" Tiffany worked in a variety of capacities on "And They Fight", a Dueling Arts International video training series on theatrical sword fighting and "Upside Out", a Straw Hat Productions Independent Film. "Stage Combat makes me feel tall” she says, “in more ways than one".

Joe Chapa is recognized as an Associate Instructor with Dueling Arts International teaching the disciplines of Unarmed , Broadsword, Single Rapier, Rapier and Dagger, Smallsword and Quarterstaff. Joe holds a B.A in Television Production/Speech Communications from the University of Texas at Arlington, and an M.F.A. in acting from the University of Mississippi, where was awarded Best Graduate instructor.

Currently Mr. Chapa is an associate professor of theatre at the University of Texas at Arlington where he teaches stage combat, acting and children’s theatre. He is the past recipient of the Getrude Golladay Memorial teaching award and a nominee for the Chancellors excellence in teaching award at UTA. While at UTA, he has served as Fight Director for many regional theatre productions including Narnia-the Musical, Prince Caspian, The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, The Princess and the Pirate and The Jungle Book. Joe is also the co-founder of the Texas Theatrical Combat Academy which offers combat training to Dallas/Ft.Worth professional and non-professional actors alike.

Orion Couling has been blending stage combat with social activism for over 5 years. As founder of EDGE (Esteem Development Through Greater Expectations) he challenges youth through the use of combat mime to make connections with each other and the world around them. He teaches studio classes in Chicago area and fight directs with independent films, local stage productions and Tall Ships. He is also the Artistic Director of Eudaimonia Professional Theatre and Gymkhana Studios. He is recognized as an Associate teacher for Dueling Arts and as an Advanced Actor Combatant for SAFD. He Graduated with honors from Northern Michigan University.

Frank Delaney lives and works in Anchorage, Alaska where he works as an actor, teacher, and fight director. He has been the Fight Director for the 3 Barons Renaissance Fair for more than 7 years. Additionally, his many fight direction credits include work for the Anchorage Opera, Eccentric Theatre Company, and the University of Alaska (UAA), and include the world premiere of Pyrates, in which he was also employed as an actor.

Thea Fjortoft was certified teacher with the Nordic Stage Fight Society in 2003, and has been working with Dueling Arts International since summer of 2005. Currently completing a professional theatre training program in Norway in the spring of 2006, she attended United Stuntmen’s Stunt School in Seattle in 2001 and has been working as a freelance actor, stage combat performer and Stuntwoman since then. In addition to her work in theatre and film Thea also has 12 years of training in Taekwondo, spending 5 years on the Norwegian national competition team. She has won numerous medals and titles, among them, double Nordic Champion. To supplement her training in theatre Thea has also studied kick boxing, tai-chi and yoga.

Sayo Hanaue, is an Associate Instructor with Dueling Arts International who is now developing a teaching business in Stage Combat in her home city of Tokyo, Japan. In addition to her work with Dueling Arts in Western European Theatrical weaponry she has also been studied the traditional use of Japaneses Sword, Japanese Quarterstaff ( also as NAGINATA ), Japanese Historical Knife and Chain Sickle since 1997. In addition she also has some experience with Aikido and she is now also doing choreography for her long time teacher of Japanese Sword in their training studio. She says she is very confident in her eye for choosing teachers of Stage Combat and works hard to now set a correct example for her students.

Satoshi HIRUTA, an Associate Instructor with Dueling Arts International, currently lives in Tokyo, Japan where is works as an Actor, Motion Capture Actor and also a Teacher and Director of Stage Combat, and has directed fights for the live theatre, opera and musicals.

In 2006 he worked with Michelle Ladd as motion capture actor on the Nintendo Wii Game “ Fire Emblem- Goddess of Dawn, and more recently in "Exmachina -Apple Seed Saga-" which had a full CG movie screening in Japan on October 20th, 2007.

Hiruta, says, “ I wants to spread The Stage Combat teaching of Dueling Arts International throughout Japan and change the history of theatre in my country.”

Klaus Messerschmidt Hjuler lives in Copenhagen Demark where he makes his living as a Stuntman, actor and stage fight performer and teacher. He has worked on more than a hundred Danish film, television and theatre productions since 1986. Has also written and directed numerous short films and television documentaries as well as teaching and giving lectures. A certified Teacher with The Nordic Stage Fight Society since 2000 Klaus has recently developed an exciting new workshop form for actors called "Act in Action".

Jessica L. Jacob currently resides in Anchorage, Alaska where she teaches Acting I and Stage Combat courses for the University of Alaska's Department of Theatre & Dance. She holds an M.F.A. in Asian Theatre Performance from the University of Hawaii Manoa specializing in martial style Chinese Opera, Kabuki and Randai (an Indonesian martial theatre form) and completed her undergraduate studies in Visual Art and Theatre at the University of Vermont. An active participant in theatrical combat since 1995, she promotes actor conditioning for the stage as a certified aerobic kickboxing and fitness yoga instructor. Recent projects include teaching, training, and choreographic collaborations with Anchorage-based Dueling Arts Associate Instructor Frank Delaney in Talkeetna and Fairbanks, AK. As a performer, Jessica has appeared on stage in Hawaii, Vermont, Alaska, Japan, Taiwan, Belgium and the Netherlands. Noteworthy recent credits include her performance of the martial role, the legendary Mu Gueiying, in the American Premiere of the Chinese Opera "Women Generals of the Yang Family" at the University of Hawaii's Kennedy Theatre and a 2006 Kyogen perfomance in Kyoto, Japan where she performed a two person show on a traditional Noh stage in medieval Japanese, without "knowing a lick of Japanese!"

