Violence Design

David began his theatrical training at American Conservatory Theatre Academy in San Francisco, and went on to earn a Theatre B.A. from Northwestern College of Iowa. He began studying stage combat in 1990 under David “Pops” Doersch and in the following year began his first foray into violence design. In 1996 he moved to Chicago and met Richard Gilbert and began their long collaboration as R&D Choreography, which spanned 16 years, over 200 co-designed productions, and dozens of private classes, workshops, and collegiate classes in stage combat taught together. In 2012, David moved to the Pacific Northwest, where he continues to design violence and teach stage combat. In 2017, he launched the Violence Design Lab podcast, a 40-episode series which reached over 5,000 downloads. It remains available on Apple Podcasts. 

          R&D Choreography 

R&D Choreography is the violence design company that Richard and David founded in 1997 to serve Chicago’s professional theater scene, quickly turning it into one of the best-known names in the city when it comes to theatrical violence. Many directors ask to work with R&D over and over because their unique focus on how violence tells stories leads to more interesting, engaging, and integrated fights. Since its inception, R&D Choreography has designed violence for over three hundred plays and movies and conducted workshops and private classes for hundreds of students. 

Violence Design Credits

2025

275. Peter/Wendy, Journey Theater, Battle Ground WA

274. Moon Over Buffalo, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

273. Fool For Love, Tour de Force Productions, Portland, OR 

272. Tom Sawyer, Journey Theater, Battle Ground WA

271. The Miracle Worker, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

2024

270. Live in 3, 2, 1..., Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

269. Murdered to Death, Magenta Theater, Vancouver WA

268. Around the World in Eighty Days, Journey Theater, Vancouver WA

267. Wait Until Dark, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

2023

266. Seeking Mister Hyde, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

265. The Sorcerer, Portland Light Opera Works, Portland OR

264. Who Killed My Dead Husband, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

263. Clue, Experience Theatre Project, Beaverton, OR

262. The Play That Goes Wrong, Magenta Theater, Vancouver WA

2022

261. A Nice Family Gathering, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

260. Miss Holmes, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

259. Don Quixote de La Center, Magenta Theater, Vancouver Wa

258. The Play That Goes Wrong, Triangle Productions, Portland OR

257. The Explorator’s Club, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland, WA

2021

256. Hammered, Journey Theatre, Vancouver, WA

255. Much Ado, Journey Theater, Vancouver, WA

254. Prince and the Pauper, Cedar Tree Christian School, Battle Ground, WA

2020    The Year Without Theatre

2019

253. Newsies, Journey Theater, Vancouver, WA

252. The Talisman Ring, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland, WA

251. Leading Ladies, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland, WA

250. Jeeves Takes a Bow, Magenta Theatre, Vancouver, WA

2018

249. Farnsdale Avenue Christmas Carol, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland, WA

248. Once Upon a Palace Purple, Magenta Theatre, Vancouver, WA

247. Lion King Jr., Journey Theater, Vancouver, WA

246. Baskerville, Magenta Theater, Vancouver WA

245. Wizard of Oz, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

244. Beauty and the Beast, journey Theatre, Vancouver WA

243. Robin Hood, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

242. The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet, Journey Theatre, Vancouver WA

241. Pirates of Penzance, Journey Theatre, Vancouver WA

240. Jeeves Intervenes, Magenta Theatre, Vancouver WA

2017

239. The Game's Afoot, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

238. It's a Wonderful Life, Magenta Theater, Vancouver WA

237. Peter Pan, Journey Theater, Portland OR

236. Thirty-Minute Macbeth, Journey Theatre, Vancouver, WA

235. Twelfth Night, Oregon Adventure Theatre, Portland, OR

234. The Last of the Dragons, Journey Theatre, Vancouver, WA

233. Southern Comforts, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

232. The Rainmaker, Magenta Theatre, Vancouver WA

 
2016

231. Romeo and Juliet, Woodburn High School, Woodburn OR

230. Parfumerie, Magenta Theatre, Vancouver WA

229. Narnia, Journey Theatre, Vancouver WA

228. Hir, defunkt theatre, Portland OR

227. Little Shop of Horrors, Magenta Theater, Vancouver WA

226. The Legend of Pocahontas, Journey Theater, Vancouver WA

225. The Women, Magenta Theater, Vancouver WA

224. Singing In The Rain, Journey Theatre, Portland OR

2015

223. Peter Pan, Journey Theatre, Vancouver WA

222. Mulan Jr, Journey Theatre, Portland OR

221. Comedy of Errors, Trinity Academy, Portland, OR

220. Sherlock Holmes, Magenta Theater, Vancouver WA

219. Dial M For Murder, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

218. Enchanted Sleeping Beauty, Journey Theatre, Hillsboro OR

217. Macbeth, Polymath Art Theatre, Portland OR

216. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Magenta Theater Vancouver, WA

