NICK SANDYS
• A.E.A. • S.A.G./A.F.T.R.A. • A.G.M.A. •
Member of The Society of American Fight Directors' College of Fight Masters 2023
SAFD Member -- 1987 to present
First Aid & CPR Certification (renewed 2023)
Joseph Jefferson Award 2008--Outstanding Fight Choreography
Joseph Jefferson Nominations 2008 (x2), 2010, & 2011—Outstanding Fight Choreography
• A.E.A. • S.A.G./A.F.T.R.A. • A.G.M.A. •
Member of The Society of American Fight Directors' College of Fight Masters 2023
SAFD Member -- 1987 to present
First Aid & CPR Certification (renewed 2023)
Joseph Jefferson Award 2008--Outstanding Fight Choreography
Joseph Jefferson Nominations 2008 (x2), 2010, & 2011—Outstanding Fight Choreography
Professional Fight Choreography includes:
Lyric Opera of Chicago - over 70 productions since 1995 including Carmen, Tosca, Macbeth, Faust, Don Giovanni, Bel Canto, Wozzeck, Il Trovatore, Otello, Tristan Und Isolde, Billy Budd, A View From The Bridge The Metropolitan Opera, NYC - Prince Igor (+ HD) (dir. Dmitri Tcherniakov) Giulio Cesare (+ HD) (dir. Sir David McVicar) Il trovatore (dir. Sir David McVicar) Goodman Theatre - over 30 productions including
Swing State (world premiere, dir. Robert Falls 2022; Off-Broadway 2023) The Iceman Cometh (dir. Robert Falls; also BAM 2016) Stage Kiss (world premiere, dir. Jessica Thebus) Ruined (world premiere, dir. Kate Whoriskey) Gem Of The Ocean (world premiere, dir. Marion McLinton 2003) Steppenwolf Theatre Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (dir. Pam MacKinnon; also Broadway; Tony Award 2012 - Best Revival) The Seafarer (dir. Randall Arney) Hot L Baltimore (dir. Tina Landau) |
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Recent Reviews:
Swing State @ Minetta Lane Theatre, NYC, 2023
"... the devastating culmination of the growing tension (with fight direction by Nick Sandys),..." dctheaterarts.org
The Lion In Winter @ Court Theatre, 2023
“Above all, violence and intimacy coordinator Nick Sandys has brilliantly imparted realistic fight choreography and emotional support sequences throughout the entire production.” aroundthetownchicago.com
Carmen @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2023
“A lot of credit must also go to Fight Director Nick Sandys for helping the actors develop high stakes; these versions of Carmen and José are very human, and very dangerous.” aroundthetownchicago.com
Camelot @ Music Theater Works, 2022
"Their excellent combat skills and swordplay is violent and believable, thanks to the guidance of fight choreographer, Nick Sandys" chicagotheaterreview.com
Zorro The Musical @ Music Theater Works, 2022
"Nick Sandys' fight choreography is full of derring-do." WTTW.com
"The real strength and highlight of this production is its music beautifully sung and danced with fire and forcefulness by an excellent cast, as well as some vibrant swordplay and fight choreography, created by Nick Sandys." The Epoch Times
Macbeth @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2021
"The lively and realistic swordplay in the final act ignited sparks, handled expertly by fight director Nick Sandys." Chicago Classical Review
West Side Story @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2019
"...the explosive combat choreography that's one of the show's principal glories. " Chicago Reader
"The physical action is ... orchestrated with ferocious realism by fight director Nick Sandys..." Chicagolandtheaterreviews.com
Jesus Christ Superstar @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2018
"The onstage violence is worthy of notation as well... Fight director Nick Sandys toes the line of brutality and an almost beauty with how he creates these events. It does not shy away from the ferocity by any means but represents it with compassion." Picture This Post
Captain Blood @ First Folio Theatre, January 2017
"Sandys also gets credit for "movement direction," including the thoroughly satisfying fight sequences." Chicago Tribune
"The fight choreography by Nick Sandys is also remarkably good. The movement in this play is some of the best I’ve seen in Chicagoland and kudos for making foil fencing look dangerous and interesting." Edge Media
What Of The Night @ Stage Left/Cor Theatre, Jan 2017
" Violence choreography by Nick Sandys is convincing (and wince-inducing)." ChicagoTheaterBeat.com
King Lear @ Elements Theatre, Aug 2016
"The realistic sword fights are the best I have seen on stage." Cape Cod Chronicle
Bel Canto @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, December 2015
