Richard Raether is currently the artistic director for Artists' Ensemble Theater (artistsensemble.org), an Equity professional theater in Illinois. He has staged violence for the Guthrie, the Roundabout, Chicago Shakespeare, Milwaukee Repertory, American Players Theater, and the Alabama, Colorado and Illinois Shakespeare festivals. His fight chorography has been seen on All My Children, Guiding Light and One Life to Live.

Richard taught movement and stage combat at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and been a guest instructor at Carnegie Mellon, Southern Methodist University, UW-Madison, Southern Illinois University, and many other training programs and schools.

A Fight Master since 1988, Richard has served the SAFD as secretary, treasurer, and NSCW coordinator. He is an active member of Actors' Equity and Stage Directors and Choreographers.