Artist Profile - Jenn Sisko

The latest artist spotlighted by our profile series, Jenn Sisko returns to Human Combat Chess (opening in just 1 week) as Queen of the Celts, after a great performance last year with the Phoenix.  This spring, she also appeared with Six Elements as the eponymous Hapgood, in our critically acclaimed production at the Nimbus Theater.

Jenn Sisko

Celts - Queen

What is your favorite weapon? Why?

Rapier and dagger/fan or knife.

Rapier and dagger was one of the first weapons I learned.  It made so much sense to me, maybe because I watched too much Zorro.  

Knife is just fun.  It's brutal, personal, and honest. You don't cheat with knife.  

If you could have a fight with anyone living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be against, and with what weapon? Why?

Zorro was my first crush as a girl of six, and my love for that character is immense.  I would love to have the chance to fight him for fun.

Or William Hobbs because how epic would that be?

What has chess taught you? What has Human Combat Chess taught you?

Chess has taught me the idea of patience.  

Human Combat Chess has taught me that there are many avenues to a result.  Each choreographer is different and approaches a fight differently.  It has been a unique experience to work with so many talented people with their forte.

Introduce us to your character:

My character is manic.  There is very little "down."  She enjoys the fight and she doesn't mind the pain.  She has DID, which, under pressure, causes her to turn into Connie.  Connie will get the job done.

Any parting words of wisdom?

Explore the impossible in whatever you do.  That's what we do in stage combat; we take the climax of the story--the fight--break it down for teaching, and then turn it into the incredible.  Find your own style in whatever you do because there are many pathways.  Let your imagination take over.

Artist Profile - Emily Knotek

The next artist featured from our upcoming production of Human Combat Chess is the fierce Queen of the Templars, Emily Knotek.  Emily has previously appeared with Six Elements in Orpheus Descending and Tales From Camelot.

Emily Knotek

Templars - Queen

What is your favorite weapon? Why?

I love hand to hand combat.  It’s personal, and there’s no way to avoid it. 

If you could have a fight with anyone living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be against, and with what weapon? Why?

I’m against violence in general.  I can’t say that I would like to fight anyone.  That said, how about Hitler, with psychiatric medicine.

What has chess taught you? What has Human Combat Chess taught you?

I was part of the chess club in elementary school.  I can’t say I was ever overly into the game aside from play as a social activity.  More recently, I’ve been more and more excited by strategy games, including Chess and Go.  I find that they force me to think, and that feeling is always welcome. 

Introduce us to your character:

My character is the part of me that pays attention.  Quiet, focused, and direct.  The Templars as a team are a group of people who have worked hard to get where they are, and I don’t think that anyone achieves without effort.

Any parting words of wisdom?

Strive to be your best in all things.

Artist Profile - Brian Watson Jones

The next artist in the spotlight from Human Combat Chess is Brian Watson-Jones, League Announcer and one of two color commentators, tasked with the huge job of letting the audience in on the tactics, game-play, and story happening on the board.  Brian is an active member of the Twin Cities theatre community, and has previously worked with Six Elements in Much Ado About Nothing and Valhalla, Tales from the Hall of Heroes.

Brian Watson-Jones

League Announcer

If you could have a fight with anyone living or dead, real or
fictional, who would it be against, and with what weapon? Why?

Friendly fight?  Abe Lincoln, during his time as company commander during the Black Hawk War.  He'd choose unarmed, since he liked to wrestle.  Then he'd destroy me, because he LOVED to wrestle.  Then we'd get wasted on whiskey and sing songs.  It would be fantastic.

Unfriendly fight?  Joseph Mengele.  And I wouldn't stop when the Marshal called it.

What has chess taught you? What has Human Combat Chess taught you?

Chess taught me how important it is to be able to plan ahead, and how bad I am at that.

Human Combat Chess has taught me that even if you make all the right moves, something can still turn against you.  And vice versa. 
 

Introduce us to your character:
 

I was King of the Celts for several years, and left abruptly just before this season started.  I won't go into exactly what happened; suffice it to say that I was given a choice, and picked the less distasteful one.  Instead of joining another team, I joined the Midwest HCC organization, and began providing commentary on matches.
I don't harbor any bitterness towards Jason, the Celts' current King, but I'd be making different choices if I were still in charge.
 

Any parting words of wisdom?
 

Never trust a former King who says he isn't bitter

Artist Profile - Johanna Gorman Baer

Human Combat Chess 2015 opens on June 12th.  In the run up to opening our new show in a new venue, we here at Six Elements thought we'd take minute to tell you more about the talented folks that make this show happen.

Johanna Gorman-Baer

Artistic Director

What is your favorite weapon? Why?

Favorite Weapon call: Rapier and Offhand. It allows for plenty of options, interesting combinations, you get to see bucklers, cloaks, daggers, plus- swords. 

Rapier and Dagger, though, is fascinating- and my personal favorite.  Gets to be deadly AND showy. And strangely intuitive. 

If you could have a fight with anyone living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be against, and with what weapon? Why?

Definitely someone dead. Safer for me that way. 

What has chess taught you? What has Human Combat Chess taught you?

Chess taught me how to lose gracefuIly. Human Combat Chess taught me how complex strategies can be. 

But really, HCC taught me how an entire community of theater people and stage combat folks can work together to make this 40-person show actually happen year after year. And how amazingly supportive a community like this can be, not just during the show, but year-round. 

And how much a performance structure like this can grow and improve when we do have years of experience to build on. 

Introduce us to your character:

First of all, I've been involved in Chess since it first started, as an independant student project and then as a Six Elements production. I'm one of two people who haven't taken a year off yet, the other being Mike Lubke. 

As a performer in HCC, my character went from imposing and threatening, to bloodthirsty and brutal, to fast, strategic, disciplined.... it only makes sense that as my character learned more and more about the game, the sport, and got more and more experienced.... it took me off the board and into the role of director? 

Any parting words of wisdom?

Buy tickets online, and show up early to get a snack and a good seat!

Early Registration for Brawl of America 2015

Early registration is available now until April 1st. Don't miss out on priority class selection, and save $50 off your tuition while you're at it. Head on over to http://brawlofamerica.weebly.com/registration.html to get started!