2014

215. Romeo and Juliet, Magenta Theater, Vancouver WA

214. The Whipping Man, Valley Repertory Theatre, Newberg OR

213. Robin Hood, Journey Theatre, Beaverton OR

212. Women of Lockerbie, Magenta Theater, Vancouver WA

2013

211. Arsenic and Old Lace, Love Street Playhouse, Woodland WA

210. The Submission, defunkt theatre, Portland OR

209. Boys In The Band, defunkt theatre, Portland OR

208. Children's Hour, defunkt theatre, Portland OR

207. Julius Caesar, Valley Repertory Theatre, Newberg OR

2012

206. Henry IV, Part I, Carolingian Mummer's Guild, Boston MA

205. The Lion, Witch, & the Wardrobe, Edison Middle School, Chicago IL

204. Sly Fox, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

203. Mauritius, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

202. Treasure Island, Children's Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

2011

201. Watership Down, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

200. Lilith, North Park University, Chicago IL

199. Life is a Dream, Vitalist Theatre, Chicago IL

198. Al Capone Does My Shirts, Children’s Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

197. Guys and Dolls, Theatre at the Center, Hammond IN

196. Sleuth, Theatre at the Center, Hammond IN

195. The Elephant Man, Red Ink Productions, Chicago IL

194. Pirate Invasion Stunt Show, Port Washington Pirate Festival, Port Washington WI

193. Salome, National Pastime Theatre, Chicago IL

192. As You Like It, Muse of Fire Theatre Company, Evanston IL

191. The Count of Monte Cristo, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

190. Almost, Maine,  Joliet Junior College, Joliet IL

189. Summer Kisses, Winter Tears, 50 Plays Festival, Chicago IL

188. I Hate Hamlet, Stray Dog Theatre, Chicago IL

187. Romeo and Juliet, Lyons Township High School, Western Springs  IL

186. Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

185. Twelfth Night, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago IL

184. The Nutcracker, Berkshire Ballet, Crystal Lake IL

2010

183. The Moonstone, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

182. The Nutcracker, Berkshire Ballet,  Crystal Lake IL

181. Kid Sister, Profiles Theatre, Chicago IL

180. Brick, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

179. Sleuth, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

178. The Lady’s Not For Burning, Theo Ubique, Chicago IL

177. Macbeth, Francis Xavier Warde School, Chicago IL

176. Pirate Invasion Stunt Show, Port Washington Pirate Festival, Port Washington WI

175. Neverwhere, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

174. Noises Off, Theatre at The Center, Hammond IN

173. Julius Caesar, Purdue University, Lafayette IN

172. Hamlet, Ralph Ellison High School, Chicago IL

171. Street Scene, National Pastime Theatre, Chicago IL

170. Killer Joe, Profiles Theatre, Chicago IL

2009

169. The Nutcracker, Berkshire Ballet Theatre, Crystal Lake IL

168. Peter Pan and Wendy, Children’s Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

167. The Last of the Dragons, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

166. Two By Pinter: The Lover & The Collection, Piven Theatre Workshop, Evanston IL

165. Zombie Apocalypse, Cabaret Vagabond, Chicago IL

164. The Taming of the Shrew, Theo Ubique, Chicago IL

163. Pirate Invasion Stunt Show, Port Washington Pirate Festival, Port Washington WI

162. Henry V, Carolingian Mummer’s Guild, Boston MA

161. Macbeth, Purdue University, Lafayette IN

160. Macbeth, Wisconsin School for the Deaf, Delavan WI

159. Mariette In Ecstasy, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

158. The Illusion, NEIU Stage Center Theatre, Chicago IL

157. Leading Ladies, Theatre at the Center, Hammond IN

2008

156. The Gurney, Secret Life Theatre, Chicago IL

155. The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

154. Levelvision Comic Book Project, Foundations, Inc., Chicago IL

153. The Landlord, Massive Ego Productions, Chicago IL

152. Phantom, Theatre at the Center, Hammond IN

151. Porgy and Bess, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Company, Chicago IL

150. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago IL

149. Pirate Invasion Stunt Show, Port Washington Pirate Festival, Port Washington WI

148. As You Like It, University, Lafayette IN

147. The Enchanted Attic, Li’l Buds Theatre Company, Chicago IL

146. The African Cinderella, Children’s Theatre Fantasy Orchard, Chicago IL

2007

145. Lord Butterscotch and the Curse of the Darkwater Phantom, Blindfaith Theatre, Chicago IL

144. Bare, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago IL

143. Things We Said Today, Profiles Theatre, Chicago IL

142. The Magician, National Pastime Theatre, Chicago IL

141. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Francis Xavier Warde School, Chicago IL

