Samantha Kaufman
Fight Director
SAFD Certified Teacher , AGMA
WTTW Interview: Samantha Kaufman

Samantha is a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD), an AGMA fight director, and an Intermediate Actor/Combatant with Fight Directors Canada (FDC). She has also studied stage combat with Stage Combat Deutschland. Samantha is certified in theatrical firearms safety by the Society of American Fight Directors.
Samantha began her training at the University of Wyoming before pursuing training with the SAFD. She was a teaching assistant for fight master Chuck Coyl for three years. She has been a teaching assistant to Fight Master Geoffrey Kent, Fight Director Leraldo Anzaldua, among others. Samantha also has taught stage combat at Principia College and Florida Atlantic University for the undergrad and graduate programs, as well as various workshops and theatres across the country.
She was nominated for a Jeff Award for Fight Direction in 2019 for the Babes With Blades Theatre Company's production of "The Lady Demands Satisfaction."
Read more about Samantha in this Canvas Rebel article.
Samantha began her training at the University of Wyoming before pursuing training with the SAFD. She was a teaching assistant for fight master Chuck Coyl for three years. She has been a teaching assistant to Fight Master Geoffrey Kent, Fight Director Leraldo Anzaldua, among others. Samantha also has taught stage combat at Principia College and Florida Atlantic University for the undergrad and graduate programs, as well as various workshops and theatres across the country.
She was nominated for a Jeff Award for Fight Direction in 2019 for the Babes With Blades Theatre Company's production of "The Lady Demands Satisfaction."
Read more about Samantha in this Canvas Rebel article.
Stage Combat Training:
Certified Teacher | Society of American Fight Directors
Intermediate Actor Combatant | Fight Directors Canada
*Weapons Training Include | Broadsword | Rapier and Dagger | Quarterstaff | Knife | Single Sword | Smallsword | Unarmed | Sword and Shield | German Longsword | Theatrical Firearms
Stage Combat Workshops:
National Stage Combat Workshop
Actor Combatant Workshop- Attendant Winston-Salem, NC 2013
Teacher Certification Workshop- Attendant Ruston, LA 2021
Mentoring Actor Combatants Intensive
Co-Coordinator, Attendant Bloomington, IN 2019
The Left Turn
Head Intern Albuquerque, NM 2017
Associate Instructor Albuquerque, NM 2019
Texas Intensive
Associate Instructor Houston, TX 2018
Associate Instructor Houston, TX 2019
Instructor Houston, TX 2021
Virginia Beach Bash
Teaching Assistant Virginia Beach, VA 2017
Teaching Assistant Virginia Beach, VA 2018
Teaching Assistant Virginia Beach, VA 2019
Tourist Trap
Associate Instructor Orlando, FL 2018
Philadelphia Cheesesteak
Intern Philadelphia, PA 2017
Winter Wonderland Workshop
Attendant Chicago, IL 2014
Intern Chicago, IL 2018
Lonestar Smash
Intern Dallas, TX 2017
Teaching Assistant Dallas, TX 2018
Cease and Desist
Associate Instructor Cincinnati, OH 2019
LA Tech Stage Combat Workshop
Teaching Assistant Ruston, LA 2018
Teaching Assistant Ruston, LA 2019
A-Town Throw Down
Teaching Assistant Altanta, GA 2019
Summer Sling
Choreographers Track- Attendant New York City, NY 2018
Teacher New York City, NY 2021
Social Distance Showdown
Attendant Online 2020
Fast and Furious
Attendant Philadelphia, PA 2014
Attendant Philadelphia, PA 2017
Awards and Recognition:
2021 Certified Teacher of Stage Combat certificate
Society of American Fight Directors, Teachers Certification Workshop
2019 Jeff Award Nomination for Fight Choreography
Babes with Blades Theatre “The Lady Demands Satisfaction,” Fight and Intimacy Director
2013 Outstanding Performance Award
Society of American Fight Directors National Stage Combat Workshop
SAFD Recommended Passes: Single Sword, Quearterstaff, Rapier and Dagger, Unarmed,
Broadsword, Knife, and Smallsword
Examiner's Award of Excellence in Smallsword
FDC Passes: Martial Arts, Smallsword, Rapier and Dagger, Longsword, Unarmed, Single Sword,
and Quarterstaff
Pass with Distinction in Knife and Unarmed.
Press:
Podcast Interview: Cycle Chats Episode: The Combat Queen
WTTW Interview: Samantha Kaufman
Rescripted Review: Babes with Blades Serves Feminist Farce in 'The Lady Demands Satisfaction'
Jeff Awards Press Release