LAINE FLORES
About Me
Stage Combat
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. And I fell in love. Thanks to the tutelage of Fight Master Michael G. Chin, I now hold five weapon certifications through the Society of American Fight Directors, and the rank of Actor/Combatant. My goal is to train and certify in all eight weapons that the SAFD has to offer and achieve the rank of Advanced Actor/Combatant.
What's Next?
After spending two months in isolation at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I moved to Brooklyn, NY, to begin exploring what a future in this strange new world looks like...
In addition to pursuing work onstage, I am interested in working in the realm of theatre education, and hope to continue developing the teaching and leadership skills that I have built through my work with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Muhlenberg College's new student orientation program. I also want to pursue opportunities in the medical community by acting as a standardized patient - helping future healthcare professionals achieve greater levels of empathy for those in their care.
Education
I graduated from Muhlenberg College in May of 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Neuroscience - a combination that perplexes many at first, but one that has gifted me with various interesting ways to connect my passions for creativity, philosophy, and fostering empathy. Throughout my college experience, my coursework has allowed me to engage deeply with theories of emotion and consciousness from multiple angles, informing my growth as an actor and human being.
Passion
Over the course of my existence, I have been collecting passions to add to the ever-growing pile of things that I love. The very first was reading. The next was musical theatre. After that, it was tea. Then, along came Shakespeare and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival - where I was lucky enough to be accepted to their Summer Seminar for High School Juniors and be asked to return as a Senior Assistant for the program the following year. This sparked my love for mentoring teenagers and young adults, as well as a dive into heightened language and classical verse, which in college led me to be cast as Joan of Arc in a new adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV tetralogy. Which brings me to...
GLORY - photo by Ken Ek
Upcoming Projects
Check back soon for more updates!
Past Projects
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.
You may see a certain someone wielding a rapier in the Tournament of Champions, singing with Her Majesty, and leading the ensemble of our nightly Shakespeare in the Shire performance!
JOIN US NEXT SEASON, IN 2022!
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 TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqgwJnvWgZs
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