Open Gate Movement Arts

04/30/2026

We're gearing up for a pretty great season at Open Gate Movement Arts: here's a little preview of what you can expect to see this summer!

Take a crash course in 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 performance on Saturday, June 27th.

Brush up your fight skills and take part in an exciting showcase at 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩 from Monday, July 20th through Saturday, July, 25th.

Duel it out at our 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐏𝐓 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 from Saturday, August 8th to Saturday, August 15th.

More information and registration will be posted soon! Keep an eye here on our FB, make sure you follow us on Instagram (), and check out our website at www.opengatema.com!

04/27/2026

Happy spring, fighters! We are gearing up for an exciting season here at Open Gate Movement Arts, and we want YOU to be a part of it! We are currently accepting submissions from guest artists interested in collaborating with us on our future programming.

Want to submit a class proposal? Click on the link to our Google Form below! Submissions will be open until Tuesday, May 26th, 2026.
https://forms.gle/ZNDbyQjfLwBX5usS6

12/19/2025

Hey Open Gate Warriors! Chicagolands regional workshop the Winter Wonderland Workshop is coming up, so roll on through if you want some awesome training opportunities!

Hello Winter Wonderlanders!

Registration for the 2026 Winter Wonderland Workshop and January Intensive is now open!!!

2026 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Winter Wonderland Stage Combat workshop! Come help us celebrate.

The 2026 Winter Wonderland Workshop runs from Thursday, January 8, 2026 - Sunday, January 11, 2026 at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare 5440 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018.

The intensive will be Motion Capture with FM Michelle Ladd & FD Andrew Dylan Ray -January 6 - 7 from 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

To Register for the 2026 WWW and/or the intensive, click the link at the end of this post.

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WWW PRICING:

*Early registration will end at 11:59pm CST on Friday, November 15th.*

**Any student that attends the Intensive Workshop as well as Thursday - Sunday of WWW will receive a $100 discount on WWW.**

TUITION OPTIONS:

4 Day Workshop Tuition - Full Price $525.00

4 Day Workshop Tuition - Early Registration Discount $450.00*

4 Day Workshop Tuition - SAFD/Union Member Discount $475.00

4 Day Workshop Tuition - Full Time Student Discount $475.00

4 Day Workshop Tuition - Intensive Discount $425.00**

3 Day Workshop Tuition (Flex Day Package) $420.00

3 Day Workshop Tuition - Intensive Discount (Flex Day Package) $320.00

2 Day Workshop Tuition (Flex Day Package) $300.00

1 Day Workshop Tuition (Flex Day Package) $175.00

One discount per registrant.

INTENSIVE PRICING:

Registration will stay open until 1/5/26 so claim your spot while you can!!!

*Price $300.00*
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PAYMENT OPTIONS:

-$50 deposit to hold registration available until 12/15/25

-1 installment payment plan:

•12/28/25

-3 installment payment plan:

•11/15/25

•12/7/25

•12/28/25

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REFUND POLICY:

Deposit is non-refundable

Before - 11/30/25 - 75% of full tuition

12/1/19 - 12/14/25 - 50% of full tuition

12/15/19 - 12/24/25 - 25% of full tuition

After 12/24/25 - Zero Refund

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CLASS SCHEDULE:

There are 4 sessions Thursday – Saturday and 3 sessions Sunday.

Session a: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Session b: 11:15 AM – 12:45 PM

Session c: 2:15 PM – 3:45 PM

Session d: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Registration will stay open until 1/8/26

Please visit our page to stay up to date on the latest details!

Email Rachel Stubbs and Neil Massey - [email protected] with any questions.

Hope to see you there!

Follow this link to register:
https://campscui.active.com/orgs/MACENFP?orglink=camps-registration

12/15/2025

We are incredibly proud of our Sword and Shield Students who passed their SPT with 100% recommended pass success rate! Thank you Chuck Coyl for a wonderful adjudication. Thank you to all of our AI's and TA's for their hard and dedicated work. Rest well warriors, we shall see you in the new year!

09/08/2025

We are just 5 days out from It Takes a Village, with Mason Tyer! Keep reading for more information on this workshop for fight directors, and its instructor, the delightful and talented Mason Tyer!

Cost: $60 full tuition OR PWYC for BIPOC students, Neurodivergent students, and students with similar specialities.

Register for this workshop here (PWYC option listed): https://forms.gle/wdm7Lemw1AvRwVp27

About the Instructor:
Mason Tyer is a Minneapolis fight director, stunt coordinator, and intimacy director. He is a Certified Teacher, Theatrical Fi****ms Safety Instructor, and the Secretary for the Society of American Fight Directors.

He has worked with Minnesota Opera, Children's Theatre Company, Duluth Playhouse, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Journey North Opera Company, GREAT, Open Window Theatre, Theatre in the Round, numerous high schools and community theatres, and as a stunt coordinator and armorer for film and video productions.

