Unarmed Combat Workshop with Anthony Guest
Date: Saturday, May 9th
Time: 6-8pm
Cost: $50
Location: The Inspired Acting Company
1124 E. West Maple Dr.
Walled Lake, MI 48390
Workshop Description
The stage slap is one of the most common - and frequently mishandled - moments in physical storytelling. Whether it's a dramatic climax or a comedic punctuation mark, a poorly executed slap can lead to injuries, broken trust, and a canceled headshot session. This workshop is designed to find balance between believability and actor safety when workin on slaps for the stage.
Topics will include:
- The Anatomy of the Illusion: Master the mechanics of the stage slap, focusing on distance, eye contact, and the "knap" (the sound of the impact).
- Protecting the 8x10: Learn specific techniques to ensure your face - and your partner's - remains untouched and ready for your close up
- The Art of the "Knap": Discoer how to create effective sound effects without ever making skin-to-skin contatct with your partner's cheek
- The Polite "No": How to advocate and protect yourself if ever asked to perform a real slap
- The Concent Contract: Implementing a repeatable system of chekcing in with your partner before engaging in fight choreography
Who should take this workshop?:
- Actors looking to sharpen their phsyical toolkit
- Directors who want to keep their cast safe and their scenes believable
- Students entering the professional world who need to know their rights in the rehearsal hall
Don't leave your safety to chance. Learn to sell the story, keep your teeth, and protect the 8x10!
Meet the Instructor
Anthony Guest (he/him) is a professional actor, director, and fight choreographer who serves as an Associate Professor of Theatre at Oakland University in Rochester, MI. Anthony's pedagogy focuses on acting, with specializated expertise in comedic technique and stage combat.
Professionally, Anthony is a frequent collaborator at Meadow Brook Theatre - Michigan's only LORT contract house - where recent acting credits include Noises Off and A Christmas Carol; and fight direction for Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure and Catch Me If You Can.
Beyond Michigan, his career includes a tenure in New York City with credits ranging from Macbeth (Expanded Arts) to CBS's Guiding Light. His regional work spans the Missouri Repertory Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and teh Tony Award-winning year at Utah Shakespearean Festival. A noted fight director, he has choreographed for Mill Mountain Theatre, Shakespeare in Detroit, Fenton Shakespeare Festival, and Meadow Brook Theatre.
Anthony holds an MFA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a BS in Biology with a Theatre minor form University of Michigan-Flint. He is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA) and the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD).
Registration Information:
Advanced registration is required, as space is limited. Full refunds are available with at least 72 hours' notice. If you are unable to attend, please notify us as soon as possible so your spot may be offered to another participant.