To help each performer and student cultivate their greatness.

To provide a harm-free and inclusive space for creativity, talent and collaboration to flourish.

To create moments of violence for the theatre and film industry that are safe for the actors, crew and audience.

To provide authentic moments of staged violence that propels and supports the narrative.

To inspire audiences and students through engaging theatrical moments, classes, lectures and discussions in the art of stage combat.

Aaron Preusse is the Founder and Grand High PooBah of the Fake Fighting Company. He is a Certified Teacher and Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors. He received honors of Advanced Gold with Recommendation from the British Academy of Dramatic Combat. In addition to his training in Tai Chi and various other martial arts, he is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

As a Fight Director, Aaron’s work has been seen all over the mid-west region. He is the Resident Fight Director for The Guthrie Theater having been involved in over fifteen productions since 2016. He has also created moments of violence for The Ordway Center for Performing Arts, The Minnesota Opera, The Children’s Theatre Company’s Theatre Arts Training Intensives, Commonweal Theatre Company, Park Square Theatre, Red Bird Theatre, Gremlin Theatre, Theatre Pro Rata, Lyric Arts Company of Anoka, as well as numerous other theatres, schools and universities.

Aaron and his company served as Stunt Coordinator for the film THE FENCE AND THE FOX, LITTLE MEN and PROFILE OF A KILLER as well as for the music video for Kiss the Tiger’s BAD BOY.  He was also a precision stunt driver for the movie THIN ICE. He was a Co-Stunt Coordinator and Stunt Performer for the movie CHRISTMAS BREAK-IN.

As a teacher, Aaron has taught for the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, the University of Minnesota, Concordia University of St. Paul, North Hennepin Community College, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Winona State University, The Guthrie Theater, The Children’s Theatre Company, Lyric Arts Company of Anoka, Park Square Theatre, the Minnesota Thespian Festival, the Society of American Fight Directors Regional Workshops as well as other schools and institutions.

Aaron is a proud recipient of a 2008 City of Chicago Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, as well as a 2012 and 2017 Minnesota State Arts Board’s Artists Initiative Grant as well as the 2014 Metropolitan Arts Council’s Next Step Fund. In addition, Aaron has received the Central Illinois Stage Combat Workshop’s Nobel Blade Award and the National Stage Combat Workshop’s Award for Outstanding Performance.

As an actor Aaron has worked with Theatre de la Jeune Lune, the Children’s Theatre Company, Minnesota Opera, Berkeley Repertory, the Court Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, among many others.  Aaron is also co-creator of An Evening of Experimental Repertory, an exploration in how the principles of Jazz can be used in creating new works of theatre.  He is a graduate of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.