PA Ren Faire Promo pt 1 1987

This year, 1987, was our first year as Artistic Directors at Mt. Hope. Up to that point, the professional performers that had replaced the volunteers for 1986 and 1987 had come from the Sterling Renaissance Fest in upstate NY under the enlightened direction of Gary Izzo. In 1986, both Brian and I were a part of that troupe that migrated south after Sterling closed, to populate the streets of the PA Faire. Brian was in the acting company and I was an independent musician. We enjoyed the run at PA. The grounds were beautiful and the atmosphere was conducive to creativity. I was able to perform the Jonson Shakespeare Debates on the Globe with the co-creator of the show, Duncan Inches, as well as stroll with my guitar and interact. After the faire closed, on Halloween of that year I got a call from Mt. Hope wanting to know if I was interested in interviewing for the position of full-time AD (fortunately, Gary had recommended me). The Grand Duke (Mt. Hope's owner) wanted to extend the run in '87 and have his own permanent acting company. I was amenable, got the job, eventually hired Brian and away we went. Unbeknownst to myself (they thought I was too busy) the Grand Duke hired Take One and it's marvelous cameraman Kevin to come and shoot during rehearsal and during the first weeks of the faire, for a promo video. Had they told me earlier than the first day the cameras showed up, I might have been able to prepare a bit better. Nonetheless, the promo video, the very one now able to be seen again here, turned out well enough. It's great to be able to watch it and remember what a thrill it was back then to be in charge of the artistic growth of this faire and to be able to influence its direction as theatre instead of succumbing to the anachronistic carnival flavor that many festivals indulge in. In designing the faire that year, we constantly invoked what my dramatic literature teacher had impressed upon me: it doesn't matter what your premise is, but once you establish it, don't violate it (by being sloppy or careless or, in this case, anachronistic). We set about creating the illusion of stepping back to the 16th century with as few reminders of the 20th as possible. This turned out to be the work of years. One doesn't go to a film to watch microphones and cameras and crew, and out of place objects, costumes and language breach the camera's view and destroy the illusion. We wanted the same integrity for our kind of festival theatre. Thanks to a great cast and staff, we saw in the harvest the fulfillment of dreams we had hoped for in the planting. This video is early in the run. As the faire spanned months, we watched it grow into an even stronger event, thanks to the laudable efforts of all involved. Artistic directors, Dennis Collins Johnson and Brian Belge.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• pennsylvania renaissance faire
• festival
• queen elizabeth
• mt. hope
• 1987
• actors
• actor conservatory
• improvisation
• stunts
• swords
• funny
• humor
• comedy
• shakespeare
• theater

[sadlobster1]

Even back in the 80's, the Renaissance Faire looked incredible. I loved and still love the place ever since I first went there with my classmates in 2004.

My family and I have been going to the faire every year since then. Anyone who live near the Lancaster area or is traveling by should come and take a look at it.

I guarantee you won't be disappointed