140. Wait Until Dark, Nazareth Academy, Western Springs IL

139. The Island of Doctor Moreau, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

138. Pirate Invasion Stunt Show, Port Washington Pirate Festival, Port Washington WI

137. Kung Fu Suburbia, North Park University, Chicago IL

136. My Favorite Year, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago IL

135. Oklahoma!, American Theatre Company, Chicago IL

134. The Piano Tuner, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

2006

133. Gorey Stories  (remount), Blindfaith Theatre Company, Chicago IL

132. Dr. Gorlitz’s Death Ray, Abby Hoffmann Festival, Chicago IL

131. Richard II, Actor’s Revolution Theatre, Chicago IL

130. Standup Tragedy, Blindfaith Theatre Company, Chicago IL

129. The Night Hank Williams Died, Red Ink Productions, Chicago IL

128. Oklahoma!, Theatre at the Center, Hammond IN

127. Pirate Invasion Stunt Show, Port Washington Pirate Festival, Port Washington WI

126. St. Scarlet, American Theatre Company, Chicago IL

125. The Stoic, Rogue Theatre Company, Chicago IL

124. Beauty and the Beast, Nazareth Academy, Western Springs IL

123. The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe, Children’s Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

122. Fourth Sister, Trapdoor Theatre, Chicago IL

121. Extremities, Actor’s Revolution Theatre, Chicago IL

2005

120. Dessa Rose, Apple Tree Theatre, Highland Park IL

119. Alice in Wonderland, New American Theatre, Rockford IL

118. Making Peter Pope, Theatre Entropy, Chicago IL

117. King Lear, North Park University, Chicago IL

116. Short Eyes, Blindfaith Theatre Company, Chicago IL

115. Marlowe, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago IL

114. Oliver Twist,  Nazareth Academy, Western Springs IL

113. Romeo and Juliet, Children's Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

112. Great Expectations, Piven Theatre Workshop , Evanston IL

111. Rain of Blood, Dreamingtree Films, Chicago IL

110. Flight, Blindfaith Theatre Company, Chicago IL

2004

109. Cyrano De Bergerac, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

108. 10 Little Indians, Nazareth Academy, Western Springs IL

107. Macbeth, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago IL

106. Macbeth, Trauma Theatre, Chicago IL

105. As You Like It, Joliet Junior College, Joliet IL

104. Our Country’s Good, Piven Theatre Workshop, Evanston IL

103. An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein, Blindfaith Theatre Company, Chicago IL

102. The Prisoner’s Dilemma, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago IL

101. King Lear, Genesius Guild, Hammond IN

100. Anatomy of Revenge, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago IL

99. The Further Adventures of Lewis and Clark, Theatre Hikes, Oak Forest IL

98. 10 Little Indians, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

97. Noises Off, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

96. Fool For Love, Circle Theatre, Oak Park IL

95. King Lear, Carolingian Mummer’s Guild, Boston MA

94. A Cluster of Clowns, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago IL

93. Oklahoma!, Nazareth Academy, Western Springs IL

2003

92. West Side Story, Renegade Theatre Company, Chicago IL

91. Romeo and Juliet, Joliet Junior College, Joliet IL

90. Romeo and Juliet, Maria High School, Chicago IL

89. Gorey Stories (remount), Blindfaith Theatre Company, Chicago IL

88. Shakespeare, YES!, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago IL

87. The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

86. The Principle Stream, Theatre Hikes, Oak Forest IL

85.The General from America, Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs IL

84. Moon over Buffalo, Lewis University, Romeoville IL

83. Child’s Garden of Verses, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago IL

82. Alice in Wonderland, Blindfaith Theatre Company, Chicago IL

81. Trust Me On This, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

80. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Carolingian Mummer’s Guild, Boston MA

2002

79. Poseidon! An Upside-Down Musical, Hell in a Handbag Productions, Chicago IL

78. Action Theatre III, R&D Choreography, Chicago IL

77. Around the World in 80 Days, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

76. Death of a Salesman, Loyola University, Chicago IL

75. Gorey Stories, Blindfaith Theatre Company, Chicago IL

74. Scaramouche, Northeastern University, Chicago IL

73. Mad Forest, Piven Theatre, Evanston IL

72. Pirates of Penzance, Stagecrafters, Detroit MI

71. Streamers, Blindfaith Theatre Company, Chicago IL

70. Romeo & Juliet, Downer’s Grove North High School, Downers Grove IL

69. Hamlet, Chase Park Theatre, Chicago IL

68. Action Theatre II, R&D Choreography, Chicago IL

67. Combat Chess, R&D Choreography/Babes with Blades, Chicago IL

66. Some Voices, Profiles Theatre, Chicago IL

65. 3 Cinderella Stories, Children’s Theatre Fantasy Orchard, Chicago IL

2001

64. Macbeth, Joliet Junior College, Joliet IL

63. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Queen of Peace High School, Chicago IL

