Subject: RPFI Guilds FAQ From: Chris Laning Date: 4 Mar 1996 03:28:06 GMT ================================== Guilds and Troupes at RPFN v.1.0 ================================== Performers at the Renaissance Pleasure Faires (TM) - - the Faires run by RPFI in Northern and Southern California, Wisconsin, and now Virginia - - are organized into "Guilds" and "troupes", each directed by a Guildmaster or troupe leader. Troupes perform in the street or on stage; guilds focus more on portraying life in their home "environmental areas" or guild yards. Each guild or troupe specializes in bringing to life a particular aspect of Elizabethan times and portraying its own set of 16th century characters, from Peasants to Nobles, from Mongers to the Military. Each guild or troupe has its own "personality" and requirements. Some are small (10 to 25), others big (100+). Some require auditions; others will take as many as they have room for. Some require specific talents, others don't. All require that you commit to being there a certain number of days of Faire and to doing a certain amount of "work" (their definition), which can range from roaming the street engaging people in conversation, to performing in a stage show, to cooking and washing dishes. *All* of them can kick you out and take away your gate pass if you offend paying customers, get drunk when you're supposed to be performing., or don't do your share of the work. These brief descriptions of the guilds and troupes at RPFN (the Faire in Northern California, currently at Black Point Forest, Novato) will give you some idea of what guilds or troupes you might wish to join. During the workshop weekends before Faire there are opportunities to meet, audition for (when necessary) and choose what troupe or guild you will belong to. Approximate guild sizes (when available) are given. Additions and corrections to this list are welcome. ============================================================== === GUILD OF SAINT ALBANS Drayers and Innkeepers Join the family and friends of Mother Bombey at the village inn. We portray drayers (cart-pullers), brewers, and innkeepers. At the inn, we host folk who gather to feast, sing, game, raise a toast to the planting or the harvest, and revel in the Court of the Lord of Misrule. We take to the streets with our pageant wagon to perform "The Mystery of John Barleycorn." Guildmistress: Kathleen Bartholomew. GUILD OF SAINT BLAISE Town Criers Ringing bells, resounding voices, and a cacophony of excitement! We march at the head of every major parade, lending our support to the Battle of Wit and Folly and the Queen's Show, and clearing the way for shire dignitaries and noble visitors. A good guild for Apprentices! Guildmaster: Leland Susser. GUILD OF SAINT BRIGID The Scots (~90) This theatrical and social organization is dedicated to portraying the daily life of a 16th century Hibern-Scottish clan. Our rousing dance show and colorful marches are done in the traditional style. In our guild yard we dance, tell stories, and demonstrate traditional crafts. Guildmaster: Alex Medeiros. THE COURT OF MISRULE A motley company of jesters, clowns, and fools, we bring our merry mayhem to both the stages and the streets of Faire. Join us as we caper and cavort in parades, wander the streets to seek out the King of the Fools, and perform in plays and pageants. We interact with the audience at every turn. We need actors, musicians, jugglers and tumblers at any level of experience, and any Apprentice with a lot of energy and a desire to have fun with the audience. Directed by: PAD Staff. THE GUILD OF SAINT CUTHBERT Parades and pageants (~100) An excellent Guild for newcomers! We form the core of most parades and take part in various shows and pageants, both on the stage and in the streets. In our guild yard we sing, talk with visitors, and demonstrate crafts. We are renowned for our lunchtime feasts. Guildmistress: Sue Honor. DANSE MACABRE Twice a day our musical parades of the "Dance of Death" weave their way through the streets and interact with other performers and the audience. We need creative and enthusiastic folk with lots of energy as musicians at every level of experience. Apprentices are welcome! Membership in another guild or troupe is OK. Director: Angelo Salarpi. GUILD OF SAINT GEORGE The Queen's Court Gather in the Glade with the noble ladies and gentlemen of Her Majesty's Court and their company of attendants, grooms and servants, to dance, sing, feast, and exchange the gossip of the day. Accompany the Queen upon her Royal Progress, amidst the crowds of local folk and travellers. Bring to life the Queen's Privy Council, the Merchants' Royal Exchange, and other scenes from the pages of English History. Guildmistress: Marya Watson. THE GUILD OF SAINT HELENA The Peasant Folk Join our merry band of farmers, shepherds, and tradesfolk as we celebrate the planting and harvest with parades and pageants, spirited games and bawdy jesting. Caper with the Hobby Horse, revel with the Green Man, cavort in the Fools' Parade! High energy improv and a host of colorful characters. Excellent training