Easter Weekend, 3rd and 4th, 2026 in Ruston, Louisiana at Louisiana Tech University's Lambright Sports & Wellness Center.
Early bird pricing starts January 1, 2026!
(Early bird pricing ends March 28th)
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The Stage Combat Workshop at Louisiana Tech University is one of the oldest regional stage combat workshops in the country. Since its inception in 1992, the workshop has grown into one of the most widely respected and exciting workshops available. We offer a variety of classes to keep students at all skill levels engaged. Entering its 35th year, the SCW @ LATech has bigger and better things in store for those who attend the 2025 workshop. For those new to the stage combat world, this is a wonderful introduction to the art and for advanced students, it's a great opportunity for networking and professional development.
The workshop has survived and thrived through the years due to the sharing of ideas and inspiration that each and every person brings to this event. We would be happy to have you and hope to see you there!
-Tech Theatre Players
The workshop is a two-day workshop.
It will involve very strenuous exercise with five classes a day lasting eighty minutes each.
Please bring clothing that will allow you flexibility and freedom of movement.
Bring any braces, pads, and supports that will assist you in gaining the most of each class.
Proper footwear is required to work in the Lambright Facility. Running shoes, boots, sports trek shoes, and black soled shoes are NOT allowed. You must have court shoes or shoes with non-scuffing soles.
Please be sure to bring water or a refillable bottle. Water fountains will be available.
Due to the strenuous exercise, be sure to bring deodorant and anything else to keep you feeling and smelling fresh. During classes you will likely be in close proximity with others, so please be mindful.
Breaks during the day consist of a one hour and thirty-minute lunch, twenty minutes between each class, and an afternoon tea respite for thirty minutes.
If you have your own stage weapons you may be allowed to use them. Please check with the instructor of the class before class begins.
Stage combat weapons will be provided in classes for those who need them.
Minors will be allowed to participate with parental consent and approval of the workshop sponsor, Mark Guinn. Please refer any questions concerning this matter to Mark at 318.257.2711
Each time slot will have a minimum of one starter, one beginner, one intermediate, one advanced class, and one open class option.
Starter classes are geared towards those individuals who have never performed staged violence before and are just taking their first steps towards being a swashbuckler!
Beginning classes are for those students who have a basic understanding of stage combat but are still working to develop a foundation.
Intermediate classes are for those with a command of fundamental techniques who can easily accomplish basic to complex choreographic phrases.
Advanced classes are for individuals with significant self-awareness, a complete physical vocabulary of weapons techniques, and strong acting skills.
Open classes are designed to be taken by anyone; not too challenging for a beginning student, but still engaging for an advanced student.
*Remember, just because you feel comfortable taking an Intermediate or Advanced class in a particular weapon doesn't mean all of your classes should be at that level!
For example, it would not be advisable to take an intermediate quarterstaff class with no experience under your belt just because you have a Recommended Pass in knife and are capable of taking intermediate knife classes.
In general, each day of classes is structured as follows:
Registration 7:30am-8:30am
Announcements 8:30am - 8:50am
Class #1: 9:00 am - 10:20am
Class Break: 10:20am - 10:40am
Class #2: 10:40am - 12:00pm
Lunch: 12:00pm - 1:30pm (Lambright Closes from 12:15pm - 1:00pm)
Class #3: 1:30pm - 2:50pm
Class Break: 2:50pm - 3:10pm
Class #4: 3:10pm - 4:30pm
Afternoon Tea: 4:30pm - 5:00pm
Class #5: 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Lambright Closes @ 8:00pm
The official schedules of classes will not be available until the day the Workshop begins.
The Louisiana Tech Workshop offers its attendees the opportunity for Skills Proficiency Renewals. Each of the weapon disciplines recognized by the Society of American Fight Directors must be renewed every 3 years to keep a current status. There is NO TIME LIMITATION for students who have passed their Skills Proficiency Test to renew (so even if you have waited more than three years, you may still take a renewal rather than repeating the entire SPT process). And if you haven't trained for a while, the Workshop is a great opportunity to take some brush-up classes before you try to renew.
Some things you should know:
1. There is an additional fee associated with taking an SPR. This fee is required by the Society of American Fight Directors; it is not dictated by this workshop and is therefore not something you can negotiate with our workshop staff.
2. Students wishing to renew with the potential for Recommended Pass must perform a scene with their choreography.
3. The renewal process may take up to two class periods and will be agreed upon by the student and instructor.
For more information about skills proficiency testing or renewal please visit the Society of American Fight Directors Homepage.
If you are interested in renewing at the Louisiana Tech Workshop please mark so when you register but also email us at techtheatreplayers@gmail.com to confirm.
Early Bird: $180 (ends March 28th)
Standard: $250
Late (@Door): $250
Group Rates (5+ People): Starts at $175 per person
So you want to attend the Stage Combat Workshop at Louisiana Tech University? AWESOME! Below are the THREE steps you need to complete to be considered fully registered for the Stage Combat Workshop. Once you have completed all 3 steps and your registration has been processed you will receive an email confirming that you are registered for the 2026 SCW!