Mason is a lead teaching artist for Children's Theatre Company and has taught at CTAM, The Guthrie, North Hennepin Community College, Art in Arms, and at stage combat specialty workshops in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Louisiana.

09/06/2025

Greetings warriors! Registration for our Fall SPT has opened! Join Co-founder and SAFD Certified Teacher Michael Saubert Jr in learning Sword and Shield for the stage. A 35 hour course spanning over 10 weeks, you will learn the foundational principles of the good ole sword and board. Cumulating in an opportunity to perform for certification under the Society of American Fight Directors. Hope to see you there!

Register at:
www.opengatema.com

or fill out our registration form here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScE4hTr-hoBq5cITYM8vXe3yM8Sm1-d12m-m0Mbp1jHr5MxgQ/viewform?usp=pp_url

08/07/2025

Happy Summertime, movers! Open Gate Movement Arts is ready to launch two workshops in September designed to help Fight Directors, Coordinators, and like minded artists with their professional development!

"Cultural Competency for Fight Directors" is a discussion based workshop with Chels Morgan. It will take place on Saturday, September 6th from 3-6 pm. Open Level. Virtual option available!

Note: this is a highly conversational / engagement learning based course rather than one that gets you on your feet.

And...

"It Takes a Village!" Walk through a simplified production process to choreograph a fight with Mason Tyer on Friday, September 12th, from 6-9 pm. Intermediate level - Single saber/ rapier. Note: previous experience/ training for fight direction required - check the registration form for more information!

Either workshop is $60 full tuition OR PWYC for BIPOC students, Neurodivergent students, and students with similar specialities.

Register for both workshops here (PWYC and Virtual Options Listed): https://forms.gle/Qy41Soo37VdCwjW58

We're excited to see you back in class with Open Gate!

06/16/2025

We had a great time at our last fight Lab! Special thanks to the Coach House for hosting us. Stay tuned for some exciting programming coming up soon!

06/09/2025

Meet your fight Lab Instructors!
Greetings Fighters!
Come join us Tuesday June 10th from 6:30pm-9:30pm $25 for another fun filled Fight lab!
teaching this time we have:

Lana Whittington

Lana has been studying with Fight Directors Canada since 2015 and is currently in their mentorship program for a teaching certification. They are a fight director and intimacy designer for chicago theatres as well as a theatre and dance teacher at Sarah Hall Theatre Company. Lana has been teaching classes with her stage combat group Bold Works Combat for the past six years.

Kate Booth
Originally from Wisconsin, Kate Booth is a Chicago-based actor, educator, and fight director who revels in theatre that comes from the soul.

Kate has been teaching stage combat through private lessons and one-off coaching sessions in Chicagoland and the greater Milwaukee area for over 5 years. In addition to being our head coordinator of Continuing Education, she is a founding member and devising/performing artist with To The Point, a theatrical combat performance company that visits renaissance festivals throughout the Midwest. She steps in to assist her OGMA colleagues Mikey, Nicky, and Dave in the classroom when helpful, and regularly assists Fight Master Chuck Coyl at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston. She has participated in the SAFD regional workshop circuit, attending The Central Illinois Stage Combat Teacher Trainer, The Winter Wonderland Workshop, The Tourist Trap, The Boil, and The Mentoring Advanced Combatants (MAC) intensive. Fight direction credits include Paramount Theatre, The Conspirators, Kokandy Productions, Oak Park Festival Theatre, as well as universities and high schools.

Kate holds a B.F.A. in performance with an emphasis in acting from Northern Illinois University, which included a study abroad semester at the Moscow Art Theatre School. By day, she is a Product Manager with Purchasing Platform.

Register for their fight lab here!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdu6dsqc1Bw1o9NMStjPxnzS7Z-gfSw3KznTFl-snWDE8moew/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101458394329984886471

06/03/2025

Greetings Fighters!
Come join us Tuesday June 10th from 6:30pm-9:30pm $25 for another fun filled Fight lab!
teaching this time we have:

Lana Whigham teaching "Everything's a Weapon"! -Take an exploration on how to utilize found weapons safely and effectively.

Kate Booth teaching Character From Text- Use text analysis to outline a process any actor combatant can follow to prepare thier choices for a fight audition or Rehearsal. Participants will have multiple chances to play a short fight as different characters.

Register Below!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdu6dsqc1Bw1o9NMStjPxnzS7Z-gfSw3KznTFl-snWDE8moew/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101458394329984886471

04/29/2025

SCHEDULE CHANGE! We are in the process of rescheduling the workshop Cultural Competency for Fight Directors. We believe this is the best way for students and faculty to get the most value out of the workshop. Registration is temporarily closed.

Our goal is to work out a new date and time in September. With that in mind, stay tuned! We'll reopen registration for both the live and virtual options once we have the new date locked down.

And keep your 👀 peeled for summer programming!