From the desk of Manuel Cass’id, First Under-Prefect of the Cassiline Brotherhood:
The Cassiline Brotherhood is one of honor and respect. Hard work hardens our young men into weapons honed and sharpened into extensions of Cassiel’s dagger. All that we are is summed up in our words, I protect and serve.
For our Brotherhood, the Longest Night is spent in meditation and prayer as we observe Cassiel’s Vigil. Therefore the request of the Night Court is an unusual one. But with the renewed interest in the story of our great anathema, Joscelin Verreuil and his experience within the Brotherhood, we will relent. We will send two of our Cassiline Brothers to Mont Nuit to demonstrate for the Longest Night Masquerade at Cereus House the famous battle in La Serenissima between two former members of our Brotherhood.
Manuel Cass’id
~
Joining us at the Longest Night Midwinter Masque event this year will be two SAFD actor combatants from the DC area to perform a choreographed demonstration of the infamous duel between Joscelin Verreuil and David de Rocaille that took place in La Serenissima during the events of Kushiel’s Chosen.
Entertainment Director Az has been working with local SAFD actor combatant and fight choreographer Mallory Shear to bring the famous Cassiline duel to life. Take a look at the Cassiline Combatants who will be joining us this January!
Matthew Crawford – David de Rocaille
A Central New York native, Matthew Crawford has been an actor in the DMV since 2011. Some of his favorite roles include Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, Horatio in Hamlet, Thenardier in Les Miserables, James in James and the Giant Peach, and the Ernie Mac track in Puffs. He is a teaching artist for Signature Theatre, Imagination Stage, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, and Adventure Theatre MTC (to name a few). He continues his own education as a certified Intermediate (soon to be Advanced) Actor Combatant via numerous stage combat classes and workshops. Much of his fighting has taken place at the Maryland Renaissance Festival in various shows and weapon demonstrations.
Jillian Riti – Joscelin Verreuil
Jillian Riti is an actor, fight director, and teaching artist based in DC and Chicago. She has performed and coordinated violence for dozens of plays and short films. Jillian began their stage combat training in Los Angeles in 2011 and never looked back.
Select credits: Finding Neil Patrick Harris (Nu Sass Productions); Henry IV Part 1 and Henry V (Brave Spirits Theatre); The Lady Demands Satisfaction and Long Joan Silver (LOFT Ensemble); and Bullshot Crummond, Twelfth Night, and Perfect Wedding (West Valley Playhouse).
Credentials: SAFD Advanced Actor Combatant. BFA: AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts.
Follow Jillian on X: @jilliannners
Mallory Shear – Fight Choreography
Mallory Shear is a DC based Fight & Intimacy Choreographer, Performer, and Teaching Artist. Mallory is a Resident Teaching Artist with Signature Theatre. They have choreographed and taught at Arena Stage, Olney Theatre, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Keegan Theatre, St. Mary’s College, McDaniel College, Iron Crow Theatre, The Strand Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, Holton Arms, The Landon School, and several Regional Stage Combat workshops, to name a few.
Select Performance Credits: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Adventure Theatre, Live Action Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, The Strand Theatre, Horwitz Performing Arts Center, Maryland Renaissance Festival, etc.
They are an Advanced Actor Combatant with the SAFD, an Intermediate Actor Combatant with FDC and did their stunt training in the UK and Ireland. Mallory is a proud associate member of SDC.
