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Virginia Beach BASH is a stage combat workshop sanctioned by the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) and hosted by Regent University.

Virginia Beach BASH 2023

March 25-26, 2023

Combat Performance in Action. Experience the Rush. Learn the Art.

Virginia Beach BASH is a two-day stage combat workshop sanctioned by the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD). Hosted by Regent University, this regional workshop offers training at all levels – beginning, intermediate and advanced.

  • Learn combat performance for both stage and screen.
  • Train in a wide spectrum of styles and weaponry from both Western and Asian cultures.
  • Direct, film, edit and treat action sequences.
  • Classes are taught by SAFD-certified fight instructors and directors.

This workshop is ideal for those interested in martial arts forms and techniques as adjusted for performance, as well as filmmakers interested in capturing the aesthetic movement of information through action.

Regent University | Communication & Performing Arts Building Virginia Beach, VA

Purchase Apparel

Virginia Beach Bash Apparel
Merchandise must be ordered by Feb. 28, 2023 to enable delivery at the BASH. No orders will be taken after this date.

Regent University
1000 Regent University Dr.
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
Phone: 757.352.4730

The Communication & Performing Arts Center is located at 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464.

From I-64 take Indian River Road East, exit 286B, turn right at Centerville Turnpike, then right onto CBN Center Drive. The Communication & Performing Arts Center is on your left.

Ample free parking is available on the south and north sides of the building.

Campus Map

There is an excellent hotel on campus, The Founders Inn and Spa. Trip Advisor gives its restaurant, Swan Terrace, a five-star rating.  Founders Inn also has a snack bar, a fitness center and an indoor swimming pool onsite. Being tourist destinations, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are home to dozens of motels and hotels from which to choose. You will find most of the typical national chains are all represented in the area. It is suggested participants, if not staying on campus, stay in the Greenbrier Parkway area, one exit west of the Indian River exit off I-64 (the Regent University exit). There is a Hampton Inn just off Greenbriar Parkway, and others also nearby.  There is a Waffle House directly across the street from Founders Inn and a large number of fast-food options close by, including Cook Out, Chick-fil-A, Panera, Chipotle, Arby’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, Tropical Smoothie, and others. Restaurants within an easy five minute drive include Outback and Applebee’s, but they are discouraged for the Saturday evening dinner hour, as it may be difficult to get seated, served, and eat before the evening session begins. 

ALL PERSONAL WEAPONS MUST BE PRESENTED AT REGISTRATION FOR APPROVAL. THE COORDINATOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY WEAPON. THIS RULE IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.

Please be cognizant of the fact that Campus Security will NOT react positively if theatrical weapons are displayed in public. Be sure to place all stage weapons in carrying cases or bags when moving about campus or from your vehicle to the Communication and Performing Arts Center.

For any student planning to shoot stunt or combat scenes in a film, the Virginia Beach BASH is a must. During the two-day weekend, film students learn from choreographers from television series like Vikings how actors tailor their actions for the screen. Filmmakers learn from award-winning directors and editors and complete the weekend by producing a short, high-intensity film showcasing the techniques they have learned. From Film-Track veteran Hannah Puder: “The BASH is well worth the entry fee to learn to film fighting and combat techniques from world-class instructors training martial arts, hand-to-hand combat, firearms and SWAT rescue missions, and medieval combat!

The Virginia Beach BASH typically utilizes five to seven Production Assistants (who are sometimes called upon to assist in class or partner for SPRs)  and two to three Journey-persons (who assist the Production Assistants). Production Assistant/TA positions are restricted to SAFD members at the actor-combatant level or higher. Journey-persons will be chosen on the strength of their experience and recommendations, but need NOT have yet achieved Actor-Combat status. All Production Assistant/TA and Journy-person applicants should submit a letter of intent, resume and one to two letters of recommendation to Brandon Wetch at virginiabeachbash@gmail.com.  Applications will be accepted and reviewed until all positions are filled.

Deadline for Application: January 27, 2020 at 11:59pm.

A note about skill levels: participants of all skill levels are welcome and classes will be designated either “beginning,” “intermediate” or “advanced.” To help you decide which section is best for you, please consider the following guidelines:

If the following applies to you, you will probably be more comfortable at the Beginner level:

  • Have little or no experience
  • Have performed fights in a show, but have not taken classes
  • Have taken a few classes
  • Have taken quite a few classes, but not tested with the SAFD
  • Have passed the SAFD Actor/Combatant skills test in three weapons, then stopped studying; or allowed your recognition to lapse
  • Have not taken a class in the past year

If you the following applies to you, you will probably be more comfortable at the Advanced level:

  • Have studied consistently for at least two years
  • Have passed the SAFD Actor/Combatant skills test in more than three weapons (or equivalent)
  • Have continued your studies following testing
  • Have kept your skills and test status current

If your skills fall somewhere in between these criteria, you are probably on the intermediate level.

