Published: November 06, 2008 12:42 pm      

Renaissance to come alive in Shawnee

Shawnee — The amphitheater at Sac & Fox casino will come alive this fall with the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of Renaissance England.

Nov. 8 and 9 the amphitheater will host the Heartland Renaissance Faire and be transformed into an English village full of lords, ladies, knights on horseback, minstrels and magicians.

The faire, which is free to the public, is being produced by Faire a la Carte.

Faire a la Carte was founded in 2008 by co-owners Susi Matthews Cannon and Becky Grotts. The company is a traveling Renaissance road show, available to put on “out of the box” Renaissance faires for organizations around the country.

FalC is designed to bring a soft-format faire (tents and portable stages) to any location that contracts for one, complete with court and street players, stage acts, and vendors. Together, the co-owners have more than 50 years experience participating in Renaissance faires around the country.

“Heartland Renaissance Faire will be the first event of its kind in this part of Oklahoma,” says Matthews Cannon, who also portrays Queen Elizabeth I of England.

“We are excited to work with the Sac & Fox Nation Casino to produce a fun, family-friendly event that is also educational.”

Reenactment groups Brotherhood of Steele, Five Rings Fencing and Tulsa School of Defense will demonstrate weaponry and fighting techniques; Royal Gauntlet Birds of Prey offers an impressive display of raptors while educating about the birds and ecology.

Noble Cause will present a thrilling, mounted joust and the Lord Mayor’s Company will perform Shakespeare with a comedic twist. Queen’s Gambit, Capt’n Black’s Sea Dogges, and Fearna will set the musical mood.

Other stage acts include Pickled Brothers Sideshow, The Royal Bard Kerridwyn, Cut Thrust and Run, and Seymoure the Sage.

There will also be dancing, a parade and a children’s knighting ceremony each day where the young and young-at-heart can be Knighted or dubbed a Lady in Waiting by Queen Elizabeth.

“The lanes will be filled with villagers and vendors so come early, bring your camera, and plan to spend the day,” invites Matthews Cannon.

The Heartland Renaissance Faire runs November 8 and 9 at the Heartland Amphitheater. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. The Heartland Amphitheater is located at 42008 Westech Rd., Shawnee, OK (405) 275-4700. Directions: I-40 exit # 186 then half mile north, just off Harrison Ave/H-18. For more information, phone (785) 727-1786 or email info@fairealacarte.com. Website available at http://fairealacarte.com.