David Blixt

Actor, director, fight director, author, and playwright, David Blixt's credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, the Shakespeare Theatre of DC, First Folio Shakespeare, Northlight Theatre, Lifeline, Griffin, among many others. David is an Artistic Associate at the Michigan Shakespeare Festival and founding member of A Crew Of Patches Theatre Company, a Shakespeare rep in Chicago. Past Shakespeare roles include Macbeth, Mercutio, Petruchio, Oberon, Orsino, Oliver, Benedick, Berowne, Laertes, Leontes, Iacomo, Antipholus of Ephesus, Pistol, the Douglas, Hubert, Exton, Edward III, Edward IV, and Richmond. Other roles include Algernon (THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST), Primus (STARDUST), Damis (TARTUFFE), Sir Lucius O'Trigger (THE RIVALS), Thomas Mendip (THE LADY'S NOT FOR BURNING), Man (CLOSETLAND), Jeffrey Calloway (JEFFREY), Wint Selby (AH, WILDERNESS), Eugene Marchbanks (CANDIDA), and Septimus Hodge (ARCADIA).

He has directed several award-winning productions of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), as well as ROMEO & JULIET, MACBETH, JULIUS CAESAR, and OTHELLO.

As fight director, he choreographed the world premiere of THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS at Steppenwolf, DRY LAND at Rivendell, MACBETH at The Artistic Home (Jeff nominated Best Fight Direction), among others. He assisted Rick Sordelet for Bob Falls' KING LEAR at the Goodman Theatre. David's fight work has also been seen at the First Folio Shakespeare Festival, Hope Summer Rep, Arts Lane, and many more. He is the resident fight Director for both the Michigan Shakespeare Festival and A Crew Of Patches Theatre Company. He is the resident stage combat instructor for the Chicago High School for the Arts.

Grounded in theatre, Blixt's work as a writer is consistently described as "intricate," "taut," and "breathtaking." A writer of Historical Fiction, his novels span the early Roman Empire (the COLOSSUS series, his play EVE OF IDES) to early Renaissance Italy (the STAR-CROSS'D series) up through the Elizabethan era (his delightful espionage comedy HER MAJESTY'S WILL, starring Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as inept spies). His novels combine a love of the theatre with a deep respect for the quirks and passions of history.

Winner 2014 Wilde Award for Best Actor in a Comedy - Algernon, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Member of AEA