Chuck Coyl | John Tovar | Stephanie Repin | Dan Pesina | Brian Plocharczyk | Carisa Barreca | John MacFarland | Kelvin | Marcus Davis
Chuck Coyl
Adjuticator SPR 1
Chuck Coyl will be the first adjudicator for Fight Jam’s SAFD Renewal Workshops! Chuck has been a professional fight director for over 20 years and was president of the Society of American Fight Directors for two terms. Stage credits include the Broadway and London productions of August: Osage County, and The Crucible and Superior Donuts at the Steppenwolf Theatre. Film and television credits include work as stunt coordinator for episodes of the Moments in Time series on the History Channel and episodes of the True Crime Authors series on the Discovery channel. In addition to teaching at The Actor’s Gymnasium, Chuck is a member of the North Carolina Stuntmen’s Association and a founding member of the Single Action Theatre Company.
John Tovar
Teacher SPR 1
John Tovar will be our first teacher for Fight Jam’s SAFD Renewal Workshops! John is an actor, fight choreographer, an SAFD Certified Teacher and currently serves as their Vice-President. He holds a Bachelors degree in performance from Illinois State University, where he was the recipient of the prestigious Jean Scharfenberg Acting Award. John has taught stage combat at DePaul University, Illinois State University, Ball State University, The Actor’s Gymnasium, and was a Guest Artist at Roosevelt University. He has also taught at The Winter Wonderland Workshop (where he is the Coordinator), Seattle Sockeye, Rumble in the Rockies, Havoc in the Heartland, and the North Carolina School of the Arts Summer Session: Introduction to Stage Combat. Currently, John teaches theatre courses at the College of DuPage and stage combat at Elgin Community College. Selected productions that John has choreographed include Accomplice and Ruthless: The Musical (Noble Fool Theatricals), Temporary Help and Communicating Doors (Buffalo Theatre Ensemble), Robin Hood and The Glory of Living (College of DuPage), Bat Boy: The Musical (Ball State University), and Cyrano de Bergerac (Independent Players). Selected roles include Dr. Caius in The Merry Wives of Windsor(Illinois Shakespeare Festival), Ronald in The Altruists (Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.), Gerstein in Ghetto(Famous Door Theatre Co.), Dr. Astrov in Uncle Vanya and James in That Championship Season(Independent Players). John resides in St. Charles with his wonderful wife, Colleen.
Stephanie Repin
Jam 6: Fightin’ Women
Stephanie Repin presented the Jam “Fightin’ Women!” Stephanie is the Artistic Director of Babes with Blades. Her leap into stage combat began in 1986, and she feels fortunate to have been able to pursue this passion actively since. She has had the pleasure of training with many teachers, including SAFD Fight Master David Woolley, but is happily gobsmacked at how much she learns on a daily basis from the band of amazing women in the Babes. Stephanie has been seen on stage all around the Chicago area and in Montreal. Her choreography has been featured (with and without her) on many stages in Chicago and in several independent films. Both Stephanie and her choreography can be seen in a 2007 Ask.com Algorithm Search national commercial. Early in her career, she spent 10 years performing with the children’s theater company Emanon, and served for a time as one of two Co-Artistic Directors. Stephanie is also a member of the Independent Fight Directors Guild. If forced to give an answer, Stephanie would admit she prefers to play the villain—although she has been told on occasion that she is funny.
Dan Pesina
Jam 5: Wushu
Dan Pesina gave a lesson on Wushu at Fight Jam 5! Master Daniel Pesina has been studying the martial arts since 1972. He began his formal training with Master Guo Jianhua in 1989 studying both external and internal Wushu. Master Pesina has also studied under many other Chinese living treasures and instructors including Hu Jianqiang (former Chinese National Champion), Lo Minghan (former Hubei Wushu Team member), and Lin Jianhua. Master Pesina has competed both nationally and internationally. He has repeated taken first places and won awards in forms, weapons and fighting on the A.A.U., N.A.S.K.A., and U.S.A. KungFu/Wushu circuits. Dan’s film and multimedia careers include starring roles in Press Start and Book of Swords, as well as co-creator credits for the Mortal KombatTM game as Johnny Cage, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Reptile, Smoke and Noob Saibot. His image has been featured on the cover many magazines including Time Magazine.
Brian Plocharczyk
Jam 4: Shotokan Karate
Brian presented a session on Shotokan Karate at Fight Jam 4! His 15 +years of martial arts experience gives him a unique insight to the world of staged and filmed violence. He has trained with the Society of American Fight Directors, as well as the United Stuntmen Association’s International Stunt School. He was the 2004 recipient of The S.A.F.D. Best Actor/Combatant award. Brian is also a 2 time national champion in Shotokan karate and has been teaching the art form since 1998.
Carisa Barreca
Jam 1:Les Danse Apache
Carissa and Greg taught a lesson on Apache fight/dance for Fight Jam 1! She is one of the co-founders of Matter Dance Company and can also be found performing as an ensemble member with The Cupid Players. Carisa’s focus is comedy in dance and w as awarded the Ann Barzel Award for Entertainment in Dance at this year’s Dance Chicago.
John MacFarland
Jam 1: Contemporary Violence
John presented a session on Contemporary Violence at Fight Jam 1! He is a co-founder of The Winter Wonderland Workshop, a stage combat workshop held every January in Chicago. John has been a Fight Director, Teacher, and Actor in cities such as Boston, New York, London, Las Vegas, Chicago and Detroit. He has taught as a Guest Artist at University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat’s National Workshop, London; Columbia College, Chicago; Impulse Studio Theatre, Chicago and New American Theatre, Rockford IL. John teaches stage combat at Columbia College and is a Fight Director member of the Society of American Fight Directors.
Kelvin
Jam 3: Guns and Knives
Jam 11: Floppin’ Ain’t a Dirty Word
Jam 2.4: Gunslingin’
Kelvin taught a Stage Firearms lesson on safety, handling, and historical posturing at Fight Jam 3, presented as a member of the Chicago Aikido Club at Fight Jam 2, and most recently presented proper falling and rolling techniques for “Flopping is not a dirty word” at Fight Jam 11! Chuck Norris and Kelvin have declared an uneasy truce. Like matter an anti-matter, the mixture of them would cause an unholy reaction from which neither time or light could escape. According to some scientists the Big Bang occurred when both men shook hands in agreeing to that truce. When Kelvin (aka Kel) is not focusing on his first love, snark, he focuses on his craft. He holds a Shodan (1st degree black belt) in the Japanese martial art of Aikido, shoots competitive action pistol matches, and plays with knives. Kelvin has trained with grand master level shooters, master level Aikido (Shihan) instructors, and is a certified armorer. When it comes to teaching the theatre community how to handle guns, he strives to not be political or histrionic. He would rather have a safe, fun, and relaxed time than impress people with macho posturing. Kelvin is particularly fascinated by historical developments and the evolution of combat pistol technique.
Jam November 2011: Environmental Fighting
Marcus is a product of the unofficial Columbia College Actor Combatant track under FM David Woolley and FD John McFarland. Stage choreography credits include Big Love and Dog Sees God, but his specialty comes from three years’ experience on the dusty streets of the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, WI, where he was a member of the fight cast.
