Six theater students learned to fight with swords and daggers over the Labor Day weekend.
Sarah Muscarella, acting sophomore, Matthew Lavery and Hannah Hamel, acting juniors, Tessa Neeno, theatre and performance junior, Mandy Sigale, theatre and performance senior, and McKenna O’Meara, acting senior, attended the Texas Intensive Stage Combat Workshop Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
The students attended workshops and classes taught by professional fight directors from around the country. Students learned various stage and screen combat techniques, including unarmed combat and the use of a single sword, quarter staff, rapier and dagger, knife, broad sword, and small sword.
Luke Eddy, assistant acting professor, supervised the group.
“Workshops like these are really important for our program,” Eddy said. “They’re helpful tools to make sure we are staying connected with the professional world and giving students the best and most up-to-date education we can regarding what the industry is going to be expecting of them in the future.”
O’Meara said she learned many new techniques at the workshop.
“The biggest lessons for me were being intentional with every movement and finding the difference between action and motion,” O’Meara said. “Combat is very partner-based, and connecting with those you are working with and trusting each other to create a safe environment with our movements is a huge part of that.”
Students also worked with intimacy coaches.
“They gave us opportunities to ask questions, not just about intimacy choreography itself, but also the process of becoming an intimacy coach or director,” Neeno said. “They talked a lot about how to create safe environments for actors who are performing various types of intimacy onstage, which was very cool.”
Eddy said he believes one of the most important lessons students learned was how to network with professionals.
“The students had the chance to work with lots of professional directors who teach with different methods and styles than we do on campus. They learned some really valuable communication and networking skills that way.”
Neeno said the workshop was an experience they will never forget.
“It was incredible,” Neeno said. “You meet so many talented people from across the nation, and the connections you make are invaluable. It opens up so many doors for actors and stage combatants.”
O’Meara said she recommends the workshops to anyone interested in theater.
“It’s absolutely for everyone: actors, music students, even dancers,” O’Meara said. “Whether you’re an absolute beginner or at the professional level, there’s a spot for you. Anyone can go and feel supported. Even if it sounds terrifying, try it anyway.”
Eddy said the workshop offered starter tracks for stage combat beginners.
“It’s a fun, challenging and immersive way to get started,” Eddy said. “We’re really trying to spread the word and get more students involved.”
Eddy encourages students who are interested in attending future workshops to contact him at lteddy@okcu.edu.
Staff writer Matthew Lavery attended the stage combat workshop. They were not involved in the writing or editing of this story.
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