Bloodletting in These Hills is showing here at Parkway Playhouse August 1-10, 2025. We reached out to Mike Yow, who is our Fight Choreographer for this show, about his experience working on this production.
What part of this show is your favorite?
Hard to choose a favorite, but I always enjoy the visceral feel and presence of stage weaponry, be it guns, knives, or my faves, swords.
What about this show do you think will stick with audiences?
Several aspects of this show will likely stick with audiences for a while, but if I’m picking one, I’d have to say the emotional moments of it – often to do with family and hard choices – could very well be the standout.
Tell us what a fight choreographer does and what that process has looked like for this show.
A fight choreographer designs the fight scenes in a stageplay, film, or television show, and is responsible, not only for the creative choices therein (often alongside the director), but more importantly, the safety of the participants, stage crew, and audience members. Fight choreographers (or fight captains) are also in-charge of the storing of weapons off-stage and instructing cast and crew members in their proper use and care.
What have you loved about working with Parkway Playhouse so far?
I was fairly active in performing at Parkway a few years back, and have enjoyed most the overall aspect of my return and reunited with some of the awesomely creative folks who still work there!
What’s your favorite thing to do in the area?
As a Western NC resident (Asheville, to be precise), I love gazing out at our lovely mountains, an exercise that never gets old, and when I have the chance, hiking on their amazing trailways. Despite a bit of a drive for rehearsals and performances, I really do enjoy it due to the awesome vistas, not to mention that it’s usually a couple of degrees cooler in Burnsville. 😉
How did you get into theatre?
I dabbled a bit in high school and in one or two productions beyond, but didn’t really pursue it seriously and professionally until about 18-20 years ago down in the Atlanta area. Over the past eight or nine years, in addition to acting, I started producing and directing as well, and also work occasionally as an acting coach/instructor.
Tell us about yourself.
Other than theatrical stuff, I also dabble in film and television, and also work on guided tours of downtown Asheville and special ghost tours in that area. I’m also a published author and game designer and even run professional Dungeons & Dragons games for youth participants. I enjoy pickleball at a reasonably competitive level and am married to a lovely woman, Karen, who also works as an actor and is a castmate in Bloodletting In These Hills (as Lillian).
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