2019 Interns
David P. Schneider - Head Intern
David P Schneider is a recognized Advanced Actor-Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors and has been training since 2001. He has choreographed violence for numerous shows around town, including Park Square’s August: Osage County, Tedious Brief’s Bard Fiction, Hamlet at Theatre in the Round, ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore for Classical Actor’s Ensemble, Cromulent Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Richard III and Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hot ‘N’ Throbbing and Teach Me Tonight with 20% Theatre, and several fights for the MN Renaissance Festival. He appeared as a sword fighter in MN Opera’s Romeo and Juliet, and has performed around the twin cities since 2003 with numerous companies including Theatre in the Round, Classical Actor’s Ensemble, Six Elements Theatre, Flaneur Productions, Green T Productions, and Off Leash Area. He is the owner of Northern Edge Armory, a theatrical weapons rental/maintenance house based in Minneapolis. For more info, please visit www.northernedgearmory.com
Connor Blankenship
Connor Blankenship is a SAFD certified Advanced Actor Combatant from Louisville, KY currently residing in Milwaukee, WI. Connor has been involved in numerous productions in both states, as well as Indiana University where he studied Theatre and Martial Arts. Recently, he became certified with Muscle Activation Techniques, so that he can work other actors and combatants to help strengthen their bodies and prevent injuries from occurring. This is his first year at the Brawl and he is excited to help and fight.
Melissa Miller
Melissa Miller has been an actor combatant with the SAFD since the summer of 2017. She carries an MFA in Theatre Performance and Pedagogy from Texas Tech and a BFA in Theatre Performance from Wichita State. Melissa currently works as an actor and educator in the Twin Cities.
Kate Peters
Kate Peters is a recent MN transplant from Indiana. In addition to her position as a teaching assistant for Art In Arms, LLC, Kate is working as a performer/fight choreographer/props master for the upcoming Human Combat Chess 2019. Other projects include New Voices Opera 2017 (Props Master), Fiddler on the Roof for South Bend Civic Theatre (Assistant Stage Manager), and She Kills Monsters for Collins LLC (Tilly Evans / Director / Props Master).
Sydney Schwindt
Sydney Schwindt is an actor, fight director, teaching artist, and illustrator. She is also a resident artist with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival. Favorite Fight Director Credits; Cyrano de Bergerac Livermore Shakespeare Festival; Hamlet San Francisco Shakespeare Festival; Romeo & Juliet, Cyrano de Bergerac, Three Musketeers Davis Shakespeare Festival. Favorite Acting Credits: Davis Shakespeare Festival, Arabian Shakespeare, Hampton Theatre Company, Hartford Stage, Berkeley Rep, and others. Education: BFA Hartt School of Music, Dance, and Theatre, SAFD, DAI, SF Clown Conservatory, Accademia Dell'Arte. www.sydney-schwindt.com
Will Snyder
Will is freaking ecstatic to be on the staff for Brawl of America 2019! Will is originally from Memphis, TN but now lives in Chicago, IL where he has trained under Chuck Coyl, Neil Massey, and Chris Elst to name a few. With passes in all 8 weapons, Will began his journey with the SAFD in 2012 where he received his first weapon certification under the tutelage of the incredible Jenny Male. Before getting into stage combat, Will was a professional wrestler for a few years in the Middle TN area, and loves to incorporate pro wrestling moves into his violence design. Since living in Chicago, Will has choreographed fights for Clock Productions, Windy City Music Theatre, and assisted in choreographing fights for the Jeff Award Winning show (for Best Fight Choreography) The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. When not performing stage combat, Will is producing for his audio drama company, Evil Kitten Productions, which you can visit at www.evilkittenproductions.com. Will would like to the thank his bad ass wife Rachel for all her support.