These are only guidelines, to which there may be exceptions. But for the safety and enjoyment of all participants, we ask that you be realistic in your assessment of your skills. The Workshop reserves the right to make final determination of a student’s skill level.

Box lunches which include a sandwich (roast beef, turkey, or vegetarian), chips, and  cookie may be ordered on the registration page for a small additional charge.

For SAFD members who would like to renew proficiency, SPRs will be available in selected weapons and styles. With the exception of certain special guests, all instructors are certified by the SAFD. Please contact Dr. Michael Kirkland at michhil@regent.edu if you are interested in a SPR.

Sponsor and Coordinator:

Dr. Michael Kirkland, Coordinator
MFA Acting Program
Regent University
Email: michhil@regent.edu
Phone: 757.352.4730

Assistant Coordinator:

Brandon Wetch
Email: brandon.wetch@hotmail.com

Past classes have included:

  • 18th c. Small sword
  • Capturing Action
  • Medieval Broadsword
  • Enhancing Action Through Special Effects
  • Double Sword
  • Editing Action Sequences
  • Shaolin Staff
  • The Sound of the Fight
  • Unarmed Stage Combat
  • Basic Knife Fighting Technique
  • Laban Action Verbs and Stage Combat
  • Firearm Safety (Including semi-auto and black powder weapons for the stage and screen as well as squib detonation.)
  • Lessac Energy States and Stage Combat
  • Finding the Beats and Acting the Fight
  • Ancient Greek Sword and Shield Technique
  • Renaissance Rapier and Dagger
  • Axe Handle Fights
  • Swashbuckling to the Music of Eric Wolfgang Korngold
  • Mismatched weapons (rapier vs. broadsword; rapier vs. smallsword, etc.)
  • Grappling Techniques
  • Quarterstaff
  • High Falls
  • Whip
  • Hong Kong/Asian Style Unarmed
  • Shaolin knife fighting techniques
  • Concealed Draw (firearms)
  • Tactical Long Gun (rifle)
  • Stunt demos (burns, falls, jerk cord)
  • Precision driving
  • And many more!

$295.00 Two-day Registration
$167.50 One-Day Registration

Discounts: SAFD, AEA, SAG, AFTRA, or VPA 15% off.
COM Students 50% off.
Groups of 6 or more get 10%.
Groups of 10 or more get 15%.
Groups of 6 or more should contact beachbash@regent.edu about a discount.

100% refund if withdrawal occurs before March 10, 2023
50% refund if withdrawal occurs before March 17, 2023
No refunds after 11:00 p.m. on March 17, 2023

Fight Master/Fight Director/Certified Teacher

Most recently Stunt Coordinator and 2nd Unit Director on Season 3 of VIKINGS: VALHALLA (MGM/Netflix).

Film & TV includes 2nd Unit Director & Stunt Coordinator on THE BARBARIANS (Netflix), Stunt Coordinator on VIKINGS: VALHALLA Season 1, MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, and LET’S BE FRANK (2nd Unit Director).

He worked on all six previous seasons of VIKINGS initially as Fight Coordinator, before taking on the role of Stunt Coordinator.

Other Stunt Coordinator credits include DAWN, HAMMER OF THE GODS, BESERK, IRONCLAD, ROLLING THUNDER and FAINTHEART;  

As Fight Coordinator and/or Assistant Stunt Coordinator; SHERLOCK HOLMES & SHERLOCK HOLMES 2: GAME OF SHADOWS, FALLEN, THE EAGLE, GULLIVER’S TRAVELS, STARDUST,  SOLOMON KANE, THE DARK KNIGHT (winner SAG Best Stunt Ensemble & Taurus Stunt Award Best Fight), THE GOLDEN COMPASS,  DRONA and THE LAST LEGION (nominated for Taurus Stunt Award). 

Perhaps his best-known film work is TROY, for which his Achilles vs. Hector fight was nominated for Best Fight in both Taurus World Stunt Award & MTV Film Awards.

Theatre includes Fight DIrector on the Broadway production on LES LIASONS DANGEREUSES and CORIOLANUS at the Donmar Warehouse. 

As ‘Master-at-Arms’ to The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art he accumulated over 400 stage credits and has worked for many major companies such as The Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre of Ireland, Royal National Theatre, Cheek by Jowl, English National Opera, Royal Opera House, York Theatre Royal and Mercury Theatre, Colchester along with various West End shows and National Tours.

Professional Stunt Coordinator/Performer; Professional Fight Director; Instructor, Irish Combat Academy

Paul Burke works as a stunt performer, fight choreographer and stunt coordinator.

He is currently Stunt Coordinator for the CBS Television Series Dynasty. Before that he was Stunt Coordinator for Seasons 7 and 8 on CW’s Vampire Diaries. In 2016 Paul was Fight Coordinator for the Anglo-French Feature Film Pilgrimage, starring Jon Bernthal, Tom Holland and Richard Armitage. In January 2018 he wrapped filming on The Bruce a Scottish Medieval Action Movie.

