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Edited and directed by Timothy Shaw
Stage Manager: Jen Silber
Musical direction by J. Adam Wyatt
Starring Courtney Weber as Beatrice and J. Owen Dickson as Benedick.

One of Shakespeare's most enduring comedies to be performed on the Gatehouse Stage from October 3rd to the 25th only! (pulled from: http://www.rennfest.com/entertainment/stage-acts-shows-and-events )

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Much Ado About Nothing is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare set in Messina, Sicily. The story concerns a pair of lovers named Claudio and Hero who are due to be married in a week. To pass the time before their wedding day, they conspire with Don Pedro, the prince of Aragon, to trick their friends, Beatrice and Benedick, into confessing their love for one another. The prince's illegitimate brother, Don John, however, jealous of both Don Pedro's power and his affection for Claudio, plans to sabotage the coming wedding.

(pulled from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Much_Ado_About_Nothing)

Written by Mike Field, based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes.

Directed by Timothy Shaw

Stage Manager: Liz Armour;

Fight Choreography: Geoff Thompson

Musicians: Bill and Cathy Palmer

Considered one of the greatest works of fiction ever published, Don Quixote was originally published in two volumes, a decade apart. Book I appeared in 1605, and Book II in 1615. An immediate success, the volumes go from very medieval in feel to that of a modern novel. Its cultural significance is felt in all of the art forms to this day– dance, music, theatre and art.

This adaptation written expecially for the Renaissance Festival by Baltimore playwright Mike Field, focuses on Book I, and the story of the four lovers – a tale of jealousy, trickery, dispair and finally happy resolution.

Directed by veteran festival director Timothy Shaw, and featuring familiar faces from the Festival’s company of actors including Fred Nelson (King Henry VIII), Brian H. Reynolds (formerly Mayor Wetherby), Casey Severn and Geoff Thompson of Fight School, and Joy & Glenn Evans the husband and wife acting team who have performed a wide variety of roles, and last year were Nurse and Lord Capulet in Mr. Shaw’s production of Romeo and Juliet.

We invite you to join the madcap adventures of a Spanish knight, his trusty but unlearned squire, and the memorable cast of characters he encounters in his quest for honor, love, fame and glory.

Cast List (in order of appearance)

Antonia – niece and housekeeper to Don Quixote . . . Amy Davis

Don Quixote – a minor nobleman of La Mancha . . . Fred Nelson

Sancho Panza – A rustic peasant from La Mancha . . . Brian H. Reynolds

Alfonso – a wealthy merchant, father to Lucinda . . . John Sadowsky

Fernando – son of the Duke . . . David Joria

Cardenio – a minor nobleman’s son, and one-time companion to Fernando . . . Graham Pilato

Lucinda – the daughter of Alfonso, beloved by Cardenio . . . Jessica Talson

Curate Pedro Perez – friend to Don Quixote and the town priest . . . Brian Douglas

Nicholas – friend to Don Quixote and the town barber . . . Casey Severn

Dorothea – the daughter of a wealthy farmer . . . Lisa Robinson

Gertie Gizzard – wife to the innkeeper . . . Joy Evans

Griswald Gizzard – the innkeeper . . . Glenn Evans

Priest – cleric in the town where Lucinda lives . . . Geoff Thompson

Servant – servant to Don Fernando . . . Michael Burgtorf


PERFORMED AT 12NOON AT THE GLOBE THEATRE.
RUNNING TIME: 75 MINUTES.

Pulled From: http://www.rennfest.com/entertainment/stage-acts-shows-and-events

http://www.rennfest.com/content/view/17/26/

This page includes some new shows (like Don Quixote) which we'll highlight here in days to come!

This year's mainstage play on the Globe will be a new stage adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes famous novel, Don Quixote, Book I. This adaptation is by Mike Field and will be directed by Timothy Shaw. Starring Fred Nelson as Don Quixote and Brian Reynolds as Sancho Panza.

The Shakespeare play will be Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Timothy Shaw. This one hour production will be presented on weekends in October only. Starring Courtney Weber as Beatrice and John Dickson as Benedick.

pulled from the MDRF Official Site: http://www.rennfest.com

Mike Hilby just sent me a note saying that he'll be performing at MDRF for only the last three weekends of the run (which doesn't include Oktoberfest Weekend. . .again).

When I talked with him last year when we caught up with him at the Delaware State Faire (which he's at again this year. . .this weekend I think). . . he confided that his schedule fills up really early and by the time MDRF starts putting acts on the entertainment schedule, a lot of his summer and early fall weekends are filled.

Hilby would do every weekend if the folks at MDRF would get to him earlier in the year. . . or at the very least have him scheduled for Oktoberfest weekend! I think if the fest moved Oktoberfest later by a week or two, Hilby would be there . . . he's always there late in the season.

Just a thought!

I still think his is the funniest act at MDRF and I try not to miss a performance.

http://www.hilby.net