ACADEMY 2026: Stage Combat

Stage Combat

One of the tools any well-rounded actor should have in their back pocket is the ability to perform stage violence. Nothing worse than seeing a good Hamlet through 5 Acts, only to have him be laughable in the climactic fight scene. Having the basic knowledge and vocabulary of combat means that you can audition for, and accept more highly physical roles, and add those skills to your resume. When you find yourself up for a physical role, you can go into the audition with confidence, and when you accept the role you can tell a story rather than just perform a “fight”.

This class will explore the basic tools that actors should have when faced with a physical altercation in a play or film, and is called Combat and Violence, because most of what you will be asked to perform won’t necessarily be “combat,” but could be falling down the stairs or ripping off your festering toenail.

Understanding how our bodies react to violence, and where that strength and power comes from is what we’ll begin to learn. To fall, tumble, slap or be slapped; that is the question. In this class, we’ll learn techniques and perform hand-to-hand combat moves with precision and control, yet with strength, power, and the fully committed intention of the character. We’ll also begin to learn the basics of swordplay focusing on movement and footwork.  

And because we all want to be able to do every show, 8 shows a week, or multiple takes on set, our focus will always be, safety first.

July 7th, July 14th, July 21st, July 28th

*Please note, students under 18 require permission from the moderator to take this academy class/workshop. If you’re in this category, please reach out to us at academy@antaeus.org.

About Bo Foxworth
Bo's combat work started while at UCLA where he was a competitive fencer on UCLA’s Saber team ranking 6th in the conference. During that time he began to study with fight coordinator and weapons expert Anthony Delongis learning weapons ranging from swords to bullwhips. He studied with fightmasters Greg Michaels, Dale Girard, and Broadway fight coordinator Rick Sordelet, and had the privilege to workshop with the renowned fight choreographer B.H. Barry.

In Los Angeles, he has been the fight choreographer for numerous productions at The Geffen, Antaeus, Theatre of Note, Shakespeare Orange County, and Pasadena Playhouse where he received a 2018 Ovation nomination for fight direction in the production of Belleville.

He is a graduate of UCLA and received his MFA at the Yale School of Drama.

As an actor, Bo has worked in numerous theaters throughout Los Angeles including I.C.T., South Coast Rep, The Pasadena Playhouse, The Fountain Theatre, Shakespeare Orange County (Board Member), The Skylight Theatre, Ensemble Theater Company, La Mirada, Laguna Playhouse, The Geffen, Disney Hall, LATheatreWorks, Boston Court Pasadena, The Hollywood Bowl and A Noise Within where he received two Ovation nominations. He is a proud member of The Antaeus Theatre Company, most recently seen as Joe Keller in All My Sons. Other productions include Cloud 9 in which he was an LADCC and a Stage Raw Best Actor recipient and The Crucible (Ovation nomination). New York and Regional theaters include: The Hit Off-Broadway show As Bees in Honey Drown at the Lucille Lortel, The Century Theater, HERE, The Pearl Theater; The Shakespeare Theater D.C., Vienna’s English Theater, The Long Wharf, Baltimore Center Stage, Playmakers Rep, The Old Globe, The Yale Rep, and many others. He has numerous film and television credits including Law & Order SVU, Criminal Minds, Castle, Modern Family, VEEP, and the HBO movie All The Way with Bryan Cranston.