Complete the SCW Registration Form above and click submit.
Sign (physically, not typed) the Holds Harmless Form below and either scan and email it to us at techtheatreplayers@gmail.com or bring it with you to the Workshop. You will have to initial to accept the holds harmless on the Registration Form but you must ALSO turn in a copy of the Holds Harmless digitally or physically.
Complete payment. You can pay online via our Square store ( tech-theatre-players.square.site ).
If you have any trouble with the payment process, please email us at:
techtheatreplayers@gmail.com
SUBJECT LINE: PAYMENT ISSUE
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION TO OPEN EARLY JANUARY
Tech Theatre Players and The Stage Combat Workshop at Louisiana Tech are looking for AI’s for our Associate Instructor Program. This is a call for applicants to submit for four AI positions at the workshop. The accepted AI’s will be the lead teachers on the starter track at the workshop. They will receive feedback and mentorship by members of the staff of the Stage Combat Workshop. Please email all submission materials below to Andrew Dylan Ray at adray@latech.edu by February 21, 2026 at 5pm Eastern.
Letter of Intent
Stage Combat Teaching Resume or CV
One Reference CT, FD or FM (Name, Email and Phone Number)
1. Registration includes a Workshop T-Shirt and two full days of classes (tanks are an available upgrade.)
2. You must fill out the Registration and Holds Harmless forms.
3. If your forms are not filled out and filed with the Tech Theatre Players, you WILL NOT be allowed to participate in classes! You must initial that you accept the holds harmless form on the Registration Form AND turn in a signed copy of the Holds Harmless either digitally or physically.
4. Refunds are issued on a case by case basis, pending approval from the Tech Theatre Players Executive Board. Two weeks prior to the date of the event, no more requests for refunds will be considered.
Payment links on this website use Square.
You may pay securely online through Square. You must turn in the Registration and Holds Harmless forms and pay before your registration will be considered complete. All Square payments will include an additional tax of 2.8% + 30 cents per transaction to cover Square fees/applicable sales tax.
Q: What is this "stage combat" business anyway?
A: Stage combat is the development of choreographed violence for the stage or screen. Using techniques developed by the Society of American Fight Directors, actors can perform exciting and heart-pounding choreography, all while maintaining the highest level of safety and peak performance.
Q: Is stage combat for me?
A: Are you interested in taking your acting and performance to another level? Yes. This is absolutely for you. All sorts of people can perform and enjoy stage combat! There will be people of all levels of combat abilities in attendance! Whether you're a pro or have never done a single combat thing in your life- there's something for you at the SCW!
Q: My son/daughter/sibling is interested in attending. Are minors allowed?
A: Minors will be allowed to participate with parental consent and approval of the workshop sponsor, Mark Guinn. Please refer any questions concerning this matter to him by phone (318.257.2711) or via email (mguinn@latech.edu).
Q: Is housing included?
A: No, housing is not included. However, there are a multitude of hotels in the Ruston area as well as quite a few Airbnbs; you can pick the one that is right for you based on price, distance to the workshop, etc. We have partnered with the Hampton Inn in Ruston and invite you to book at this link.
Q: Is food included?
A: Tech Theatre Players will not be providing lunch for partcipants at the 2026 Stage Combat Workshop. However, each morning you will find a coffee/tea station set up. This will again reappear everyday during Tea Time!
Q: I've had to change my plans and can no longer make it to the workshop. Do you have a refund policy?
A: Yes. Refunds are issued on a case by case basis, pending approval from the Tech Theatre Players board. Two weeks prior to the date of the event, no more requests for refunds will be considered. If you would like to request a refund, please do so by emailing us at techtheatreplayers@gmail.com with the subject line: SCW REFUND
Q: I've lost my ______! Do you have a Lost and Found?
A: Yes, there will be a Lost and Found box at the Front Desk. If you are looking for something or have found something - come check with us!
Q: Do you have any first aid at the Workshop?
A: Yes, for small injuries we will have basic first-aid equipment at the Workshop (band-aids, neosporin, cold packs, gauze wraps, etc.)
Q: Do you accept TA applications?
A: No, we will not be accepting TA applications for the 2026 Stage Combat Workshop. TA positions will be held by the qualified members of the Tech Theatre Players.
Additional questions not covered here? Contact us through any media platform at the bottom of the website!
If you are not sure where to stay for the SCW, Tech Theatre Players is once again partnering with Hampton by Hilton of Ruston to get workshop attendees a hotel discount! You can reserve a room by going to the following link:
The LA Tech SCW is held in the Lambright Center on the campus of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. The two closest airports to Ruston are the Monroe Regional Airport (MLU) and the Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV). There is also a Greyhound Bus service which makes a stop in Ruston.
Photos by Phil McMillian