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Pictured, from left, are WIU students Tyler Lucas, Lexi Holtzer, Chris Guidi and Joe Fegan.
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WIU Students Test Stage Combat Skills

May 13, 2015

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MACOMB, IL - Stage combat skills are an integral piece of theatre. From a simple slap to a gunfight, performers must be able to convincingly convey the story, while keeping everyone's safety as the primary concern.

Students at Western Illinois University recently had the opportunity to develop some of these skills in two proficiency courses.

WIU students Chris Tipp, a MFA graduate student from Florissant, MO; Lexi Holtzer, a senior musical theatre major from Rock Island, IL; Chris Guidi, a senior theatre major from Farmington, IL; Bobby Duncalf, a senior theatre major from Taylor Ridge, IL; Joe Fegan, a senior theatre major from Avon, IL and Tyler Breeding, a junior musical theatre major from Fairfield, IA, passed their Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) Rapier and Dagger Skills Proficiency Test.

Passing the SAFD Theatrical Firearms Safety Workshop were Holtzer; Matt Saltzberg, a MFA graduate student from Macomb; Jared Shofstall, a junior theatre major from Carterville, IL and Faculty Assistant Dan Schmidt.

The courses were led by D.C. Wright, associate professor of theatre at Western. SAFD Skills Proficiency Tests are held every semester with a different theatrical weapon style. In Fall 2015, there will be two different weapon styles, one in quarter staff, and the other in single sword.

Wright became a certified teacher of stage combat with the Society of American Fight Directors in 1998, and was recognized as a certified teacher by Dueling Arts International the same year. He is now recognized as a master instructor by Dueling Arts, and was recently awarded the rank of Theatrical Firearms Safety Instructor by the SAFD.

WIU has one of the more complete university armories in the country, boasting the weapons from every category the SAFD offers recognition in, as well as several additional weapon styles. Every semester a fight master from the SAFD is brought in to evaluate students in various weapon techniques.

The combat curriculum is organized in such a way that any student taking combat classes three semesters in a row, and successfully passing their Skills Proficiency Tests, will be recognized as an actor/combatant by the SAFD.

For more information on the WIU Department of Theatre and Dance, visit wiu.edu/theatre.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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