Other film and television work includes Hammer of the Gods, Banshee and The Tudors. Paul was Travis Fimmel’s stunt double for 3rd Season of History Channel’s Vikings. He was also fight coordinator on multiple episodes for Seasons 1 and 2 of Fox TV’s Sleepy Hollow.

His theatre fight choreography includes the world premieres of Conor MacPherson’s The Night Alive at the Donmar Theatre London and Sam Shepard’s Ages of the Moon at the National Theatre Of Ireland. Paul is a qualified Stunt Coordinator with Stunt Register Ireland.

Professional Editor

Fran Clabaugh began her Hollywood career as an assistant editor at Action International Pictures where she quickly gained an understanding of the art of action editing. Since then she has worked as editor for the features Little Chicago, the sci-fi action thriller Eyeborgs, and the psychological thrillers Nightmare Box and Alterscape. She has conducted editing workshops for the Jacksonville Film Festival and was senior editor for the regional tv series, “Life in the Carolinas.” She is co-owner of Crimson Wolf Productions, an independent production company located in North Carolina.

Professional Director, Cinematographer, and Editor

Richard Clabaugh has been a cinematographer and director on numerous features and worked with such talents as Russell Crowe, Viggo Mortensen, Christopher Walken, Ben Affleck, and Peter O’Toole. He was the director of the feature films, Python, Little Chicago and Eyeborgs. He was an instructor at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking for nearly 10-years and currently runs productions companies Crimson Wolf and RedCom Productions producing original motion-picture, television and web content.

SAFD Fight Master, Stunt Coordinator/Performer, Faculty: North Carolina School of the Arts

Dale is also an award-winning Fight Director, Choreographer and author of the stage combat manual Actors On Guard (2nd Edition, 2019). He is a third-degree Black Belt (Sam Dan, 4th level) in Taekwondo, Hopkido and Gumdo, a SAG-AFTRA Stunt Coordinator and Stunt Performer, and a founding member of the North Carolina Stuntmen’s Association. His breadth of work and contribution to the art of staged violence has also earned him recognition in the Canadian guild, Fight Directors Canada, and The Russian Guild of Stage Movement Directors and Teachers. His work has been featured in professional theatres and opera houses throughout North America and in numerous motion pictures. As a master teacher, Mr. Girard has instructed classes and seminars in stage combat, acting, and dramatic movement at colleges and universities throughout North America. Teaching experience includes Yale’s Schools of Drama and Music, the National Theatre Conservatory, the Hartt School, and the School of Drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

SAFD Certified Teacher, Professional Stunt Performer, Faculty: Indiana University

Mr. Kelly has been teaching classes at the Indiana University Martial Arts Program since 1992 where he also serves as the Program Coordinator and Faculty Advisor for the Martial Arts Committee in the Dept of Recreational Sports. He has presented on Martial Arts in Physical Education to the Indiana Department of Education establishing a teaching pedagogy for attribute development, skill acquisition and self-defense application.

Patrick has studied concepts and techniques from several martial arts including, Jun-fan Kickboxing, Wing Chun Gung Fu, Muay Thai, Savate, Kali/Escrima, Penjak Silat, Hapkido, Shoot-fighting, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, T’ai Chi, Fencing, Longsword Fencing (Liechtenauer), and Archery in addition to tactical firearms training.
He is an Advanced Actor/Combatant and Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. He has designed and performed violence for several independant films and projects including music video and mo-cap.

He is currently on the Stunt/Fight Team for the History Channel’s Vikings in production in Co. Wicklow, Ireland where he enjoys slaughtering and being slaughtered.
In what spare time he has, Patrick enjoys cycling, hiking with his pack, kayaking, reading, and sleeping… when the coffee wears off.

SAFD Certified Teacher, Professional Actor, Director, Fight Director, Faculty: Regent University

Michael Hill-Kirkland, MFA, Ph.D. (SAFD Certified Fight Director, Teacher, & Stage Firearms Safety Instructor) has served as the Coordinator for the Virginia Beach BASH Stage and Screen Combat since its inception in 2004. A member of the SAFD since 1990, he is a proud member of the “Crew of ‘92” (a graduate of the SAFD Teacher Certification Workshop of 1992). A full Professor of Theater in the Department of Performing Arts and Music at Regent University, he specializes in the teaching of acting (Meisner), directing, and stage combat in the BFA and MFA in Acting degree programs.  He has acted, directed, taught, and designed violence all over the US and in the UK as well. In the UK he has guest/team taught at such prestigious institutions as RADA (London), the Birmingham School of Acting (Birmingham), the MGA Academy of Performing Arts (Edinburgh), and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  Dr. Kirkland has designed fights for professional venues all over the US, including Houston Grand Opera, Houston Shakespeare Festival, New Stage Theatre, Virginia Musical Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, PA Stage Company, and professional and educational venues across the U.S. He has staged action in a number of indie films and is also the author of Stage Combat: An Annotated Bibliography (Praeger, 2006) and various articles on stage combat and the history, theory, and criticism of the theatre. 

