In March 2025 Flashback Theater Co. will offer two Masterclasses: Building Blocks of Stage Intimacy and Intro to Stage Combat: Unarmed. These masterclasses are part of the Professional Training Ground program and will develop actors’ skills in two important aspects of the magic of theater.
The first workshop, Building Blocks of Stage Intimacy, will take place the evening of Friday, March 28th from 6pm to 9pm EST. Master Artist Alex George will lead the class, where actors will learn foundational tools of the fastest growing discipline in the American Theater: Intimacy Direction and Coordination. Developing out of the work of fight choreographers, intimacy directors work to not only stage intimate moments, but to create a safer working environment for theater artists on and off stage. In this workshop you will explore the historical context that led to the development of Intimacy Direction and Coordination, learn the core pillars of intimacy, navigate boundary setting and consent onstage, and work to develop your own wellbeing practices surrounding intimacy onstage.
The next day, on Saturday March 29th from 10am to 2pm, participants will dive into Intro to Stage Combat: Unarmed. Alex George will return, this time with Josh Graff, to lead the Masterclass. Both Master Artists are Society of American Fight Directors certified actor-combatants. In Intro to Stage Combat, actors will be introduced to techniques for safely performing unarmed, hand-to-hand combat on stage. Following an introduction to a basic movement vocabulary, actors will be paired up and taught choreography to perform their own unarmed combat scenes. This workshop will give you the skills to safely and effectively pull off punches, slaps, falls, and more on stage.
Each masterclass will give you a foundation for skills to help you be more hireable as an actor. Sign up now to expand your knowledge and add to your resume!
Pricing
Building Blocks of Stage Intimacy: $85
Intro to Stage Combat: Unarmed: $140
Special Package Price for Both Masterclasses: $200
To register, please complete the registration form. Then, FbTC’s Education Coordinator will follow up with you to process payment.
Flashback Theater Co. understands that financial need can be a barrier to accessing high quality theater education. For this reason, we are committed to pricing flexibility for those who cannot pay for the full price of a class. Please fill out this form to apply for financial assistance to cover the cost of the Masterclasses: https://forms.gle/2fszE2npnzaLMAxv7
The deadline for application for financial assistance is 11:59pm EST February 21, 2025
Meet The Artists
Alex George (they/them) is a Chicago actor who grew up on the Flashback stage. Following a high school internship at FbTC that included eight performances, their passionate pursuit of theater that speaks to the soul led them on a fantastic journey throughout the midwest. In 2023, they graduated with their BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where they received the Samuel L. Stickler Faculty Players Award. Though based in Chicago, they work with their LA-based manager to pursue TV, film, and theatre projects nationwide, as well as continuing to serve as the marketing coordinator for Flashback Theater Co. Most recently, they appeared as Rook in A Shadow Bright and Burning with Black Button Eyes Productions, and as Jo (u/s) in Little Women at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. | mxalexgeorge.com
Josh Graff (he/him) is a Chicago based actor, artist, perpetual learner, and lover of life, whose passion for collaborative storytelling began in his rural hometown of Manito, Illinois. His recent production credits include Aslasken in An Enemy of the People (Sub Rosa Theatre Collective), Jim in The Lifespan of a Fact (Riverfront Playhouse), and McQueen/Fight Captain inUrinetown: The Musical (Krannert Center for the Performing Arts). Josh received his BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has a particular passion for stage combat, and received a recommended certification in unarmed combat from the Society of American Fight Directors. In all his work, he hopes to make people feel a richer connection to the wider world.
What is the Professional Training Ground Program?
The Professional Training Ground encompasses all of Flashback’s artist development programming. Our programming is designed to strengthen the work of our local performing artists. At Flashback Theater Co, we believe that theater education is a lifelong pursuit, and our artists thrive when given the opportunity to continually develop their skills and technique.