Rating: 
Summary: This book should be in every theatre!
Review: As a beginner in the world of theatre and stage combat, this book has helped me more than any other text out there. Anyone who hopes to stage a fight in ANY production should read this first AND THEN keep it around throughout rehearsals! Its insightful tips are like having someone there to help you along your way, keeping you focused on what is important : safe and effective dramatic storytelling through combat. Balancing level-headed practicality with clear artistic vision, it can be understood and enjoyed by any theatre practitioner. From the shop to the director's chair, it is a must have.
Rating:
Summary: If you are involved in stage combat, you NEED this book!
Review: For those of us who practice the art of theatrical mayhem, with a side order of swashing and buckling, this is an invaluable resource. You will read about safety measures or techniques you hadn't thought of before; you may get a great idea for your next piece of choreography (borrowing a great idea shows you have good artistic judgement) or you may simply reinforce some of the combat wisdom you have assimilated over various workshops and productions. Suddeth speaks plainly, to the point and makes major emphasis of safety issues. A great fight is not a great fight unless it is safe and repeatable, within the abilities of the performers. Don't choreograph beyond their physical talents or you may end up with real violence on stage instead of the illusory type you are working hard to create. This is a terrific reference manual for all of us who strive to create credible, safe fight sequences for the stage. This is an easy read and well thought out. He takes you through the logic of the Fight Director's job, working styles, weapons history, all the while letting us know this is more fun than a barrel of rapiers. I highly recommend this book. Buy it, or I'll punch you! (Safely, of course). Paul Ugalde
Rating:
Summary: An inspiring, must-read book for all actors and directors.
Review: I am only on page 100, and I am already inspired to direct again. I have directed several fights, all without using an exact formula or precise method. This book has given me the formula and the method which, I am sure, will have a positive impact on my fights. Anyone remotely interested in fight directing, directing, producing, or acting on the stage must read this book. It supplies the tools necessary for safe and efective combat, and that's just in the first 100 pages!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST-HAVE FOR ANYBODY INVOLVED IN THEATER!!
Review: I bought Allen's book two years ago as an actor/stage-combatant and referrred to it in my first fight directing work last year. The book is a valuable tool as an actor, stage combatant or in any capacity within the theater. Allen's book will bring in an insightful, realistic and enjoyable look at what is stage-combat. The art of fight-directing is as valuable to staged violence as a dance choreographer is to dance, as music-directing to musicals (choreographers and music-directors should also read the book). Allen, kudos for such a great piece of reading and research material. Get out there and buy this book!! Ray Rodriguez
Rating:
Summary: Warning-May lead to brilliance in fight direction!
Review: I bought Mr. Suddeth's book a year or so ago simply looking for some pointers on choreographing a fight. What I found was an invaluable guide to directing, not just a fight, but the entire scene in which it was contained. I also found that FDftT had much to offer for experienced fight directors and novice stage combatants alike. The language was clear, the writing engaging and the content comprehensive. The issues addressed in this book transcend the mere basics of staged violence and focus instead on the scene and its integral relationship with the fight. If you are looking to "brush-up" on stage combat technique I would suggest that you get out and enroll in a stage combat class, not try to hone a hard earned skill by reading a book. If you are looking for insights on how to go about safely and effeciently directing a scene or play that contains staged violence, put up your feet, relax and open Fight Directing for the Theatre by J. Allen Suddeth.
Rating: 
Summary: A complete overview of the creation of staged violence.
Review: I wrote Fight Directing For The Theater for all types of theater artists. Never had I found, in all my research,
a book that spoke to actors, directors, and designers about
the process of creating safe, realistic staged violence. The world doesn't need another "how to" fight book, when physical skills are better learned in a studio. I hope to bring awareness of fight direction to the theater
community at large, as an integral part of the whole
production. Only a blend of common sense, safety,historical research, textual
analysis, and collaboration among actors and theater staff
can bring about organic fight scenes. This book tries to
tie all of these disparate artists together toward the same
goal. Lot's of useful information, lot's of charts, lot's of tips about specific plays, contemporary and period.
Over 150 photographs, production shots, period and con-
temporary illustrations help you along. Special sections
on working with kids, stage managment, costumes, and repairing and maintaining weapons. Finally, a large chapter
on firearm safety, something I'm distressed to find is an
unknown subject at some theaters/universities. I'm amazed that MFA Directing programs spend time teaching
students how to deal with lighting, costume, and set designers, and insist they learn how to use the library to
do research, and never mention how to work with fight directors. If you are a director, this will help you. If
you are an actor, it will expand your choices, and help
you get the most out of rehearsal. If you are interested
in stage combat in general, it may expand your horizons.
If you get this book, let me know how you like it. Snail
mail meat:
J. Allen Suddeth
131 Linden Ave.
Glen Ridge, NJ. 07028
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring!
Review: Mr. Suddeth's work serves as an excellent companion piece to William Hobbs' "Fight Direction". The emphasis here is not on the physical technology of stage combat (go to the gym!) but on the creative process of designing, staging, rehearsing and maintaining safe and effective fight sequences. Mr. Suddeth describes the entire process with wisdom, clarity and humour: his book deserves a place on every performing arts book shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: NOT meant to teach basics of stage combat!
Review: This book assumes that you're fully trained in stage combat, it does not even begin to review the basic techniques involved. I bought this book because I needed help creating a safe, believable fight sequence for the production of As You Like It that I was directing. I'd had only a little stage combat training in school, and needed a major review of the basics -- how do you safely execute a convincing stage punch? A kick to the groin, etc.? I was disappointed, because that's not the purpose of this book, or any book I could find for that matter. For several reasons, fight directing professionals want directors and actors to learn these basics in classes taught by qualified instructors, not from books. (Unfortunately, I lived in a small town with no stage combat classes available, and had to muddle through with what little I remember. I'm afraid the production was less safe and less effective as a result.) Fight directing professionals, on the other hand, seem to adore this book, which mainly asks "As a trained stage combat professional, how do you create an artistically appropriate fight sequence?" Examples: How do you choose an appropriate fighting style, and weapons that fit the setting? What can untrained actors be expected to do safely? What should my backstage safety checklist be? Suddeth seems to review thoroughly every possible aspect of stage combat EXCEPT the basic techniques. If you've already mastered those, this could be a valuable reference for you.
Rating:
Summary: Complete Safety Guide
Review: This book is an excellent guide to what the Society of American Fight Directors preach--Safety! Fight Master Suddeth details the many traps and common practices that put actors in harms way, then shows us the safe alternatives. It is a guide that should be kept in every theater as a reference for actors, stage managers, directors, etc. It doesn't pretend to teach you how to direct fights--this only comes with intense training--but rather teach you how to protect yourself and fellow artists. Included are details of weaponry and how to maintain them, tips, pointers, tricks, etc. With decades of experience under his belt, this book is an extremely valuable tool if you are participating in any form of staged violence. Don't leave your safety to trial & error.
Rating:
Summary: Complete Safety Guide
Review: This book is an excellent guide to what the Society of American Fight Directors preach--Safety! Fight Master Suddeth details the many traps and common practices that put actors in harms way, then shows us the safe alternatives. It is a guide that should be kept in every theater as a reference for actors, stage managers, directors, etc. It doesn't pretend to teach you how to direct fights--this only comes with intense training--but rather teach you how to protect yourself and fellow artists. Included are details of weaponry and how to maintain them, tips, pointers, tricks, etc. With decades of experience under his belt, this book is an extremely valuable tool if you are participating in any form of staged violence. Don't leave your safety to trial & error.
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