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About the Blackfryars |
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| It has often been asked how the Faire comes upon the talented thespians who so effortlessly bring to life the fantasy of the medieval world and the wonder of the Shire of Mt. Hope. As natural as it may appear, it is actually a long and demanding process that the staff and actors must experience to create this journey back in time. The auditioning of hundreds of actors from all walks of life is only the beginning....
The Faire boasts two separate, but very integrated, acting companies. The Chamberlain's Men is composed of professional actors, many cast from regional and national auditions. These are the actors and actresses that bring to life a good portion of the staged shows during the course of a faire day. They rehearse for five to six intense weeks with training in all aspects of the Elizabethan world. The Blackfryar Company consists of theatre enthusiasts and semi-professionals from both near and far. Cast members journey as long as three hours from all points of the compass. Many come from as far away as Harrisburg, Allentown, Philadelphia, the New Jersey shore and Northern Delaware. Most Blackfryars who are not students hold full-time professional positions outside of the theatre. The rehearsal period for the Blackfryars is, nonetheless, an ambitious one. Meeting twice weekly for 15 weeks before opening, The Blackfryars are schooled in Elizabethan dialect, movement and history. They also spend considerable hours in improvisational and interactive workshops to define their 16th century characters and to prepare them to meet and welcome patrons into their world. Many Blackfryars are also offered the opportunity to appear in stage shows and to develop stage combat and interaction skills with the Chamberlain's Men as a part of the rehearsal process and as a part of their character work. Members of both casts are also offered the opportunity to showcase their talents in many of the other Mt. Hope Productions during the course of a season. Participation for Blackfryars is encouraged in the summer outdoor events prior to the Faire, including the Blast from the Past and the Celtic Fling. We encourage all who would like to learn more about the acting and performing opportunities that abound on the Fairegrounds to contact the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire Productions by visiting www.parenfaire.com, by emailing the faire at royalspk@parenfaire.com or by calling 1(717) 665-7021 for more information. |
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