Stagecraft and Swordplay: Creativity Comes Alive at William Penn

11/09/2025

When Levi Lindberg first stepped onto the stage at the George Daily Auditorium for a community production of The Hobbit, he didn’t realize it would shape his future. “The Hobbit was my first experience at the George Daily Auditorium, and I found that everyone there was super nice,” he recalled. “I really enjoyed the experience overall, and when I found out that some of the people involved were faculty at William Penn, I decided I wanted to go to school here.”

That production introduced Levi to William Penn faculty members Andy McGuire and Brant Bollman, both of whom left a strong impression. “Since Andy was the director of The Hobbit, I got to work with him throughout the production,” Levi said. “It was clear he knew what he was doing and was very talented when it came to theater.” He also admired Bollman’s creativity and craftsmanship. “The puppets he made for the show were amazing,” he added. “During my campus visit, we had a great conversation about William Penn and the theater program here.”

Now attending William Penn University, Levi is pursuing a degree in business management with a minor in theatre. His passion for the arts is supported in part by a theatre scholarship, which helps cover a portion of his education. His story is proof that creativity can enhance any field of study—you really can act your way through any degree.

At William Penn, Levi discovered what he had been looking for all along—an environment that encourages exploration and creativity through small class sizes and personalized instruction. Students in the arts have opportunities to design sets, build props, compose film scores, and even take part in stage combat training.

For Levi, that hands-on learning led to one of his proudest accomplishments: earning a swashbuckling certificate through the American Society of Fight Directors. The summer course, offered through William Penn’s partnership with the George Daily Auditorium, allowed students to train directly under professional fight director Jason Tipsword. “The Hobbit was my first time getting to do actual choreographed stage combat, and I quickly found it was something I really enjoyed,” Levi said. “The fight director, Jason Tipsword, was awesome to work with as well. So when I heard that he was going to be teaching a stage combat summer class, I knew I wanted to do it.”

The eight-week program introduced students to authentic stage combat techniques—everything from proper stance and footwork to safe, realistic swordplay. “We use real swords, so we learned proper techniques to keep each other safe, like finishing attacks with a straight arm and only advancing as much as your fight partner retreats,” Levi explained.

While the early footwork drills were the most challenging, he said the creative side of the process made it all worthwhile. “The most fun was probably picking out the scenes my fight partner and I were going to perform,” he said. “I also really enjoyed performing our scenes.”

Now in his first year at William Penn, Levi says the close-knit community continues to make a difference. “Something that stands out is how every professor seems to genuinely want you to succeed and is willing to help and answer any questions you might have,” he said. Classes like Brant Bollman’s Specialized Production Elements have pushed him to explore new areas of theater. “It’s gotten me way outside my comfort zone, but I’ve also learned a ton about different theater-adjacent things,” he added.

The creative collaboration between students and faculty is one of Levi’s favorite parts of the program. “William Penn has some very creative people in the theater department, both faculty and students,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun getting to meet and work with other people passionate about the arts.”

While Levi doesn’t plan to focus solely on stage combat, he knows it’s a skill he’ll continue to use. “Even if the fights I’m performing don’t use a sword, a lot of the same basic principles apply,” he explained. “Even fistfights would use the same types of techniques.”

Looking ahead, Levi hopes to take on more productions that let him use his wide range of skills—and encourages others to take chances, too. “Honestly, I would say to just go for it and give it a try,” he said. “Outside of acting, I’m a very quiet and introverted person, so I never would’ve thought I would enjoy acting, but once I tried it, I knew it was for me. You never know where you might find your passion—it might be something unexpected, but if you never try things, you’ll never know.”

At William Penn University, that sense of exploration and possibility drives everything in the arts. Whether it’s learning stage combat through Penn’s partnership with the George Daily Auditorium, crafting a set, or composing a score, students are empowered to turn creativity into action—and discover what inspires them most.