USU Stage Combat Course Helps Performers Maintain Safety, Realism

Utah State University’s Department of Theatre Arts is offering a unique, immersive stage combat class. Led by Theatre Arts Professor Paul Mitri, this course transcends traditional training, empowering students with a dynamic infusion of skill, confidence and employability.

In the heart of this class lies a blend of techniques, from unarmed combat to the artistry of wielding weapons such as the quarterstaff, broadsword and found weapons (a form of finding items to use as weapons during a conflict). Yet it’s more than just mastering moves; it’s about crafting scenes that captivate audiences while ensuring the safety of every performer.

Combat in the immersive stage combat class taught by Professor Paul Mitri, a seasoned expert in the field, emphasize the delicate balance between realism and safety.

“They learn the techniques to make the fights look as real as possible while maintaining safety,” Mitri said. “As you get tired, you get unsafe, so they need to keep that safety in their final project when they showcase all the types of combat learned that semester.”

Training in stage combat also gives actors an advantage as they apply for jobs.

“It’s a real specialized skill, so if you have studied it, it sets you apart from your generic actor," Mitri said. “It also opens up the job market for you. You can become a fight choreographer for stage or screen because most of the same techniques go into film and TV — the angles are just different.”

What sets this class apart is its transformative impact beyond the stage. Mia Gatherum, who took the class last semester, attests to its influence on personal growth.

“This class was an excellent way to learn how to center myself and build my strength,” she said. “I learned a lot about myself and my physical boundaries and how I could push them to give me the confidence to do the more advanced moves.”

Mitri loves seeing students learn something that seemed very difficult at the beginning of the semester.

“When you break it down move by move and teach each little part that leads up to it, when they finally do it, they are amazing,” Mitri said. “I love seeing them mastering something that they originally looked at and went, ‘There’s no way I can do that.’”

By the end of the semester, Gatherum had the courage and confidence to get flipped backward over her partners’ backs.

The benefits of stage combat extend beyond the classroom for Gatherum. The skills she gained — such as strength, endurance and determination — have spilled over into other aspects of her life, pushing her to engage in additional strength training to maintain her combat readiness for future roles.

“Because of stage combat, I have begun strength training to keep up the level of endurance from class so I can use my skills quickly the next time I am in a scene that requires combat,” Gatherum said. “Eventually, I would love to be certified in my training not only because it is a good tool to have on my resume but also because it is one of the coolest skills I have learned during my time at Utah State University.”

Gatherum took part in the stage combat class this past year, but she is only one of many students who engage in the class and showcase their skills each year. Students have the unique opportunity to build this skillset that isn’t offered at every university’s theater program.

Check out the video from the most recent class on the USU Theatre Arts YouTube Channel.