Tooth & Claw is based in Washington, DC and works nationally. We offer high quality stage combat training and choreography for professional theatres big and small, academic productions far and wide, and educational programs from elementary through Elderhostel. Our work is audience pleasing, actor tested, budget friendly, and critically praised.
Photo by Alexandra Herstik
Casey Kaleba founded and runs Tooth & Claw. He has coordinated violence for opera, television, music videos, and more than 500 productions with professional, community, and academic theatres. That work includes arranging fights at the Guthrie Theatre, Spoleto Festival USA , Ford's Theatre, Northern Stage, Folger Theatre, Signature Theatre, Round House Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Glimmerglass Festival, Rorschach Theatre, Wolf Trap Opera, Washington National Opera, Olney Theatre Center, and Signature Theatre. Casey has staged fights for knights, musketeers, princesses, zombies, wolves, pirates, ninjas, and at least one alien tentacle.
He has trained with movement artists from across the globe, including Fight Directors Canada, the Society of Australian Fight Directors, British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat, Dueling Arts International, MoCap Vaults, Dell'Arte, Combat Circus, Rapier Wit, and the British Academy of Dramatic Combat. Recently he has served as the audition choreographer for Marvel Universe Live. As an Intimacy Director Casey has trained with Theatrical Intimacy Education, Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, and Intimacy Coordinators of Color.
Casey holds a PhD in Theatre History from the University of Maryland, was host and creative contributor to the two-time Emmy Award-winning Experiencing Shakespeare through the Folger Library and Alabama Public Radio, and he helped carry the Irish flag in the 1994 World Cup opening ceremonies.
A Certified Teacher and Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors, Casey has taught theatrical combat workshops and courses for a wide range of programs. He has taught at the University of Maryland, Catholic University, University of Mary Washington, Old Dominion University, Shepherd University, George Mason University, Montgomery College, Peabody Institute, the Virginia Governor's School, as well as scores of high schools, festivals, professional development workshops, libraries, and camps. He has served as a teaching artist for the Shakespeare Theatre, Round House Theatre, English Speaking Union, and Folger Library. Casey has been a guest instructor for Fight Directors Canada and the Nordic Stagefight Society, and an instructor at the Paddy Crean Workshop - the largest international stage combat workshop.
Casey is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
View Casey's resume, HERE.