Michelle Ladd has been working as a professional action director, choreographer, and performer of stunts, staged combat, dance, and acting for over 20 years.  Although a native of the Southeast, she honed her early stage fight skills in Britain at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and built her career in Los Angeles.  She is a recognized Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors and the International Order of the Sword and the Pen.  She has worked throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and Asia.  Her credits span theater, film, and motion capture and include Motion Capture Stunt Coordinator for Thor; Motion Capture Fight Director for Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End;  Motion Capture Combat Choreographer for The Lord of the Rings – Return of the King and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; performer in France at Viking Fest with Freiki Klan Denmark;  fight instruction and demonstration of Parnü Vöitlus Estonia; and featured guest for Korea’s Theatre Magazine. Michelle has staged fights at such venues as Drury Lane and North Park Opera.  Currently she is the resident Fight Director for The Atlanta Opera and the Intimacy Coordinator for Warner Brothers’ Doom Patrol.  She and her husband own RE:Action Stunts and Broad-Motion Entertainment while raising their three young stunt boys.  

SAFD Certified Teacher

Nicky Jasper

Nicky Jasper (she/they) is a Chicago-based actor, choreographer, and teacher. She graduated from East Carolina University with a BFA in Professional Acting in 2013. She has been training in stage combat since 2010 and is a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors.

After graduating, Nicky was a part of the cast at Horn in the West, where she also served as Fight Swing. She later spent two summers in the cast of Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama, where she not only served as Fight Captain and Assistant Fight Choreographer, but was also the first female-identifying actor to have an on-stage featured fight in the show’s long history. Other theatre credits include Gruesome Playground Injuries (Carolina Actor’s Studio Theatre), The Tale of the Little Gentleman (Children’s Theatre of Charlotte), Detroit (Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte), Wasteland Hero (Reutan Collective), and Fight Quest 2 & 4 (Otherworld Theatre Company).

Nicky has had the privilege of serving on staff at stage combat workshops around the country, including The Winterland Workshop (AI), The Tourist Trap (AI), The Left Turn (AI), The Louisiana Tech Stage Combat Workshop (TA), Lonestar Smash (TA), The Virginia Beach Bash (TA), and The A-Town Throwdown (TA). She most recently served as Head Intern for the 2021 National Stage Combat Workshop in Ruston, LA.

Nicky has been a “Kevin” (TA) for FM Chuck Coyl at the Actor’s Gymnasium In Evanston, IL since 2017. She is a founding member of Open Gate Movement Arts, a stage combat and movement company in Chicago whose mission is to provide accessible and quality stage combat training to movement artists. Nicky also works as a part of the motion capture team at Raven Software.

Nicky currently serves as the Advanced/Intermediate Actor/Combatant Representative on the Governing Body of the SAFD. She can be reached in this capacity at adv.int.rep@safd.org.

Jonathan Ezra Rubin is a Certified Teacher with the SAFD and freelances as a Fight & Intimacy Director throughout the Washington, DC-Metro Area. He is also a licensed professional wrestler in the state of Maryland. Additionally, he is the former Head Intern/PA and Assistant Coordinator of the Virginia Beach Bash, and the SAFD’s current Treasurer and Development Department Co-Chair. A three-time Helen Hayes Award Nominee for Outstanding Choreography, and WATCH Award Nominee for Outstanding Fight Choreography, Jonathan has choreographed most of Flying V’s shows, as well as fights and/or intimacy at The Studio Theatre, Signature Theatre, Mosaic Theater Company, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Adventure Theatre-MTC, Georgetown University, Goucher College, and many more. He is a proud Associate Member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national professional theatrical union. In addition to studying stage combat with the SAFD and other instructors since 2011, he has been studying intimacy direction since 2015 under the tutelage of some of the industry’s founders and most influential names, continuing that training and legacy of work to this day. Jonathan has over a decade of executive-level nonprofit arts administration experience and works full-time as the Managing Director for a nonprofit performing arts venue. Jonathan currently hosts classes and choreographs under his company, Fire & Ice Movement Arts.

As all instructors are working professionals, staff is subject to change without notice.

Certified Stage Combat Instructor

A Mississippi native, Jackie Armit is a certified teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. She has been an instructor at North Georgia Shakespeare Festival (Atlanta, Ga.), Carolina School of the Arts Summer Session—Introduction to Stage Combat, High School for Performing and Visual Arts (Houston, Texas) and the Atlanta Stage Combat Studio.

