About the Knights of Iron

The Knights of Iron provides the highest level of entertainment in an interactive environment. Formed in 2000, Knights of Iron have staged 9 major theatrical productions, and have performed in front of over 1 million people. Knights of Iron are the premier provider of character based entertainment, and from providing a single character, to an entire day long show featuring a Broadway sized cast, if you can dream it up, the Knights of Iron can make it a reality.

About the Director

Knights of Iron director, L. Dale Walter, has been involved in stage combat and swordplay for over 25 years and has been the fight director for the Michigan Renaissance Festival as well as the Silver Leaf Renaissance Fair. During his career Dale has trained actors for numerous stage performances, and he and his students have appeared in film and on television as well. Dale has also served as fencing coach for both the University of Detroit Mercy, and Michigan State University.

Dale relies on his extensive training in martial arts, with belts in Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Tai Chi, coupled with the sword training received under Maestro Charles Schmitter, and Head Coach Fred Freiheit, while on the Varsity Fencing team at Michigan State University, to allow him to bring realism and the immediacy of an actual armed duel to life in his stage choreography.

Beginning his stage combat career in the 1980's, Dale quickly saw an opportunity, and utilizing his horseback riding skills, founded the Excalibur Medieval Equestrian Team. One of the first joust teams in the country, Excalibur went on to perform over 500 armored jousting exhibitions to the delight of crowds across the Midwest.

Throughout the 1990's Dale focused on stage performance where he took over the task of technical theatre director, designing the stage sets, lighting, sound, and special effects for shows such as Anything Goes, Rumors, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Damn Yankees, and State Fair.

In the late 1990's Dale again saw an opportunity, this time for a professional stage combat team that combined the acting skills of a repertory theatre company, with the excitement of stage combat. Out of this vision, Knights of Iron were born. Given his long theatrical background, it is no surprise that Dale places heavy emphasis on acting ability, and is insistent on making sure that the emotions underlying a swordfight are as clear as the movement of the swords themselves. Since their formation in 2001, his Knights of Iron have performed continuously, staging 7 major shows, and performing in front of over 1 million people.

Dale performs regularly with his Knights at numerous renaissance and medieval festivals. He has been in over 30 theatrical stage productions, and has performed roles as diverse as Porthos in The Three Musketeers, The Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood, Kenickie in Grease, and Oberon in A Midsummer Nights Dream.

Dale's education background includes a BA from Michigan State University, and an MBA from the University of Miami, Florida, where he completed a triple major in Strategic Management, Marketing, and Business Law. He is currently owner and President of Trans Tube, Inc. a corporation that designs and builds weapons systems for the Military.

Other interests include his amazing left handed guitar collection (which is reported to be the largest in the world with over 80 guitars) pinball machines, motorcycles, and his car collection featuring a mint condition 1969 Corvette Convertible, a 1954 Pontiac Chieftain, and a BMW Z4 Roadster. Dale's current automotive project is a 1972 Ford Falcon XA imported from Australia, which is being built into the black on black "Last of the V-8's" Interceptor from the movie Mad Max.

When not working Dale can be found riding his horse Brennen, a 6 year old gelding who is half Belgian and half Quarter horse, registered as a "spotted draft." Dale is also an avid snowboarder, and can often be found ripping down the slopes at Nub's Nob or Boyne Highlands.