FriendsOfMDRF.org - THE BLOG!

Link: http://www.rennfest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=26

Scroll down the entertainment page of MDRF's main site and read "The Royal Court Agenda" and see what's happening at The Globe. "Who better to ask about the King as husband and lover than his previous five wives. All most certainly have opinions to give to the woman who may be the sixth wife!"

That's right, Carolyn Spedden (The Entertainment Director) has penned into play a wonderful idea that I personally can't wait to see! The idea of having the unlikely meeting of all of Henry's wives for a confab is GREAT!

According to Carolyn: I have been toying with the idea of a show featuring all six of Henry's wives for many years. What would they say to each other? And how would you structure a show - obviously some of the women are dead, and I don't want to do a ghost story.
I thought of the old television program, Steve Allen's "Meeting of Minds" in which various historical characters from all time periods gather for a round table discussion.
I've decided to use that approach - just ignore the fact that four of the women are dead. But I am giving all of them the opportunity to speak to each other.
For the history buffs, I will offer this disclaimer - I have researched, read, and written for these six famous women for more than twenty years. I shall offer my interpretations on their personalities. You may completely disagree. I am not trying to present an educational lecture. This is how I see these women after twenty years of trying to get inside their heads and their hearts. Enjoy!

I, for one will try to catch every show, every weekend!

From Carolyn:

We are looking for the next generation of variety performers to grace the stages of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Do you juggle? Do acrobatics? Perform magic? Then the Festival has an opportunity for you. Take part in our “Tomorrow’s Talent” competition.

The first step in the process is to send in a DVD of your act for consideration. See below for details. From the submissions, we will choose up to 5 acts we feel show the most promise. Those 5 acts will be given 5 minutes to perform live at the Maryland Renaissance Festival on Saturday, October 16th. Judges will choose the top 3, who will return Sunday, October 17th. First, Second, and Third place prizes will be awarded.

First place winners will receive a one-weekend contract for the 2011 Maryland Renaissance Festival, plus $500. Second place winners will receive $300. Third place will receive $200.

Eligibility:

1. Age: Entrants must be between the ages of 16 – 25 years old.

2. Availability: Performers must be available to perform for the talent competition on BOTH Saturday and Sunday, October 16th and 17th. Competition will be held in the late afternoon.

3. Employees and independent contractors of the Maryland Renaissance Festival and members of their families are not eligible to take part in this competition.

4. The acts must be of variety skills – NO singers, musicians, or actors. Also, no use of fire is permitted. There can be no use of pre-recorded music or electronics, as those would not be permitted during a live performance at the festival.

5. All material MUST be family-friendly. Keep it clean!

6. All performers must make their own travel and, if needed, accommodation arrangements to the Maryland Renaissance Festival for the weekend of October 16th & 17th, 2010.

How to apply:

1. For preliminary auditions, we need to see a DVD of your act. Please keep submissions to 5 minutes. Also include a cover letter, and any performance experience you’ve had. These can be sent via FedEx or UPS to: Carolyn Spedden, Artistic Director. Maryland Renaissance Festival, 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis, MD 21401 OR – it can be sent electronically to Carolyn@rennfest.com Make sure to mark it "Tomorrow's Talent Competition".

2. Materials must be postmarked- or emailed- by SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2010 to be considered.

3. Please make sure to include a contact phone number and email address in your submission!

4. Our top five finalists will be notified by Wednesday, October 6th. They must be available to perform the weekend of October 16th & 17th.

GOOD LUCK!

Carolyn here - we are busy rehearsing and getting ready to open the gates of Revel Grove. This year the actors are focusing on the pathway - you'll see much more of the storyline played out in the streets than on the stages. Lots of new characters and groups - such as our swashbucklers, wenches and washerwomen.

Carolyn here - a little pre-Festival teaser: Lovely new and large stage at the Boar's Head Tavern means another great covered location to see your favorite bands & variety performers.

Link: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/nbh/2010/06/21-16/Renaissance-Fest-staying-put-for-now.html

By SHANTEE WOODARDS, Capital Staff Writer
Published 06/21/10

Organizers of the annual Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville are still looking for a new home and an easier way for participants to access the popular historic re-enactment event.

But for now, it's staying put at Revel Grove on Crownsville Road. The company renewed its lease - and still has at least three years remaining on its current lease - but continues to look for a larger parcel that would accommodate additional activities such as weddings and small receptions, General Manager Jules Smith said recently.

"When we began here in '85, we were one of very few things in this particular area of (routes) 450 and 178," Smith said. "Now there are many things and many neighborhoods. … But the roads haven't changed very much."

Each year, the festival generates about $18 million for the local economy and attracts about 250,000 visitors during its nine-weekend run. But in the past two years it has been hampered by rain, and attendance fell below expectations.

The event re-enacts the Renaissance, complete with musicians, dancers, artisans, Shakespearean characters, and other people and activities of the time period. It raises about $1.2 million annually in taxes for county coffers.

The event had more room for festivities when it debuted, but in the 1990s organizers decided to devote more space to parking. Now the festival operates on 25 acres, with 130 acres used for parking.

Because certain days of the festival have been busier than others, officials are considering offering advance ticketing for the 2011 event. Under that policy, tickets would still be sold at the gate, but those who purchase tickets in advance would avoid waiting in line.

Talk of moving the festival first surfaced in 2008, when the Smith family hired a real estate consultant to scout out a new location. They were looking for a space that would allow a larger jousting track and upgraded facilities that would permit the event to continue in the rain.

Potential locations were narrowed down to nine sites in six other counties. Any relocation would be years away, but county officials have been trying to help organizers find large tracts of land in the county to keep the festival here.

Richard Falk, president of the Generals Highway Council of Civic Associations, said the festival has had a positive impact on the community. There are some traffic problems during the event, he said, but officials have worked to correct that. Falk agreed that if the event is going to increase in size, it would be best if it did so at another location.

"I welcome them and I'm happy (that they're staying)," Falk said. "If they'd want to stay and expand, then I think there would have to be serious talks about how traffic would be handled. … Certainly, they could not increase in size significantly and leave the traffic pattern as it is. That would be terrible."

This year's festival starts Aug. 28 and runs weekends through Oct. 24.

"We're planning some great new entertainment in addition to a lot of our returning favorites," Smith said.