Jacki also assisted stage combat and character movement classes at the University of Houston as well as stage combat classes at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. Jacki’s work as a fight director has been seen in such cities as Rockford, Ill., Cincinnati, Ohio, Houston, Texas, and Atlanta, Ga.

Professional Fight Director/Instuctor; Violence Specialist

J. David Brimmer, Violence Specialist (Fight Master, SAFD) has choreographed some stuff (Broadway:Spring Awakening; The Lieutenant of Inishmore; Grace; An Enemy of the People; Hands on a Hardbody; The Big Knife; Wit; Born Yesterday; A life in the Theatre; Speed the Plow; Come Back, Little Sheba; Thérèse Raquin; Long Day’s Journey into Night;NY premieres: An Octoroon; Gloria; Futurity; Punk Rock; Mr. Burns, a Post Electric Play; Blasted; The Whipping Man; Bethany; Harper Regan; Hit the Wall; Reasons to be Happy; Apt 3C; Ages of the Moon; Medieval Play; The American Pilot; Blackbird; Bug; Killer Joe; as well as The Red Bull Theatre’s productions of The Revenger’s Tragedy, The Duchess of Malfi andThe Changeling; the Druid Theatre Company’s The Cripple of Inishmaan; and Violence Consultant for the Donmar Warehouse’s productions of the all female Julius Caesar {original choreography Kate Waters} and A Streetcar Named Desire {original choreography Bret Yount} at St. Ann’s Warehouse, and The Night Alive {original choreography Paul Burke} at the Atlantic Theater), worked at some wonderful venues (NY Public Theater, Metropolitan Opera, Atlantic Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Lincoln Center, TFANA, TBTB, The Flea, Signature Theatre, MCC, The Geffen Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, ART, Yale Rep, Dallas Theater Center, Hartford Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, The Guthrie), taught a few places (NYU/TSOA, RADA-{Guest Instructor}, Strasberg Institute, Atlanic Theater Company Acting School, Yale), and collaborated with some great folks- writers (David Mamet, Sam Shepard, Ethan Coen, Neil LaBute, David Adjmi, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Simon Stephens, Jez Butterworth, Kenneth Lonergan, Conor McPherson, Martin McDonough, Tracy Letts), directors (Joe Chaikin, JoAnne Akalaitis, Darko Tresnjak, Ethan McSweeney, Sarah Benson, Robert Moss, Wilson Milam, Joe Mantello, Neil Pepe, Michael Mayer, Kathleen Turner, Lynne Meadow, Doug Hughes, Garry Hines, Joel Schumacher, Ken Russell, Franco Zeffirelli), and performers (America Ferrera, Cynthia Nixon, William H. Macy, Andre Braugher, Laura Linney, Jeremy Piven, Raul Esparza, Elizabeth Moss, F. Murray Abraham, Keith Carradine, Kathleen Chalfant, Rumer Willis, Stephen Rea, Ciaran Hinds, Gabriel Byrne, Jessica Lange, Ed Asner, Richard Thomas, Kate Mulgrew, Reed Birney, Michael Shannon, Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Johnston, Lily Rabe, Zoe Kazan, S. Epatha Merkerson, Nina Arianda, Jim Belushi, Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, Kerry Condon, Alison Pill, Zosia Mamet, Kate Burton, Jeff Daniels, Paul Rudd, Keira Knightly, and Sir Patrick Stewart). “Walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone.” G. Fox

Professional Stunt Coordinator/Performer; Professional Fight Director; Instructor, Irish Combat Academy

Paul Burke works as a stunt performer, fight choreographer and stunt coordinator.

He is currently Stunt Coordinator for the CBS Television Series Dynasty. Before that he was Stunt Coordinator for Seasons 7 and 8 on CW’s Vampire Diaries. In 2016 Paul was Fight Coordinator for the Anglo-French Feature Film Pilgrimage, starring Jon Bernthal, Tom Holland and Richard Armitage. In January 2018 he wrapped filming on The Bruce a Scottish Medieval Action Movie.

Other film and television work includes Hammer of the Gods, Banshee and The Tudors. Paul was Travis Fimmel’s stunt double for 3rd Season of History Channel’s Vikings. He was also fight coordinator on multiple episodes for Seasons 1 and 2 of Fox TV’s Sleepy Hollow.

His theatre fight choreography includes the world premieres of Conor MacPherson’s The Night Alive at the Donmar Theatre London and Sam Shepard’s Ages of the Moon at the National Theatre Of Ireland. Paul is a qualified Stunt Coordinator with Stunt Register Ireland.

Professional Fight Director; Professional Actor/Stunt Perfomer

Michael G. Chin is a Fight Master with The Society of American Fight Directors, He is a member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA and SDC He has choreographed violence and fights on Broadway, Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway and in Regional Theatres around the country. He has taught stage combat at The Juilliard School and for The United Stuntman Association in Seattle, Mr. Chin is currently on adjunct faculty at Brooklyn College,-Graduate Division and Pace University both in New York City and at Muhlenberg College in Allentown PA. He also works as an professional actor and stuntman.

