alisondornheggen.com
  • Home
  • Current / Upcoming Projects
  • Theatrical Work
    • Acting
    • Directing
    • Fight Choreographer
    • Reviews
  • Arts Administration
  • Links
  • Contact

"There was a great deal of fight choreography, by the talented Alison  ​Dornheggen, and it was organic in a way that stage violence often isn't,"

 - Angela Allen, ChicagoStageStandard.com

The pandemic inspired a lot of positive changes in the professional theater industry, raising internal standards for the quality of work environments it asks its artists to create within.  One of those developments is including an Intimacy Designer / Choreographer on the production team.  Though the concept of Intimacy design and choreography began as early as 2016, creating equitable work environments required producing entities to take greater care and develop an awareness of what exactly we ask actors to do, especially when it comes to physical intimacy on any level.

I have spent time researching the teaching of Chelsea Pace, the leader behind the Intimacy Design / Choreography movement, and what I have realized is how the concepts and approaches being taught are valuable tools throughout all production elements.  I have been incorporating the ID principles into my work as a Fight Choreographer as well as my base knowledge of trauma.  Combining these approaches has changed the way I work with actors, and I am excited to say it has changed for the better.  Being able to protect actors while they maintain their artistic integrity as well as doing justice to the story makes all the difference.


Fight Choreography Credits

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (2/23)       Catherine Bush                              Chicago Academy for the Arts
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY                       Harold Pinter                                  City Lit Theatre                             
THE MARK OF KANE                          Mark Pracht                                   City Lit Theatre
CLUE (Adapted from screenplay)                       Sandy Rustin                                  Mercury Theatre Chicago                
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT*  Stephan Elliot & Allan Scott            Mercury Theatre Chicago
SKATES A New Musical*                    Christine Rae & Rick Briskin            HHWTS Productions
MACBETH                                          William Shakespeare                      Chicago Academy for the Arts
JULIUS CAESAR                                 William Shakespeare                      Chicago Academy for the Arts
SHE KILLS MONSTERS                       Qui Nguyen                                    Chicago Academy for the Arts
MACBETH                                          William Shakespeare                      Chicago Academy for the Arts 
SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE                     Tom Stoppard and Lee Hall            Maine South High School
FOOTLOOSE                                      Dean Pitchford                               Wilmette Center for the Arts
GUYS AND DOLLS                              Frank Loesser                                Wilmette Center for the Arts
AS YOU LIKE IT                                  William Shakespeare                      Chicago Academy for the Arts
OLIVER!                                             Lionel Bart                                     Wilmette Center for the Arts
​ROMEO & JULIET                               William Shakespeare                      Chicago Academy for the Arts

L'IMBECILE                                         Aaron Adair                                   Babes With Blades Theatre Company
PETER PAN                                        JM Barrie                                       Wilmette Children's Theatre
THE NUTCRACKER                             Pytor Tchaikovsky                         Wilmette Center for the Arts
LYSISTRATA                                        Aristophanes                                 American University 
MACBETH                                           William Shakespeare                     National Cathedral School
THE ODYSSEY                                    Gregory A. Falls and                       National Cathedral School
                                                          Kurt Beattie
‘NIGHT MOTHER                                Marsha Norman                             20% Theatre Company Chicago  
DIDO, QUEEN OF CARTHAGE             Christopher Marlowe                      Camenae Ensemble Theatre          
BABES WITH BLADES:                       Various                                           Babes With Blades Theatre Company
   CLIFFHANGERS§
THE LONESOME WEST                       Martin McDonough                        Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
BABES WITH BLADES: THE                 Various                                          Babes With Blades Theatre Company
   MUSIC VIDEOS§                             
MARISOL                                              Jose Rivera                                   greasy joan & co.
DAVID & LISA                                       James Reach                                 College of DuPage
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS                    William Shakespeare                     greasy joan & co.
* Denotes Fight and Intimacy Choreography 
§ Co-Fight Choreographer (within ensemble)
 

Assistant Fight Choreography and Fight Consultant Credits

ALL MY SONS                                       Arthur Miller                               Oak Park Festival Theatre
DEATHTRAP                                          Ira Levin                                      Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
ACCOMPLICE                                        Rupert Holmes                            Buffalo Theatre Ensemble

Education
Masters of the Arts Candidate and Graduate Fellow, American University
Bachelor of the Arts in Directing and Acting, Columbia College Chicago
                Instructor: David Woolley, Fight Master, S.A.F.D.               
S.A.F.D. National Actor’s Ensemble Workshop, Celebration Barn
                Instructors: J. Allen Suddeth, K. Jenny Jones, David Woolley

Related Experience
  - SAFD trained  in unarmed, rapier & dagger, Small Sword, Broadsword, Sword and Shield, Knife, Quarterstaff, and Single Sword
 -  Teaching Assistant to John McFarland at Columbia College Chicago
 -  Ensemble member, Babes With Blades Theatre Company
 -  greasy joan & co emeritus member (active company member, 2001-2003)
 -  Recipient of the Saints Morton M. Friedman Award for excellence in the Arts

References available upon request

Photo credit: BWBTC's production of Girl in the Iron Mask, photo by Johnny Knight 
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Current / Upcoming Projects
  • Theatrical Work
    • Acting
    • Directing
    • Fight Choreographer
    • Reviews
  • Arts Administration
  • Links
  • Contact