Biography
DAVID WOOLLEY, BFA, AEA, SDC, SAFD, Professor of Instruction- Theatre, Combat Coordinator
David Woolley is a veteran of Chicago Theatre: a Fight Master with the Society of American Fight Directors, a member of both Actors Equity Association and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and performs as Guido Crescendo in Dirk and Guido the Swordsmen! (now in his 32nd season). He is now in his 39th year teaching at Columbia College Chicago.
He has staged fights for over 400 productions since 1982, including: Sweat, Paramount Theater (Joseph Jefferson Nomination, Best Fight Choregoraphy, 2021); Playboy of the Western World, Raven Theater (Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Fight Choreography 2014); Superior Donuts, Mary Arrchie Theatre Company (Joseph Jefferson nomination for best fight direction 2012; the Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Teatro Vista at Victory Gardens (Jeff Award for Best Fight Direction, 2010); Norma and Wanda, the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, Mich, (Oakland Press Award for Best Choreography 2005); Les Liasons Dangereuse, Interplay Theatre, (Off-Loop Theatre Award for Best Fight Direction 1991). For his body of work in 1988, he was awarded a Special Joseph Jefferson Award for Consistent Excellence in Stage Combat Choreography, (14 productions including all the nominated best productions). At Chicago Columbia College he coordinates the violent needs of a burgeoning department (including the stage combat minor), collaboration with Cinema Arts for their needs, and teaches 3 classes of combative arts.
He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the Goodman School of Drama at Depaul University, 1981. Fight nicely everyone.
Instructional Areas
Stage Combat, Shakespeare, History
Creative Practice and Research Interests
Historical weaponry, Martial styles, Theatrical Violence, Psychology of Killing and survival, Renaissance and Medieval Art, Action films, plays and television series
Degrees
B.F.A., Acting DePaul University 1981