Florida Renaissance Festival

The Olde Times October 1507 edition
Broadsheet of Ye FLORIDA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
Florida Renaissance
Festival:
15 Years Olde & Better
Than Ever
What began in February 1993 as a twoday Medieval Faire held in Fort
Lauderdale’s Snyder Park is now a fiveweekend cultural extravaganza, known
as the Florida Renaissance Festival
(FlaRF), celebrating its 15th Anniversary
Season, February 10th through March
11th, 2007, and you’re invited to be a
part of the fun and excitement. 2007
promises to be a year of change, with the
scope of the
King Francis I Valois of France
(1494-1547)
Festival expanding beyond the borders
of Jolly Olde England to encompass the
whole of Renaissance Europe.
In the words of FlaRF executive
producer Bobby Rodriguez, “since its
early years, Florida Renaissance
Festival has really been about the 16th
Century in its entirety. The major leaps
in the arts, sciences and European
culture actually arrived rather late to the
British Isles, while places like Italy,
Spain and France were already seeing
dramatic shifts in learning and the way
people saw themselves starting in the
14th and 15th Centuries. And even though
2007 is the 400th anniversary of the first
permanent English colony in America –
an important milestone, without a doubt
– the English Renaissance itself was in
many ways a piecing-together of the
great advances which had already
occurred in Florence, Paris, Spain and
the Netherlands, as well as in Germany
and Eastern Europe. The 2007 FlaRF
show will reflect those varied and unique
contributions to European Culture.
The scenario for 2007, “Too
Many Monarchs,” is a fun romp
peppered with intrigue involving the
Rulers of England and Spain and the
Holy Roman Emperor plotting to take
over the Shire. In the words of Mary
Ann Jung, one of the Entertainment
Team and the actor who portrays
Captain Jean Cabot, the Pirate Queen,
“Much silliness and confusion will
ensue.”
Which isn’t to say that next
year’s show won’t be familiar to longtime participants. Knights on horseback
competing at joust; period music of
every style and flavor; jugglers, jesters,
minstrels, puppet shows, sword fighters,
storytellers, beggars and stage shows of
all kinds (not to mention the great food!)
remain staples at the 15th annual Florida
Renaissance Festival, where the past is
alive and well!
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Getting Involved
By Debby DeWitt
FlaRF Office Wench
You’ve come to the Festival, you’ve
enjoyed it so much that you bought a
pair of boots. Then you bought a jerkin
or corsette. Then you bought a sword or
a goblet. Next thing you know, patrons
start mistaking you for an actor. You
find yourself giggling inside as you
interact with them and that’s when WE
realize that YOU are on the “Slippery
Slope of Involvement”. So just how
do you become a part of the festival
anyway? We have three great ways
for you to explore that alter-ego that has
come to possess you every spring.
Auditions: Auditions are
the weekend of Nov 3, 4 & 5. Auditions
are a great forum for new actors
to introduce themselves to the south
Florida performing community, and for
returning cast members to display new
skills they are developing to enhance
their performance abilities. Auditions are
open to performers of all experience
levels, body types, and nationalities, etc.
We are particularly interested in
bilingual Hispanic, Italian and Germanic
types as we are going for more of an
international cast this year. Motivated
Professionalism are the watchwords for
this years cast, and Entertainment team
directors Mary Ann Jung, Paul Stickney
and Richard Weber are excited to see
new faces as well as old favorites at this
years auditions! See website for times
and audition requirements. Though
some key roles are paid, most are
volunteer positions. Even those may lead
to paid positions in the future, however.
Just think, our RENFAERIES started
out as high school volunteers and have
developed their skills and characters to
the point that they are now a troupe that
goes to other festivals and performs at
various shows throughout the year. It’s
been a fun way for them to earn extra
money for college!
Job Faire: In January, we
will schedule a Job Faire for anyone that
would like to work for the festival.
These are all paid positions and there a
variety of jobs available. Just a few of
the positions we have available are Soda
Sales, Pub Sales, Ticket Takers, Admin
Assistant in the Office, Feast Servers,
Information Pages and Game Sales. It’s
a great way to earn some extra money
and pay off those Christmas Credit Card
bills early!! Visit our website, download
an application and send it to our office.
We will contact you with information
on the Job Faire in early January.
Volunteers Wanted:
Visit our website (www.Ren-Fest.com)
for a volunteer form or call our office for
more information!!
Some of our best
employees and cast members started as
volunteers, it’s a great place to start your
slide down the “Slippery Slope of
Involvement”. Students can also earn
community hours! To Volunteer, Email
RimaX@BobbyRodriguezProductions.c
om. We are also in need of a Volunteer
Coordinator to help oversee the
expansion of our Volunteer Program;
ask Rima X. for details.
Calling All
Contingents!
Italian Contingent
Plans are underway to create an Italian
encampment with the emphasis on the
History of the travels of Columbus and
the New World. Colorful Italian
Renaissance costumes are already being
acquired.
Marketing Coordinator, and what a great
job she’s been doing. Email her at
Vicki@ren-fest.com.
Bobby Rodriguez Productions, producer
of FlaRF has hired Juan (Al) Perez as
Comptroller (which, in spite of its
spelling is pronounced “controller”). He
started this past February and has
already made a great impact on the
Company. Email him at
Al@BobbyRodriguezProductions.com
Some of you may remember a former
cast member by the name of Cliff Dunn
(a former Spanish Ambassador and
Mayor Harry Battles from years past at
FlaRF), recently hired as Executive
Assistant. Great to have him back, after
a 5 year hiatus in Utah. Email him at
Cliff@ren-fest.com.
