BY NICOLE BERNARDI-REIS
Chicago actors who wish to sharpen their stage combat skills don’t have to leave the city limits to train in unarmed combat, rapier and dagger, broadsword, quarterstaff and more. Located on Chicago’s northside, the newly opened Chicago Stage Combat Academy, 3856 N. Lincoln Ave., offers area actors both introductory and advanced classes in classic stage combat disciplines.
The academy, which opened last month, was founded by fight choreographer Brian LeTraunik to meet a growing need for focused combat training. LeTraunik, who trained at Columbia College with fight master David Woolley, has previously taught stage combat for Act One Studios and Victory Gardens Theatre Training Center
"I think now the stage combat community in Chicago is such that people want a forum where they can get advanced training, more specific training," he said. "While there are other places to get training, there are a limited number of stage combat classes offered outside of a university setting.
"Stage combat as art form has come into its own. You see a number of people teaching and choreographing now," he added. In fact, since earning his actor/combatant status in 1996, LeTraunik has choreographed over 20 professional Chicagoland productions for such theatres as Bailiwick Repertory, Circle Theatre, Red Hen Productions and Profiles Theatre.
LeTraunik also sees a rise in the number of theatres using fight choreographers for contemporary productions, which he believes has thrown a different light on stage combat and increased the demand for this type of training.
"It used to be that actors would think stage combat and equate it with classical theatre," he said. "The majority of the stage combat we do is in contemporary plays. Almost every contemporary playwright has violence in his or her work. We live in increasingly violent culture that is reflected in its dramatic literature."
In addition to classes taught by LeTraunik and Angela Bonacasa, who are both certified by the Society of American Fight Directors, the academy will also offer the SAFD’s three weapon Skills Proficiency Test, enabling students to test for their actor/combatant status.
LeTraunik also plans to maximize the relationships he has built with fight teachers from around the country by offering weekend workshops that focus on specific, sometimes esoteric topics.
"I have so many friends and colleagues around the country with specialized skills," he said. "There is such a wealth of knowledge out there, and I want to be able to share it with people who may not have time or means to travel take these various classes."
Recent workshops have included a two-day actor combatant renewal workshop and Geoff Kent’s "Good Cop, Bad Cop," a workshop on police techniques including takedowns and cuffing. Kent based the class on his experience studying law enforcement techniques used by the Denver police and adapting them for the stage.
The Chicago Stage Combat Academy is located at 3856 N. Lincoln Ave. Classes are open to anyone 18 years and older, and are limited to 10 people. The cost is $250 for eight weekly classes. The next session of classes begins in. For more information on the Chicago Stage Combat Academy, call 773/755-0525.