62. Action Theatre I, R&D Choreography, Chicago IL

61. As You Like It, First Folio Theatre Company, Oak Park IL

60. Pots and Pan, Chicago Training Center, Chicago IL

59. Macbeth, First Folio Theatre Company, Oak Park IL

58. Amherst Undead, The Mammals, Chicago IL

57. Go By Night, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre

56. Robyn Hood of Barnsdale Wood, Equity Library Theatre, Circle Park IL

55. Middle Ages, Moraine Valley Community College, Chicago Heights IL

54. Bonnie and Clyde, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago IL

53. Hero, Tcherney Films, Chicago IL

2000

52. The Silver Chair, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

51. Tom Jones, Downer’s Grove South High School, Downers Grove IL

50. Shadow of the Master, Yellow Theatre , Chicago IL

49. The Witch’s Face, Children’s Theatre Fantasy Orchard, Chicago IL

48. Julius Caesar, National Pastime Theatre Company, Chicago IL

47. Abducting Diana, Tinfish Theatre Company, Chicago IL

46. Romeo & Juliet, Bowen Park Theatre Company, Deerfield IL

45. Gawaine and the Green Knight, King Arthur Faire, Lawrence KS

44. Fool for Love, Azusa Productions, Chicago IL

43. I Hate Hamlet, Lewis University, Romeoville IL

42. Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Libertyville Park District, Libertyville IL

41. Comedy of Errors, College of Lake Forest, Lake Forest IL

1999

40. Dancer from the Dance, About Face Theatre Company, Chicago IL

39. Scary Home Companion, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago IL

38. The Fantasticks, Chicago Heights Drama Group, Chicago Heights IL

37. True West, Thirsty Theater, Chicago IL

36. The True Deadliest Game of Death, Yellow Theatre, Chicago IL

35. Midsummer Night's Dream, Grayslake High School, Grayslake IL

34. Robin Hood, Timberlake Playhouse, Mt. Carroll IL

33. The Fair Maid of the West, Lewis University, Romeoville IL

32. Macbeth, Black Ensemble Theatre, Columbia MO

31. Sleeping Beauty, Children’s Theatre Fantasy Orchard, Chicago IL

1998

30. The African Cinderella, Children's Theatre Fantasy Orchard, Chicago IL

29. Reservoir Dogs, Azusa Productions, Chicago IL

28. Pots and Pan, Oak Park Village Players, Oak Park IL

27. Pinned, University of Missouri, Columbia MO

26. Bottom of a Well, University of Missouri, Columbia MO

25. Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare’s Motley Crew, Chicago IL

24. Not So Deep As a Well, Marquette Renaissance Faire, St Louis MO

1997

23. 1001 Afternoons in Chicago, Live Bait/Prop Theatre, Chicago IL

22. 15 Minute Hamlet, Maria High School, Chicago IL

21. The Emperor's Nightingale, Children's Theatre Fantasy Orchard, Chicago IL

20. Aladdin, Alphabet Soup Productions, Chicago IL

19.Henry VI: Blood of a Nation, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Chicago IL

18. Wild Dogs, East Window Theatre Company, Chicago IL

1996

17. Jeffrey, Circle Theatre, Oak Park IL

16. Beauty and the Beast, Children's Theatre Fantasy Orchard, Chicago IL

15. Peter Pan, Alphabet Soup Productions, Romeoville IL

14. Romeo and Juliet, Tripaway Theatre, Chicago IL

13. Twelfth Night, Griffin Theatre, Chicago IL

1995

12. The Rover, University of Missouri, Columbia MO

11. Love of the Nightingale, University of Missouri, Columbia MO

10. Purlie Victorious, University of Missouri, Columbia MO

9. Jonelle Johnson and Ruthie Mapes, University of Missouri, Columbia MO

1994

8. Pirates of Penzance, University of Missouri, Columbia MO

7. Romeo and Juliet, Stephens College, Columbia MO

6. Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Stephens College, Columbia MO

1993

5. Richard III, Shakespeare and Company, White Bear Lake MN

4. The Taming of the Shrew, The Refreshment Committee, St. Paul MN

1992

3. Cyrano de Bergerac, Shakespeare and Company, White Bear Lake MN

2. Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare and Company, White Bear Lake MN

1. Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare and Company, White Bear Lake MN