Professional Director & Cinematographer

Richard Clabaugh has been a cinematographer and director on numerous features and worked with such talents as Russell Crowe, Viggo Mortensen, Christopher Walken, Ben Affleck, and Peter O’Toole. He was the director of the feature films, Python, Little Chicago and Eyeborgs. He was an instructor at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking for nearly 10-years and currently runs productions companies Crimson Wolf and RedCom Productions producing original motion-picture, television and web content.

Professional Editor

Fran Clabaugh began her Hollywood career as an assistant editor at Action International Pictures where she quickly gained an understanding of the art of action editing. Since then she has worked as editor for the features Little Chicago, the sci-fi action thriller Eyeborgs, and the psychological thrillers Nightmare Box and Alterscape. She has conducted editing workshops for the Jacksonville Film Festival and was senior editor for the regional tv series, “Life in the Carolinas.” She is co-owner of Crimson Wolf Productions, an independent production company located in North Carolina.

Audio Post Engineer

Ryan Davidson is a Virginia Beach native who received his Associates Degree in Recording Engineering from Full Sail in 2002. Now working at a major television production company as an audio post engineer, his job entails all aspects of audio work including work on movies, cartoons, television, and running live sound. He is currently finishing up his Bachelor of Arts degree in Film & Television at Regent University and plans to continue in the television field fine tuning his skills.

Professional Fight Choreographer; Instructor

Jacqueline Holloway is a fight choreographer, and movement designer. She has had the opportunity to work throughout the U.S., Canada and Northern Europe, as well as On & Off Broadway and Vanity Fair magazine. She runs and teaches the Philadelphia chapter of Galhalla, an all female fight group originated in NYC. Galhalla’s focus is to provide an empowering safe and supportive space for women to train stage combat and stunt work with other like minded women in the industry. Additionally, she offers weekly training and workshops open to all genders looking to train in combat for stage and film with her own company, Arte Violenta.

She is a certified teacher and Instructor with the Society of American Fight Directors and Fight Directors Canada.

SAFD Fight Master & Certified Teacher; Faculty: Cincinnati Conservatory of Music

K. Jenny Jones, an Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) fight master and certified fight director, stages fights and teaches throughout the United States and abroad. A master teacher of stage combat, Jones is internationally known for her contemporary fighting style and is the only woman in the United States inducted into the College of Fight Masters by the SAFD. She resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she performs, choreographs and teaches at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where she is a full professor.

SAFD Certified Teacher and Professional Fight Director

Casey Kaleba started training with the SAFD in 1992, and has arranged violence for more than 500 professional and academic productions. A company member with Rorschach Theatre, he has staged fights for the Guthrie Theatre, Folger Theatre, Round House Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Spoleto Festival USA, Studio Theatre, Wolf Trap Opera, National Players, Washington National Opera, Castleton Festival, Constellation Theatre, Forum Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Signature Theatre, and Ford’s Theatre. He is a two-time Helen Hayes Awards nominee in fight direction.  Academic productions include Georgetown, American, Gallaudet, and Catholic Universities along with the University of Maryland in both College Park and Baltimore County. He has taught for the University of Maryland, George Mason University, University of Mary Washington, Shepherd University, Catholic University, Regent, and Old Dominion University, as well as serving as a regular guest artist for the Shakespeare Theatre and Folger Library. Casey has been a guest instructor for Fight Directors Canada and the Nordic Stagefight Society, an instructor at the Paddy Crean Workshop, and has taught at the Winter Wonderland, Carnage in the Corn, Virginia Beach Bash, and the Martial Arts Intensive and Bond vs. Bourne SAFD Workshops. He co-founded Tooth and Claw Combat Arts.

Mr. Kelly has been teaching classes at the Indiana University Martial Arts Program since 1992 where he also serves as the Program Coordinator and Faculty Advisor for the Martial Arts Committee in the Dept of Recreational Sports. He has presented on Martial Arts in Physical Education to the Indiana Department of Education establishing a teaching pedagogy for attribute development, skill acquisition and self-defense application.

Patrick has studied concepts and techniques from several martial arts including, Jun-fan Kickboxing, Wing Chun Gung Fu, Muay Thai, Savate, Kali/Escrima, Penjak Silat, Hapkido, Shoot-fighting, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, T’ai Chi, Fencing, Longsword Fencing (Liechtenauer), and Archery in addition to tactical firearms training.
He is an Advanced Actor/Combatant and Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. He has designed and performed violence for several independant films and projects including music video and mo-cap.

He is currently on the Stunt/Fight Team for the History Channel’s Vikings in production in Co. Wicklow, Ireland where he enjoys slaughtering and being slaughtered.
In what spare time he has, Patrick enjoys cycling, hiking with his pack, kayaking, reading, and sleeping… when the coffee wears off.

