2026 Staff
2026 Production Assistants
Jonathan C. Beckas
Jonathan C. Beckas (he/him) is a dedicated performance professional specializing in stage combat and stunts.
He started his SAFD training with the Allegheny Alley Fight, where he found his passion for stage combat.
For the last 7 years, Jonathan has performed as a Senior Speaking Knight at Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament. In this capacity, he was responsible for executing complex, multi-discipline performances with various weapons, equestrian skills, jousting and fast paced stunts.
In 2022, Jonathan graduated from the International Stunt School, further expanding his professional capabilities into the realm of cinematic action. This three-week stunt intensive course included training in high falls, fire burns, hand-to-hand combat and stunt coordination, bridging the gap between theatrical stage combat and professional stunt work.
Jonathan is honored to be given the chance to share his knowledge he has gained over the years to others in his profession.
Emi Hegarty
Emi Hegarty (she/her) is a performer and certified Intermediate Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) currently based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. She discovered her passion for stage combat during her undergraduate studies at Duke University, where she regularly served as assistant fight director and fight captain on mainstage productions. Since graduation, Emi has been assisting in stage combat education in Northern California, helping expand SAFD presence throughout the region.
Cari Keebaugh
Cari Keebaugh (she/they) is a SAFD-certified AC who loves to help actors in the Boston area tell stories through safely designed violence. She believes that all actors, regardless of gender identity or physical ability, deserve to look and feel epic while performing safe violence choreography. When she isn't helping other actors throw punches, she can often be found throwing them herself in roles such as the titular character of the Mrs. Hawking series. You can follow her theatrical adventures at http://www.VeryCari.com!
Azad Taylor
Azad (he/him) is an intermediate actor combatant from Columbia Maryland, certified in 7 weapons through the SAFD. He is eager to continue on his journey of getting all of his weapon certifications, but his favorite weapon is the quarterstaff. Recently, Azad has choreographed fights for three different shows at HCC and is eager to work on more projects in the future!
Katie Warner
Katie Warner (he/him, she/her) is a performer, teaching artist, and fight and intimacy director dedicated to crafting safe moments of physical storytelling. Through her studies at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Sarah Lawrence College, and the British American Drama Academy, she has experience in numerous acting techniques, writing for performance, sound design, choreography, and stage combat. During her final year at SLC, she studied at the Università degli Studi di Firenze in Italy, where she took courses in Theater History, Cinema History, Linguistics, and Translation. Today, she is an Advanced Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors and a Senior Company Member with The Noble Blades. In addition to her theatrical work, Katie is also a circus professional, fiber artist, and musician.Training: Duke Ellington School of the Arts, DC; Sarah Lawrence College, NY (BA, 2022); British American Drama Academy, Oxford (MCP ‘16, MIO ‘22).