Casey Kaleba has been studying and working in the field since 1993, and has arranged fights for the Folger Theatre, Signature Theatre, Rorschach Theatre, Studio Theatre SecondStage and at academic programs including the University of Mary Washington, the University of Maryland, Davidson College, and American University. Favorite experiences include the Grand Guignol work at Dell’Arte; studying Viking shield with large, burly Norwegians; and teaching at the Paddy Crean International Workshop. He is on faculty at Imagination Stage, Sitar Center, and the Shakespeare Theatre, and regularly presents workshops for the Folger Shakespeare Library. Also a member of both the Society of American Fight Directors and the Nordic Stagefight Society, Casey attended the International Stunt School in 2003. He lives and teaches in the Washington DC area while he completes a doctorate in Theatre History.

Dave Maier Working as a fight director, actor and teaching artist Dave is currently the Outreach Coordinator for the Berkeley Rep School of Theater where he teaches Acting, Improvisation and Theatrical Combat. The resident Fight Director for The Shotgun Players in Berkeley California Dave has also directed fights for American Conservatory Theatre, Berkeley Rep, African American Shakespeare Company, San Francisco Playhouse and Wilde Irish Productions among others. He is a member of the Actors Equity Association, The Society of American Fight Directors and Theatre Bay Area. He has trained at New York University’s Experimental Theatre Wing and The Freehold Studio in Seattle.

Artie Ray, a native of New England and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, has a long history working with Dueling Arts International. Also Recognized by Dueling Arts International, and the Society of American Fight Directors as an Advanced Theatrical Combatant, he has taught, fought and choreographed theatrical combat for stage and film throughout the U.S. as well as Taiwan. Artie holds a B.A. in Drama from San Francisco State University as well as an Associate’s from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He currently resides in New York City working professionally as an Actor, Fight Director and Instructor of Theatrical Combat.

Andrea Robertson earned both her MFA in Directing and her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a minor in Music at Western Illinois University. Since graduating Andrea has worked professionally as an actor, director and fight director as well as theatre educator around the United States. She is currently teaching at Phoenix College as an adjunct professor of theatre and film. Andrea also recently began her own company- Fight Call, LLC and is an Associate Instructor with Dueling Arts International and also a Recognized Advanced Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors.

Drew Sutherland, a California native, Drew holds an MFA from Southern Methodist University and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, and Actor's Equity. He is currently a faculty member at CSU Stanislau in Turlock CA., where he teaches Movement, Theatrical Combat, Voice, and Acting and pursues research interests examining violence as a mode of communication, and the desensitization of children to violence in mass media. As an Actor Drew has worked on stage and in film, television, radio, and CD ROM in California, Oregon, Illinois, Texas, and has toured the eastern 2/3 of the United States performing theatre for youth. Prior to teaching at CSU Stanislau he taught at the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, and the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Andy Utech teaches acting at the Tokyo Film Center School of Arts and works as a freelance vocal coach for Japanese actors performing in English. He holds an MFA in Asian Performance from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the aptly named BS in Theatre from Northwestern University. He took his first stage combat class in 1986 and has since studied and taught in the United States and Japan. He directed productions of the family musical Yamabiko Monogatari (Tales of the Echo) in both English and Japanese for tours in Japan, Korea, and the US. He can occasionally be spotted acting on stage, television or films shot in Japan and contributed vocal coaching to actors in The Last Samurai, Batman Begins, Memoirs of a Geisha, Letters from Iwo Jima , and Silk.

Eric Wilder A native Texan from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area Erik is Co-Founder and Head Instructor for the newly formed Texas Theatrical Combat Academy, L.L.C., which is now offering on-going wee-end workshops at DFW metroplex. With a BFA in Theatre (Performance) from The University of Texas at Arlington, Erik served also served an Assistant Instructor for the university’s Stage Combat class. Having studied theatrical combat with Dueling Arts International for many years Erik is recognized as a Theatrical Combatant and Associate Instructor in Unarmed, Broadsword, Single Rapier, Rapier/Dagger, Smallsword, and Quarterstaff disciplines. Most recently he worked as Fight Director for Macbeth at the Creative Arts Theatre and School in Arlington, Texas. In addition, he choreographed for The University of Texas at Arlington’s production of Bury the Dead in November(2006), Dallas Hub Theatre’s production of Matt and Ben in April(2006), and for the University of Texas at Arlington’s production of Epic Proportions in October(2005).

Photo and bio to come shortly:

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