Professional Fight Director/Instructor; Actor, Diector; Faculty: Regent University MFA Actor Program

Michael Hill-Kirkland, MFA, Ph.D., (SAFD Certified Fight Director and Teacher; Coordinator, Virginia Beach BASH). A member of the SAFD since 1990 and honored to a member of the “Crew of ‘92”, Michael serves as Head of the MFA in Acting Program in the Department of Performing Arts and Music at Regent University. His teaching specialties include acting (Meisner), directing, and stage combat. He has taught and designed violence all over the US and in the UK as well. In the UK he has guest/team taught at such prestigious institutions as RADA (London), the Birmingham School of Acting (Birmingham), and the MGA Academy of Performing Arts (Edinburgh). In the US he has staged fights for Houston Grand Opera, Houston Shakespeare Festival, New Stage Theatre, Virginia Musical Theatre, and professional and educational venues across the U.S. He staged the violence in a number of indie films and is also the author of Stage Combat: An Annotated Bibliography (Praeger, 2006) and various articles on stage combat and the history, theory, and criticism of the theatre.

SAFD Certified Teacher, Faculty: Christopher Newport University

GREGG LLOYD is the Chair of Theater & Dance and Head of Performance Training at Christopher Newport University.  He is a professional actor and fight director, a Certified Teacher of Stage Combat with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD), Resident Fight Director for both The Virginia Stage Company and Virginia Opera, and holds Black Belts in Hapkido and TangSooDo.  As an actor, director and fight director, Mr. Lloyd’s professional credits range across the US, from Chicago to Dallas and from the east coast to the Mississippi, and encompass dramatic, comedic, experimental, classical and musical theater.  He has worked in a variety of venues ranging from regional theaters and operas to amusement parks and Medieval Times.  Fight direction credits include: Carmen, The Tales of Hoffman, Lucia di Lammermoor, Il Tovatore, Don Giovanni, Romeo and Juliet, Fences, Our Country’s Good, Ragtime, I Hate Hamlet, and Of Mice and Men. His recent acting credits include: Spamalot, Red,  Little Shop of Horrors, 1776, Comic Potential, Sunday in the Park with George and The Foreigner. Directing credits include Noises Off, Once Upon a Mattress, H.M.S. Pinafore, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Adding Machine, I Hate Hamlet, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.  Mr. Lloyd is an active member of the SAFD, the Association of Theater Movement Educators, and The Southeastern Theater Conference.

SAFD Certified Teacher; Faculty: Howard Community College

Jenny Male is assistant professor of theatre at Howard Community College in Columbia, Md. She is the resident fight director and dance choreographer for the Red Branch Theatre Company as well as the epic outdoor drama Tecumseh!

SAFD Fight Master

Scot is an actor, director and nationally recognized SAFD Fight Director. He has choreographed, performed and instructed Stage Combat around the U.S. Southeastern credits include the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Alliance Theatre Company, The Atlanta Opera, The Georgia Shakespeare Festival, The Seaside Music Theatre, The Hippodrome Theatre, and the outdoor drama, Unto These Hills. Mr. Mann is the founder, Executive Director and Master Instructor of the Atlanta Stage Combat Studio, a member of the Association of Theatre Movement Educators and holds an MFA in Acting through the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

SAFD Certified Teacher; Faculty: Savannah College of Art and Design

Martin Noyes is the professor of movement and combat at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga. Noyes is a certified teacher of stage combat through the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) and has been fight directing for 23 years. He holds both a BFA and MFA in Performance.

Certified Stage Combat Instructor

An actress / playwright as well as a Fight Director / Teacher, Ms. Ravitts has fought, taught and/or performed in NYC, London, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Las Vegas & Washington DC. Recent fight direction includes: The Lucky ChanceFemme FataleWoyzeckRomeo and JulietThe Garden of TormentMacbethShake Battleand RollHamlet and DuellistsThe Forgotten Champions (Mlle. Maupin).

Certified teacher, east central regional representative, co-coordinator of New York summer sling.

Alicia Rodis has been a member of the SAFD for over 10 years, and is currently the representative for the East Central Region of the SAFD! She is a professor of stage combat at CW Post at Long Island University, as well as a busy AEA actor, fight director, stunt performer and physical trainer here in New York City. A graduate of the Professional Actor Training Program at Wright State University, she travelled working consistently in regional theater until making New York City her home. She has worked with numerous companies and Universities in the East Central area and beyond including New York Shakespeare Exchange, The Public Theater, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, The Human Race Theater Company, Extant Arts, The Essential Theatre Group, Manhattan Shakespeare Project, New York University, Columbia University, The Juilliard School, Stony brook University, as well The Brooklyn School for Classics, an outreach program to East New York schools. Alicia is also a member of the Vixens En Garde, an all female fight troupe, who she tours with often. She is also the co-coordinator for SAFD sanctioned workshop The New York Summer Sling.