German Contingent
Wanted - a band of German Mercenaries
..."have sword, will travel".
Spanish Contingent
FlaRF will be soliciting actors to play
Spanish Explorers and Courtiers. We
hope to get the Spanish Consulate in
Miami involved in this year’s show.
French Contingent
What can we say about the French?
FlaRF Staff Gets A
Facelift
Vicki Patterson joined the staff at the
2006 FlaRF. Afterwards we brought her
on as our new Sponsorship and
We’d like to welcome our new Intern,
Corinne Ramos, who will be assisting
the Production team. Email her at
cRamos@BobbyRodriguezProductions.c
om
Lastly, recently hired as Creative
Director is Rima Xiques. She comes to
us by way of New York City where she
has been Executive Assistant at some of
the largest entertainment firms in the
City. We look forward to her corporate
and leadership experience. Email her at
RimaX@BobbyRodriguezProductions.c
om.
Showtime Network
Unveils New Program,
“The Tudors”
Emmy® and Golden Globe®-nominated
actor Sam Neill ("Jurassic Park"),
Jeremy Northam ("The Net," "Gosford
Park") and Henry Cavill ("Tristan &
Isolde") have just joined the cast of the
new SHOWTIME dramatic series THE
TUDORS, which stars Golden Globe®winner Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
("Mission: Impossible III," "Match
Point," "Elvis") as a young Henry VIII.
Ten episodes have been ordered and
Emmy®-winning television director
Charles McDougall ("Desperate
Housewives") will helm at least the first
two episodes of the series, which is
scheduled to air on the network in early
2007. Neill portrays Cardinal Wolsey,
Northam plays Sir Thomas More, and
Cavill portrays Charles Brandon.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays the young Henry
VIII in Showtime’s THE TUDORS
THE TUDORS will focus on the rarely
dramatized, tumultuous early years of
King Henry VIII's nearly 40-year
omnipotent reign (1509-1547) of
England. In addition to dalliances with
famous consorts Catherine of Aragon
and Anne Boleyn, the series delves into
Henry's most notable political
relationships, including those with
philosopher Sir Thomas More, Cardinal
Wolsey, head of the English Church
during its break with Rome, and Charles
Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and Henry's
closest friend.
Florida
Renaissance
Festival
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Florida Renaissance Festival is now
accepting applications for the following
positions being filled for the 2007 show:
Booth Manager
Ticket Taker
Page (royal messenger)
Games Attendant
Souvenir Sales
Security
Pub Sales
Soda Sales
Food Sales
Food Prep
Office Staff
Site Crew
Feast Server
Floater
5 Weekends
Saturday February 10th - Sunday
March 11th, 2007
(including Monday President's Day
February 19th)
10:00 am ‘til Sunset
Plus 1 School Day Monday, February
12th, 2007
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Help Wanted!
Queen Isabella of Castile
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Condolences
Our deepest sympathies go out to
Carolyn Nelson, who has been a regular
and highly-valued part of FlaRF for
many years, whose son, Matthew died
on September 20th. You are both in our
thoughts and prayers.
Applications can be found online at
www.ren-fest.com, or call the Festival
office at (954) 776-1642.
THE KING COMMANDS!
We’ll see Ye there.
Holiday Stocking
Stuffer Sale!!
Florida Renaissance Festival tickets
make a GREAT gift for the holidays!
Buy Adult Daily tickets for only $15.00
each (A $5 savings off the gate price!)
Price is good 12/1/06 – 12/26/06. You
can order online at www.ren-fest.com or
call the office at 954-776-1642 to
purchase your tickets. Tickets will be
mailed or you can pick up at our Fort
Lauderdale office so you have them in
time for the holidays!
busy celebrating life itself."
Experienced Pro,
Novice, Amateur or
Joust Curious?
From Renaissance by John R. Hale
Interested in participating in a Pub
Brawl, Pirates Pillage, Street Theatre or
Tavern Antics? Whether a leading
character or a bit part, if you want to be
part of the cast at FlaRF you will need to
bring a head shot (photo of yourself) and
prepare a 1-2 minute monologue
(preferably a period piece). This will be
videotaped. ALL ARE WELCOME
and encouraged TO AUDITION.
Classes for the cast will be given in:
Character Development; physicality;
improvisation; dialects; stage combat;
crowd interaction and more.
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The Ren-Faire
"The Renaissance was an age of
spectacles, filled with the clash of
festival sports, the pomp of processions,
the tumult of great citywide celebrations.
Almost any occasion - a Saint's day, the
arrival of a visiting prince, the
anniversary of a great battle, even the
dismissal of an Ambassador - was reason
to fill the streets with revelry. When
there were no events, however trivial, to
celebrate, the gaiety of the age found
expression in hunts and ball games,
horse races, boxing matches, snow-ball
fights. Trumpeteers were the flamboyant
heralds of the time, announcing town
criers, accompanying brides to church,
enlivening banquets or preceding nobles
and dignitaries through the streets. In
brief, the men of the Renaissance needed
no excuse for celebration: they were
FlaRF Acting
Workshops
Plans are underway to begin a series of
acting workshops for local cast who
would like to hone their thespianic
skills. Contact Cliff (Cliff@renfest.com) for more info and to schedule
some time.
Florida Renaissance
Festival is produced by
Bobby Rodriguez Productions, Inc., 800 NW
57th Place, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309.
Phone 954-776-1642. Fax 954-771-7045.