"Nick Sandys' fight direction is also excellent. The physical reactions of the shooting victims are shockingly realistic." parterre.com
Swing State @ Minetta Lane Theatre, NYC, 2023
"... the devastating culmination of the growing tension (with fight direction by Nick Sandys),..." dctheaterarts.org
The Lion In Winter @ Court Theatre, 2023
“Above all, violence and intimacy coordinator Nick Sandys has brilliantly imparted realistic fight choreography and emotional support sequences throughout the entire production.” aroundthetownchicago.com
Carmen @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2023
“A lot of credit must also go to Fight Director Nick Sandys for helping the actors develop high stakes; these versions of Carmen and José are very human, and very dangerous.” aroundthetownchicago.com
Camelot @ Music Theater Works, 2022
"Their excellent combat skills and swordplay is violent and believable, thanks to the guidance of fight choreographer, Nick Sandys" chicagotheaterreview.com
Zorro The Musical @ Music Theater Works, 2022
"Nick Sandys' fight choreography is full of derring-do." WTTW.com
"The real strength and highlight of this production is its music beautifully sung and danced with fire and forcefulness by an excellent cast, as well as some vibrant swordplay and fight choreography, created by Nick Sandys." The Epoch Times
Macbeth @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2021
"The lively and realistic swordplay in the final act ignited sparks, handled expertly by fight director Nick Sandys." Chicago Classical Review
West Side Story @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2019
"...the explosive combat choreography that's one of the show's principal glories. " Chicago Reader
"The physical action is ... orchestrated with ferocious realism by fight director Nick Sandys..." Chicagolandtheaterreviews.com
Jesus Christ Superstar @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2018
"The onstage violence is worthy of notation as well... Fight director Nick Sandys toes the line of brutality and an almost beauty with how he creates these events. It does not shy away from the ferocity by any means but represents it with compassion." Picture This Post
Captain Blood @ First Folio Theatre, January 2017
"Sandys also gets credit for "movement direction," including the thoroughly satisfying fight sequences." Chicago Tribune
"The fight choreography by Nick Sandys is also remarkably good. The movement in this play is some of the best I’ve seen in Chicagoland and kudos for making foil fencing look dangerous and interesting." Edge Media
What Of The Night @ Stage Left/Cor Theatre, Jan 2017
" Violence choreography by Nick Sandys is convincing (and wince-inducing)." ChicagoTheaterBeat.com
King Lear @ Elements Theatre, Aug 2016
"The realistic sword fights are the best I have seen on stage." Cape Cod Chronicle
Bel Canto @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, December 2015
"Nick Sandys' fight direction is also excellent. The physical reactions of the shooting victims are shockingly realistic." parterre.com
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TEACHING includes
The Theatre School at DePaul University, Chicago -- 1994 to present Excellence in Teaching Award (Adjunct) 2019
Choreography for over 80 TTS productions; SAFD Skills Proficiency Tests 2001-2023
The Ryan Center @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2023
The SAFD's Winter Wonderland Workshop, 1995-2003, 2022-24
MACE/SAFD Advanced Combat Intensive 2012 & 2015
The Theatre School at DePaul University, Chicago -- 1994 to present Excellence in Teaching Award (Adjunct) 2019
Choreography for over 80 TTS productions; SAFD Skills Proficiency Tests 2001-2023
The Ryan Center @ Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2023
The SAFD's Winter Wonderland Workshop, 1995-2003, 2022-24
MACE/SAFD Advanced Combat Intensive 2012 & 2015
Teaching @ The Theatre School @ DePaul University (2018).
photo: Joe Mazza/bravelux
Podcast Interview:
The Creative Muscle
@ LowRes Studios, 6/28/2019
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lyric-opera-fight-choreographer-nick-sandys-makes-violence/id1220676318?i=1000443049452
"Lyric Opera Fight choreographer Makes Violence Look Real... for the good of the World."
The Creative Muscle
@ LowRes Studios, 6/28/2019
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lyric-opera-fight-choreographer-nick-sandys-makes-violence/id1220676318?i=1000443049452
"Lyric Opera Fight choreographer Makes Violence Look Real... for the good of the World."