for apprentices. Guildmaster: Joe Price. THE GUILD OF SAINT IVES Merchant and Professional Class Join these skilled crafters and aspiring traders who now reap the rewards of hard work and shrewd investment. We represent the emerging Middle Class of the Elizabethan Renaisssance. In our Merchant Glen, we feature home craft work, feasts, pageants, and other entertainments. We encourage audience interaction, participate in parades, and perform in stage shows. Guildmistress: Sandy Cook. THE GUILD OF SANTA MARIA The Italians (I don't have a description of this group - - can anyone in it provide one?) THE GUILD OF SAINT MICHAEL The Military A force of hardy English soldiers and fierce Landsknecht German mercenaries, we are Her Majesty's Guard, escorting the Queen on her progress through the countryside. Joining us in the encampment and on the march is our loyal band of camp followers. We drill, feast, fight and boast of our exploits on the battlefields of Europe. Guildmistress: Juliana Bradley. NEWCASTLE COUNTRY DANCE Join us as we cut many a merry caper on the stages and the streets of the Faire. Learn English country dance. Perform dance sets with performers and members of the audience. Both novices and experienced dancers are welcome. Musicians, especially drummers, are needed. Director: Ron Collins. THE GUILD OF SAINT PATRICK The Irish We are a household of the Earl of Tyrone, Hugh O'Neil. Our entourage includes singers, dancers, musicians, soldiers and statesmen. We present a slice of life in our environmental area with improv, crafts, and music, and on the stages of the Faire perform the traditional songs and dances of Ireland. Guildmaster: Don Ferdinand. THE PURITANS Play the comic villain! Join the book-burning, idol-smashing, theater- bashing lunatic fringe of the reformation movement. We fred, fuss, foam and fight folly at the Faire with hellfire, damnation and self-righteous indignation - - but we *never* practice what we preach! The Puritans: a small ensemble, comedic improv, street work, Main Stage roles, audience involvement, happy guildmembers, the thrill of villainy. And, of course, anger, envy, greed, gluttony, sloth, lust, vanity, and a simple (yet stylish) little black costume. Join the Puritans. We just might be the wave of the future. Guildmistress: Pamela Robertson. THE SEA DOGS Feel the salt spray and hear the call of the Seven Seas as the Seadogs tell of their journeys in rousing song and wordy tale. We are the riggers and mapmakers, the gunners and traders of Elizabethan England. Together with our band of lovely land-based lasses, we've gathered to celebrate "safe harbor and the coming of the spring (or harvest)". Sing, dance, cavort, elucidate, and improv in the streets with us! Director: Steve Morales. THE MONGERS OF SAINT SWITHIN Looking for fun, romance, and adventure of a very different sort? Join the Mongers! Be a frolicsome fishwife, merry milkmaid, clattering tinker, bumbling barber-surgeon, or some other colorful character of the town market. We take to the streets to haggle over our wares, outwit the Lord Sherriff, engage in song and games, and feud with rivals. Then we step onto stage to present the pageant of the Seven Deadly Sins and face off with foes in the notorious Pye Powder Court. A great guild for Apprentices to explore characterization, comedy, and improv on both the street and the stage. Director: Sandra Mehterian. THE WASHERWOMEN We're village women at the well and we perform our slice-of-life improv to the rhythm of slapping wash. As characters we're known for our sharp tongues, quick wits and sense of humor. As actors we offer a solid grounding in both character development and improvisational street theater. If you don't mind getting wet, and you like ensemble work and challenging theater, then meet us at the Well! Director: Julie St. Germain. ============================================================== === NOTE: this information has been checked with informed sources and is as accurate as possible, but since it's not official, I can't guarantee its complete accuracy. *Things change.* If you need The Definitive Answer, please get it directly from Faire headquarters staff. _________________________________________________________ O "Mistress Christian," a.k.a. Chris Laning | + Davis, California _________________________________________________________ ------------------- Headers -------------------- Path: newsbf01.news.aol.com!newstf01.news.aol.com!newsjunkie.ans.net!newsfeeds.ans.net!pipeline!news.cs.columbia.edu!news.columbia.edu!news.new-york.net!news.iag.net!news.math.psu.edu!chi-news.cic.net!nntp.coast.net!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc. edu!newsfeed.internetmci.com!sgigate.sgi.com!enews.sgi.com!news.igc.apc.org!usenet From: Chris Laning Newsgroups: alt.fairs.renaissance Subject: RPFI Guilds FAQ Date: 4 Mar 1996 03:28:06 GMT Organization: My Organization Lines: 214 Sender: claning@igc.apc.org Message-ID: <4hdo06$58l@igc.apc.org> NNTP-Posting-Host: ppp6.igc.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 1.1 (Macintosh; U; PPC) X-URL: news:alt.fairs.renaissance