Professional Fight Director/Instructor; Actor; Faculty: Frostburg State University

Darrell Rushton is currently an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Frostburg State University. He has been a Certified Teacher since 2007, a Theatrical Firearms Safety Instructor since 2010, and a SAFD member since his first workshop; the 2000 NSCW. He has taught stage combat regionally and across the country at the Rumble in the Rockies, Seattle Sockeye, Winter Wonderland Workshop and the NSCW. He has been Fight Director for numerous productions at Frostburg State, Ball State University (Assistant Professor of Movement and Acting), the Cumberland Theatre, and National Tours with Windwood Theatricals. Union Member of AEA, AFTRA and SAG, with acting credits in New York, Washington, DC, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida and Maryland.

BASSC Certified Teacher, Professional Action Coordinator and Armourer

Ronin is a professional fight director and action coordinator. He has directed fights for over 350 productions including film, TV, musicals, opera, motion capture and numerous theatre shows in the UK and overseas. Credits include:

The Intent 2 current nomunation for Best Action Film, UK National Film Awards, Total War,10 years of performing and choreographing SEGA’s multi award-winning game series, Olive Green – Best Action & Adventure Film, US International Film & Video Festival, Frank Phoenix, Gold Award , L.A. Neo Noir Film Festival, Ren – the girl with the markGrand Jury Award, Melbourne & Bilbao Web Fests, Rise of the Krays – Best Action Film nomination,  National Film Awards, POV -Best Feature Film, Wirral International Film Festival, Kicking Off – Best Feature , Raindance,  First Musketeer – Best UK Series, UK Web Fest , Usagi Yojimbo –  Best Choreography nomination, Off West End.

Ronin is a certified teacher with the British Academy of Stage & Screen Combat, a fencing coach with The British Academy of Fencing and Academie d’Armes Internationale.

Ronin is also the director of Independent Drama which provides fight choreography, actor training, weapon hire and combat casting services to drama schools, theatre groups and the film and theatre industry.

www.ronintraynor.com

SAFD Certified Teacher, Professional Fight Director

Robert Tink Tuftee has choreographed or performed fights for the Metropolitan Opera, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Athena Theatre, National Black Theatre Co., The Women’s Project, La Mama, Brooklyn College, University of Iowa and others. He has taught at the Summer Sling, Winter Wonderland Workshop, National Stage Combat Workshop, the BASSC Lion Workshop as well as professional actor training in New York.

Tactical Consultant; Fight Director; Instructor

Dave White is currently the lead and fight coordinator in a film called Alpha (written and directed by his son). It has received several nominations in Germany, Milan Italy, and is now in London. It has won best screen play and best score. Dave was nominated “Best Actor in Lead Role in Italy.”

Among his many projects and achievements, Dave has also recently choreographed an active shooter scene for a Navy training film. He is a former hostage rescue/drug raid operator (on point) instructor and police officer for 26 years. He has taught and created programs for many law enforcement and military groups such as seal team 4, army intell, FBI Swat, street officers, police academies to training DSS bodyguards for two U.S. Ambassadors. Dave is also currently providing training for active swat team. After retiring, he took acting lessons and started working on various films. He has worked as a tactical consultant for the Discovery Channel’s Spy Tech, Dominion Pictures, and The FBI files. He has worked on many student films at Regent University as well. He was asked to conduct workshops for the Gaity School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland and conducted work shops for Stunt Actors on Vikings and Game of Thrones.

He has worked as choreographer in tactics and gun handling to help actors sell the shot.

Dave is certified in Dt, modified wing chun, Conceal Carry, Baton, Knife, Subgun, weapon retention/takeways, CQB, Hostage rescue, Drug Raids. He has obtained the in SAFD Theatrical Safety Firearms certification. Dave has a Facebook page called “Tactical Film Fighting Academy” and conducts more in-depth workshops for actors and stunt actors in the Hampton Roads area and beyond.

SAFD Advanced Actor/Combatant, Actor, Director and Fight Director

Britain Willcock is an Actor, Director, and Fight Choreographer in the greater Chicago area and serves as the Assistant Coordinator of the Virginia Beach Bash. He currently choreographs for the mainstage productions at Northwestern University and is an Adjunct Professor in the Theatre Department. Past credits there include “Big Love”, “Hit the Wall”, “True West”, “Agamemnon”, and many more. Two upcoming productions at NU are “Twelfth Night” and the world premiere of “Ever in the Glades”, slated to travel to the Kennedy Center this Spring. Other projects include choreographing the premiere of “Sight Unseen” at Adventure Stage Chicago, he was a participant in Chicago’s “Fight Night X” with an original piece, and he is working on an original full length stage combat production. Britain is also the Artistic Director of “Honest Theatre” in Chicago and an acting company member with the “Imaginez Ensemble”.

Stage and Screen Combat Workshop