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Southern Oregon University

Ashland Center for Theatre Studies

2011 Elective Course

Stage Combat

July 24 - 29, 2011

Ashland, Oregon

A week-long, 3-credit, graduate level course geared toward high school and community college theatre educators, covering an introduction to stage combat basics and choreographic techniques:

  • Learn physical warm-ups from akido and other disciplines
  • Discover trust, safety, partnering, and distance exercises
  • Develop basic hand-to-hand combat skills
  • Get a taste of partnered, armed-combat work
  • Explore how to act a fight and add realistic vocalizations during a stage fight
  • Build choreography skills while creating your own stylized and non-realistic fights
  • Investigate ways to use a fight director as part of the design team
  • Discuss special issues such as young performers, red-light fever, kills, mass battles and brawls, blood, and specific contemporary and period plays
  • Address safety, liability issues, weapon selection and maintenance, and qualifications and certifications of fight directors
  • View and analyze Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Julius Caesar.

Faculty:

Chris Duval, University of Idaho Assistant Professor of voice, movement and stage combat.
John Toppo, OSF Fight Director and SOU Acting and Movement Faculty

Here's what our students say:

  • "Exceeded my expectations. I especially liked the idea of stylizing combat concepts."
  • "I loved the practicality and the emphasis on safety and creativity."
  • "Amazing amounts of information that I can take directly into the classroom and feel confident and comfortable."
  • "Both teachers were well prepared, supportive, energetic, fun, and passionate about what they do."
Daily Schedule
7:00-8:00 am Breakfast
9:00-11:30 am Open: homework, research, etc.
11:30 am-12:30 pm Lunch
12:30-2:30 pm Afternoon session 1
3:00-5:00 pm Afternoon session 2
5:00-6:30 pm Dinner
Evening Schedule 2009
Sunday 7/26

7:00pm Welcome reception, orientation 8:30pm OSF play

                                                                   - Julius Caesar 
Monday 7/27  Evening session 7:00-9:00pm
Tuesday 7/28

Evening session 7:00-8:30pm

Practice and coaching available 8:30-10pm
Wednesday 7/29  Work on presentations
Thursday 7/30  Evening session 7:00-9:00pm

Application Information

Application deadline is postmarked April 1, 2011. Space is limited to twenty students.

Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree or permission of the instructor. ACTS Master of Theatre Studies students get first priority. This course may serve as one of the required additional 3-credit courses toward the Master of Theatre Studies degree.

Complete the Elective Course Application Form and include application deposit and resume. Note: ACTS Master of Theatre Studies applicants do not need to send additional deposit and resume; simply check the box on the Master of Theatre Studies Application Form indicating you also want to attend this course.

We will send notification letters postmarked in mid April. At that time we will send you your pre-session assignment. You will be billed separately by SOU for your tuition and housing.


2011 Fees

Tuition $945
Materials/tickets $94

An application deposit of $50 ($80 if application postmarked after April 1, 2011) must accompany your application if you are not also applying for the Master of Theatre Studies.

Elective one week courses

Six nights of lodging (July 24 arrival, July 30 departure)

Single room  $330
Double room  $210
Meal plan

$178
(breakfast 7/25 - through breakfast 7/30, includes lunch and dinner)
Additional nights of Lodging
May be reserved at $55 per night, regardless of double or single accommodation; no meals will be available.