Nick Sandys

Experience

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  Independent Theatre Professional

  Jan 1986 - now

  Actor/ Director/Fight Director
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  Shakespeare in the Park, Fort Worth, TX

  Jan 1989 - Jan 2002

  Actor/ Director
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  The Theatre School at DePaul University

  Mar 1995 - now

  Adjunct Faculty--Stage Combat

  Taught graduate and undergraduate stage combat classes, and established a Society of American Fight Directors' Skills Proficiency Test each year since 2000. Have also choreographed violence for over 75 plays at The Theatre School. Received a 2019 Excellence In Teaching Award.

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  The Society of American Fight Directors

  Aug 1995 - now

  SAFD Member of the College of Fight Masters, Certified Teacher and Fight Director

  One of the twenty-odd stage combat professionals holding the rank Fight Master with the SAFD and I am honored to hold that qualification. Because of it, I have made connections and have received training and given training that has repercussions throughout my fight work in the worlds of opera and straight theatre.

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  Lyric Opera of Chicago

  Oct 1995 - now

  Resident Fight Director

  Directed the revival of Strauss' "Elektra" (2019). Choreographed violence for over 55 operas, including "Macbeth," "Pagliacci," "Wozzeck," "Bel Canto," "The Passenger," "Il Trovatore," "Giulio Cesare," "Billy Budd," "A View From The Bridge," "Rigoletto," "Otello," "Tristan und Isolde," "Romeo et Juliette," "Faust,"" "Ernani," "The Girl Of The Golden West," "Salome," "The Ring Cycle," plus the musicals "West Side Story," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "The King And I," "Oklahoma," and many, many more.

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  Goodman Theatre

  Jan 1997 - Jan 2023

  Fight Director

  Over 25 shows, including "Swing State," "Clyde's," "Gem Of The Ocean," "The Iceman Cometh," "Ruined," "Ghostwritten," "Seven Guitars," "Stage Kiss," "Moonlight and Magnolias," "The Good Negro," "Electricidad," "House & Garden," etc...

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  Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

  Jan 2001 - Jun 2021

  Directed "Howards End" (2020--Joseph Jefferson Nomination for Outstanding Direction), "Pirandello's Henry IV", Brecht's "Life of Galileo," Stoppard's "Travesties" (2015--Joseph Jefferson Nomination for Direction), Slobodzianek's "Our Class" (2014--Joseph Jefferson Nomination for Direction) and Albee's "Seascape" (2012); appeared as The Creature/Victor in "Frankenstein" (2018),Higgins in "Pygmalion" (2016) and Goole in "An Inspector Calls" (2013) and as Dickens in own adaptation of Dickens' "The Chimes" (2012, 2013, 2020). Restructured the staffing, cleared remaining debt in two years and created the company's first cash reserve in 2015. Expanded and diversified the ensemble. Five Joseph Jefferson Nominations for Outstanding Production, winning two awards. Produced three world premieres and four US premieres. Show less Performed in numerous productions, including "Frankenstein," Pygmalion," "An Inspector Calls," "Mourning Becomes Electra," "The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia?" (2011 Joseph Jefferson Nomination; Chicago Magazine's Best Actor 2011), "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" (2010 Joseph Jefferson Nomination for Leading Actor and for Fight Choreography), "The Real Thing" (2008 Joseph Jefferson Nomination), "Old Times," "Tartuffe," "Arcadia," and directed "Fiction" and "American Ethnic." As an Artistic Associate, I worked as the Literary Manager, founded, produced and co-ordinated the public reading series since 2003, taught many classes for both professionals and play enthusiasts, and choreographed violence and movement for 15 productions (2010 Joseph Jefferson Nomination for Fight Choreography - "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"). Show less

  • Producing Artistic Director

    Jan 2012 - Jun 2021

  • Core Ensemble Member

    Jan 2001 - Jun 2021
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  SHATTERED GLOBE THEATRE

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2009

  Fight Director
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  First Folio Theatre

  Jun 2004 - Jan 2025

  Played Eustace in "Jeeves Intervenes" (2022); choreographed violence and played Peter Blood in world premiere adaptations of "Captain Blood" (2017); played The Man in "The Turn Of The Screw" (2012); directed and choreographed "Romeo & Juliet" (2011 Joseph Jefferson Nomination for Fight Choreography); played Charles in "Blithe Spirit" (2011 Joseph Jefferson Nomination); Malvolio in "Twelfth Night" (2010 Joseph Jefferson Nomination); directed and choreographed "Macbeth" (2009); choreographed fights for "The Castle of Otranto" (2009); played Benedick in "Much Ado" (2008 Joseph Jefferson Nomination); played Buckingham in "Richard III" (2007); played Oberon/Theseus in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (2004). Show less

  • Artistic Associate

    Jul 2004 - Jan 2025

  • Actor

    Jun 2004 - Jan 2023
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  Chicago Shakespeare Theater

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2008

  Actor
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  Northlight Theatre

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2010

  Actor/Fight Director
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  Chamber Opera Chicago

  Apr 2005 - Sept 2011

  Performer

  Directed and played Wentworth in "Persuasion" (2011); played Capt. von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" (2011); played Darcy in "Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'" (2010); designed fights for "Carmen" (2008); and directed "The Consul" (2005).

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  Writers' Theatre

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2006

  Actor
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  Lookingglass Theatre Company

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2010

  Fight Director
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  The Metropolitan Opera, New York City

  Jan 2009 - Jan 2013

  Fight Director
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  The Metropolitan Opera

  Feb 2009 - Apr 2014

  Fight Director

  Creating Fight Choreography for productions of "Il Trovatore" and "Giulio Cesare," both directed by Sir David McVicar, and "Prince Igor" directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov.

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  Eclipse Theatre

  Jan 2010 - Jul 2011

  Fight Director

  Designed violence for "One Flea Spare" and "After The Fall."

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  Cleveland Play House

  Jan 2010 - Jan 2010

  Actor
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  Syracuse Stage

  Oct 2010 - Nov 2010

  Actor

  Playing Richard Hannay in "The Thirty-Nine Steps."

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  Steppenwolf Theatre

  Nov 2010 - May 2011

  Fight Choreographer

  Directing fights for Tina Landau's production of "Hot L Baltimore"; previously did fights for Pam Mackinnon's production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"; "The Seafarer"; "Valparaiso"; "Homebody/Kabul"; and First Look's "Honest."