Aaron Preusse (He/Him/His)

Mid-America Regional Representative, Fight Director, Certified Teacher

Aaron is the Founder and Grand High PooBah of the Fake Fighting Company, LLC. He is also the Mid America Regional Rep, Fight Director and Certified Teachers with the Society of American Fight Directors. He has received honors of Advanced Gold with Recommendation from the British Academy of Dramatic Combat where he studied in multiple weapon styles.  Aaron has completed the Society of American Fight Directors Theatrical Firearm Safety Course multiple times. In addition to his training in Tai Chi and various other martial arts he is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Aaron is the Resident Fight Director for The Guthrie Theater having been involved in the fight direction for over fifteen productions since 2016. He has also created moments of violence for The Ordway Center for Performing Arts, The Minnesota Opera, The Children’s Theatre Company’s Theatre Arts Training Intensives, Commonweal Theatre Company, Park Square Theatre, Red Bird Theatre, Gremlin Theatre, Theatre Pro Rata, Theatre 301, Lyric Arts Company of Anoka, Six Elements Theatre Company, the University of Minnesota, Concordia University of St. Paul, Macalester College, Gustavus Adolphus College, UW Marathon County, the Saint Paul Conservatory for  Performing Artists, Visitation School/VISTA Productions, Apple Valley High School, Valley View Middle School, White Bear Lake Area High School, Central High School, Cretin-Derham Hall Theatre and the Main Street School of Performing Arts. 

Aaron has also served as Stunt Coordinator for the film THE FENCE AND THE FOX, LITTLE MEN and PROFILE OF A KILLER as well as for the music video for Kiss the Tiger's BAD BOY.  He was also a precision stunt driver for the movie THIN ICE. He was a Co-Stunt Coordinator and Stunt Performer for the movie CHRISTMAS BREAK-IN. Other film credits include MALLRATS, MEMORIAL DAY, TOTALLY SADIE, ART. 

Aaron has taught for the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, the University of Minnesota, Concordia University of St. Paul, North Hennepin Community College, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Winona State University, Cretin-Derham Hall Theatre Department, The Guthrie Theater, The Children’s Theatre Company, Lyric Arts Company of Anoka, Park Square Theatre, the Minnesota Thespian Festival, the Society of American Fight Directors Regional Workshops as well as other schools and institutions. 

Aaron is a proud recipient of a 2008 City of Chicago Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, as well as a 2012 and 2017 Minnesota State Arts Board’s Artists Initiative Grant as well as the 2014 Metropolitan Arts Council’s Next Step Fund. In addition, Aaron has received the Central Illinois Stage Combat Workshop’s Nobel Blade Award and the National Stage Combat Workshop’s Award for Outstanding Performance.

As an actor Aaron has worked with Theatre de la Jeune Lune, the Children’s Theatre Company, Minnesota Opera, Berkeley Repertory, the Court Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, among many others.  Aaron is also co-creator of An Evening of Experimental Repertory, an exploration in how the principles of Jazz can be used in creating new works of theatre.  He is a graduate of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

 


Skill Proficiency History

Date Weapon Location Grade

Theatrical Firearms Safety Course

Sep 25, 2022 Firearm Lindstrom, Minnesota Recommended Pass

Society of American Fight Directors

Jul 11, 2014 Small Sword Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass
Jul 11, 2014 Quarterstaff Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass

National Stage Combat Workshop - SPRs

Jul 27, 2012 Broadsword Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass
Jul 27, 2012 Rapier and Dagger Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass
Jul 27, 2012 Knife Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass
Jul 27, 2012 Unarmed Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass

National Stage Combat Workshop - SPTs

Jul 27, 2012 Broadsword Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass
Jul 27, 2012 Single Sword Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass
Jul 27, 2012 Small Sword Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass
Jul 27, 2012 Broadsword and Shield Winston-Salem, North Carolina Recommended Pass

Central Illinois Stage Combat Workshop 2012

Jun 3, 2012 Broadsword Eureka, Illinois Recommended Pass
Jun 3, 2012 Knife Eureka, Illinois Recommended Pass
Jun 3, 2012 Unarmed Eureka, Illinois Recommended Pass
Jun 3, 2012 Small Sword Eureka, Illinois Recommended Pass
Jun 3, 2012 Quarterstaff Eureka, Illinois Recommended Pass

The Actors Gymnasium

Mar 8, 2009 Rapier and Dagger Evanston, Illinois Basic Pass
Mar 8, 2009 Knife Evanston, Illinois Basic Pass
Mar 8, 2009 Unarmed Evanston, Illinois Basic Pass