TH 240SEM—Introduction to Stage Combat

This course is designed to introduce students to the basics of unarmed stage combat. We will explore techniques designed to both keep actors safe, and create a convincing illusion of violence onstage. As we go along, we will develop strength, flexibility, hand/eye coordination, athleticism, and an eye for dramaturgy as it pertains to staged violence. Students will also develop partnering skills, spatial awareness, and increase their comprehension of character development. While performance experience is not a requirement for this class, students are expected to understand the fundamentals of acting, including character and script analysis, basic stagecraft, and rehearsal technique. It is recommended, but not required, that students have prior performance/character analysis experience such as might be gained in TH108.