The Lindale Theatre Department met with a professional stage combat instructor on September 6. This helped prepare for their upcoming production of ‘The Taming of the Shrew.’

“Hand combat involves everything from falls, hits, and slaps to kisses on stage,” theatre director Kari McKenzie said. “With students, we are always striving for safe combat. Now, they actually know a safe and effective way to institute on-stage combat.”

During the class, attendees learned multiple types of stage combat. It ranged from hand-to-hand combat, kicking, slapping, kissing and sword combat.

“It’s different from what we have learned in the past,” senior Maddie Mezzell said. “It’s precise and calculated, but it is also fun and beneficial to all the theater students.”

In some portions of ‘The Taming of the Shrew,’ there are complex hand-to-hand combat sequences. This specialty class taught students how to safely and properly execute their action scenes.

 “Now, after [this] class, we should be able to apply what we’ve learned to this show as well as future shows.”

The class was taught by Michael Murray, who happens to be Mckenzie’s nephew. He is currently a student at Stephen F. Austin University, and became certified in the art of stage combat at Kilgore College.

“He is one of the few certified college students in the area,” McKenzie said. “His certification came along with recommendations from the director of Kilgore College and the director of the Texas Shakespeare Festival.”