LAINE FLORES
About Me
Combat & Classics
Long story short: Joan of Arc changed my life.
​
I had never held a sword before, and suddenly I was thrust into a rehearsal room full of carefully orchestrated chaos with a rapier in my right hand and a dagger in my left, playing Joan de Pucelle in an adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry VI. And I fell in love.
Thanks to the tutelage of Fight Masters, Certified Teachers, and many other talented individuals, I now hold six weapon certifications through the Society of American Fight Directors, and the rank of Actor/Combatant. My goals for the future include training in all eight weapons that the SAFD has to offer, and eventually become a Certified Teacher myself. I am currently a teaching assistant to Certified Teacher Jacqueline Holloway at her combat school, Arte Violenta.
​
Shakespeare has held a special place in my heart since 5th grade, when I took home a book from the school library that told all the stories of his plays in modern language. In high school, my mom and I took a road trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR, and I was well and truly hooked. Seeing the Bard's work live on stage for the first time further confirmed my conviction that Shakespeare is not simply heard or understood - Shakespeare is felt, and anyone can feel it if they choose to.
​
I now teach Elizabethan vernacular lessons and direct Shakespeare in the Shire at the New York Renaissance Faire. And whenever I spot Joan of Arc in a museum or book, I am filled with a sense of immense gratitude for the journey that she sparked and the path that I continue to follow.
Passion & Purpose
I have two degrees in thinking about thinking. Yes, you heard that right. I graduated from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Neuroscience in May of 2020. It's a disciplinary combination that perplexes many at first, but one that has gifted me with a myriad of ways to connect my passions for creativity, philosophy, and fostering empathy. Throughout college and beyond, my work has allowed me to engage deeply with theories of emotion and consciousness from multiple angles, informing my growth as an actor and human being.
​
So much of what drew me to both acting and neuropsychology was the desire to understand why. Why can two people have vastly different experiences when presented with the same stimuli? Why - if I've never experienced a particular character's given circumstances - did I feel such profound emotion when I performed that monologue?
​
Consciousness is a meaning-making machine. Humans are hard-wired around the concept of narrative, of story, and we have chosen to share our meaningful stories with each other for thousands of years through the art of theatre and film. I think Shakespeare summed it up quite neatly:
​
O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! - The Tempest, V.i.184
Upcoming Projects
Romeo & Juliet
Arachne Theater
I will be joining the artistic team for this production as the Fight Director and Choreographer! Join us in Verona, Italy (Summit Rock, Central Park), on June 21st and 22nd for a classic tale of young love gone horribly awry - directed by Chris M. Godshall.
​
There will be star-crossed love, there will be Shakespeare, and by god there will be SWORDS!
Past Projects
Song of Avalon Saga: The Cursed Beast
A Staged Reading
This queer re-telling of Arthurian legend centers Morgan le Fay and her child, Mordred, as they attempt to fight the will of the stars - repairing broken relationships and kingdoms in the hope that their choices might matter more than fate or prophecy. Want to see where this story goes next? Follow @songofavalonsaga on Instagram!
​
Playwright: Lisa LaGrande
Composer and Lyricist: Kristin KP Sgarro
New York Renaissance Faire
Renaissance Entertainment Productions
Join us for a season of revelry and merry-making in Sterling Shire - where fantasy rules! Witness daring sword fights, conspire with roguish outlaws, join splendidly attired lords and ladies in song, and pay reverence to Queen Elizabeth I herself as you wander the woods of our beautiful faire site in Tuxedo, NY.
​
JOIN US NEXT SEASON, IN 2024!
HERO - a coming of age story
QuigleyFilms
This coming of age adventure inspired by the Legend of Zelda tells the story of a young woman who ventures into a mystical forest in search of a legendary sword that will enable her to save her kingdom. Along the way, she faces challenges from the outside world and from within, but fights to overcome them for the sake of herself, her kingdom, and her princess (played by yours truly!).
​
Directed by Tom Quigley, and featuring fight choreography from Art School Dropouts, HERO premiered at MAG-fest in January of 2022!
​
WATCH THE FILM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xroo4WrXDmc
​
Sink or Swim - Women Rock!
Muhlenberg College
Tune in as a talented gaggle of Muhlenberg alumni bring you performances by their favorite female composers and musical theatre artists. Missed the event? You can still watch it at the link below! Check out the 5 minute mark to see Taylor Beckman and myself in our quarantined version of "Bad Idea" from Waitress.
​
WATCH NOW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkPNBQW1mkc
Sink or Swim - Holiday Special 2020
Muhlenberg College
Can't get enough virtual pandemic performing arts fun? Laine Flores and Taylor Beckman return with the modified holiday classic, "Baby, it's COVID Outside!" Tune in at 3min 40sec.
​
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Arden Theatre Company
This virtual showcase, directed by Matt Pfeiffer with musical direction by Alex Bechtel, was rehearsed and produced in the spring of 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch this classic tale of four lovers and their magical mishaps unfold in a new way! Featuring myself as angry Athenian dad, Egeus!
​
WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_z8toGl_WU