By MELISSA WALKER

Staff Writer

Tech Theatre Players hosted the 14th annual Stage Combat Workshop March 25-26.

Jonathan Jolly, a senior theatre major and member of Tech Theatre Players, said the weekend workshop was a success.

"I enjoyed it," Jolly said. "It's just fun. More than anything, it's fun to get together with other people who share like interests to explore stage violence."

Jolly said portraying violence on stage is what makes up stage combat. Over Easter weekend, Jolly said people from all over the country were invited to participate in the learning of and about stage combat.

"The workshops range from anywhere from beginning to advanced," Jolly said. "They always were offering beginning, intermediate and advanced classes." Jolly said he was pleased with the attendance.

"I think it was successful and that our goals were met," Jolly said. "There were about 50 people who attended."

The attendees were split up into classes which were held at the Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center.

Paul Pharias, the graduate coordinator and a graduate student in theatre, said he was also impressed with the attendees' backgrounds.

Pharias said, "Teachers from all over the country and Europe came to the little town of Ruston."

Pharias said the main purpose of the weekend was knowledge.

"All knowledge was spread in two days," Pharias said. "Everybody got a chance to advance their knowledge."

Ashley Shelton, a senior human resource management major, said she thinks it is interesting.

"If people are pursuing acting, then I think they should learn about stage combat," Shelton said. "They should not really harm people though."

Pharias said the weekend appealed to him as well as served as an opportunity for him.

"I got the chance to work with different students and work as an administrator running an event."

Pharias said this is the fourth year he has participated in and plans to continue to do so in the future.

"I plan to be back every year until graduation."