Workshop: Stage Combat Intensive

Hosted by: Maestro Chris Barbeau Owner: Ring of Steel Action Theater and Stunt Troupe
Dates: December 10 & 11 from 10 a.m - 12 p.m., 1 hr lunch break, then 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: St. Dunstan's Theatre Pavilion 400 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Cost: $75 (Both days included in price)

Calling all who have an inner swashbuckling pirate waiting to be released!

From fisticuffs to swordplay, when it comes time to do a stunt on stage, there are plenty of wrong ways in every situation and only a couple of 'right' ways that protect everyone from injury. This workshop will provide a 'safety vocabulary' and a system to allow punches/slaps, falling/rolling and sword-slinging in a fashion that will thrill your audiences and yet keep everyone, from actor to audience, safe!

Planned content will include:

• Introduction to stage swordplay: Safety Protocols, Movement vocabulary and simple fights.
• Introduction Hand-to-Hand: Safety Protocols, Strikes, Blocks and short sequences.
• Introduction to Falling & Rolling: How to get from your Feet to the stage with no bruises, breaks or bumps
• Common stage tasks for Everyman: Pick up the body, carry the body, lay the body down! Holds, restraints and binds.
• Director's Workshop: When you need a stunt coordinator/fight arranger. What to seek and what to avoid.
• Guns &Pyrotechnics, Flying & Hanging, Pointy things and rehearsal protocols.

Vitae for Maestro Christopher Barbeau

Currently the fight director & stunt coordinator for the Michigan Opera Theater, the Toledo Opera, Village Shakespeare Festival and the Michigan Classical Repertory Theater, Maestro Christopher Barbeau has been involved in stunt work for 38 years with 24 feature film credits, over 500 stage credits and more appearances in various venues as a stunt performer than could properly be enumerated. Formerly the fight master for the Michigan Renaissance Festival, he holds a 3rd degree black belt in Aikido, a 2nd degree black belt in Jiu Jitsu, was the national junior epee champion in 1975 and holds a BA from the University of Michigan in English literature, history, philosophy and physics. 22 years ago he created and currently directs the Ring of Steel Action Theatre, teaches a wide variety of classes as a guest instructor at all levels for area schools and provides instruction in theatrical combat and stunts. He has been working with opera singer’s for last 11 years and was a guest artist for both the Philadelphia Opera and Opera Pacific last year as well as a regular invited guest artist at Cornell and for both the National Educational Theater Association’s Michigan and International Thespian Festival. Maestro Barbeau is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors, International Society of Movement Educators, SAG and the United Stuntman’s Association.