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 INNOCENCE OF SEDUCTION* Mark Pracht City Lit Theatre
ROCK OF AGES* Chris D'Arienzo Mercury Theatre Chicago
THE THREE MUSKETEERS 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
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 INNOCENCE OF SEDUCTION* Mark Pracht City Lit Theatre
ROCK OF AGES* Chris D'Arienzo Mercury Theatre Chicago
THE THREE MUSKETEERS 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
