Actor - Fight Choreographer - Intimacy Director
Kate Lass is a Chicago-based actor, fight choreographer, stage combat instructor, and intimacy director. Originally from Nashville, TN, Kate moved to Chicago to attend Columbia College, where she graduated in 2014 with a BA in Acting and a double minor in Stage Combat and English Literature. Since then, her work has been seen all over Chicago, including at Kokandy Productions, Strawdog Theatre, Teatro Vista, and The Barrens Theatre Company. Outside of Chicago, she has choreographed for Nashville Repertory Theatre, Act I Theatre, and Berry College Theatre Company.
Kate is an Advanced Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors and an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. She has also trained with the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat, Theatrical Intimacy Education, Intimacy Directors International, Intimacy Professionals Education Collective, and The Association of Mental Health Coordinators.
In 2023, Kate founded a new stage combat training studio, Strike & Reason, with the mission of bringing more stage combat training opportunities to working professionals in the Chicago theatre community. She has also taught at Open Gate Movement Arts, numerous SAFD regional workshops, local theaters and high schools, and the Actors Gymnasium, where she teaches private classes as well as regularly assisting Skills Proficiency Classes under Fight Master Chuck Coyl.
Coming up soon, you can see Kate's work in Grand Family Foods, a co-production of Midwest Players Theater and 2nd Act Players, and When She Went to Mantua, with Black Cat Theatre.
You can find Kate and her colleagues leading monthly workshop classes and more at Strike & Reason.
Kate will also be teaching at the Stage Combat Workshop at Louisiana Tech (Ruston, LA, March 29-30) and the Brawl of America (Saint Paul, MN, May 25-26).