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Jennifer Steadman, Musician ~ Terpsichory Dance Troupe& Violinist on the street between Terp shows
Maude Donnette (Lady, I suppose)

I've been with Terps and MN Ren Fest since 1999. When I'm not performing the the Terps, I can be found playing at various spots around the site, including Texas Body Hangings, Glass Images, Elemental Clay, and P&J Taylor Jewelry.
[submitted 7/19/2004]

jlsteadman@yahoo.com

I carried a banner in the parade for a crafter in 81 and 82. I auditioned and joined the cast in 1983. I was a stage hawker for Treetop stage for 2 years. When I was returning in 1985, I found the woman that had been running the stage had gotten a divorce and would not be back that year. A new stage manager was in place and had already chosen the crew for that season. oops--that put me on the street with a volunteer contract. I joined up as a side member of Dragehode. After Dragehode was mowed down, I was with Hobbithode for a year. (The green wizard took a year up and they put the remnants down at the hobbit hole.) The following year they disbanded the Dragehode characters and I was let loose on the street, but guilt got me a paid contract. I was working with Clann Tartan at the time and I had been learning to spin wool. Next I had to re-audition because no one "knew what I was doing." Gary recast me as Rilla the spinner and I stayed as a street character. Trish Johnson asked me to spin at the Irish Cottage, so I stayed there for a while. When Brent Wold was asked to run the Boar's Head Inn as a demonstration area, I moved over there for a couple of years. I went back to the Irish Cottage after Brent left. After Barb left the cottage, the internal politics were scaring me, so I requested and received a space by Bakery Stage. I now have Rilla's Grove under the oaks next to the Bakery and much peace.
[submitted 9/8/2004]

rillaspins@aol.com

I joined the MRF in 2003 as the director of photography for the Human Combat Chess show. As a filmmaker and a lover of history, this job seemed like a natural progression. During show time, you can usually spot me running around the Unicorn Stage seeking out that ultimate shot. Other times of the day, I'm out on the street capturing great Fest moments from the chess game cast and the MRF cast at large. I would eventually like to make a documentary of "the life of Festies." :-)
[submitted 8/16/2004]

ericsan@paladin-entertainment.com
http://www.paladin-entertainment.com

This will be my 5th year work at MN Ren. Fest.
2000 pop-overs (you have to start somewhere to get to where you want to go)
2001-2004 Wine
2005 Royal Guard
[submitted 04-11-2005]

jsteffens2@mn.rr.com

Tracy started Fest in '92 as a wine wench in cartwheel cove. She was there for two years till she realized she could have more fun on the street (that is not a pun!). She has been Lady Ophelia since. Starting in '97, Lady Ophelia has attended the jousting three times a day to cheer the knights on. Otherwise she roams the festival with Kate Wakal and Christopher Cusick who play her mother and brother. Recently, Tracy got married to a non-festie, but plans on spending a couple more years at Fest.

tnorstrem@qwest.net
New web site for my baby, Nicole

Mary Sterling, Mayor's Entourage
Mistress Merry Chatterworthy

Rachael Sterling, Front Gate ~ Peasant

stardancer90@hotmail.com

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Raederle Sterling, Fandazzi Gypsy Tribe& Front Gate
Fatima Sheema Slavolkin

I am a member of the Fandazzi Gypsy Tribe and I have been working/playing out here my entire life. (My mother says I was 6 weeks old and my father says I was 8 weeks old when they first brought me out; I was too young to remeber)
[submitted 9/5/2006]

Raederle_s@hotmail.com

Toby Stevens, Front Gate
Leper #2, Steve the fairy hunter

Last year was the first in over a decade that I wasn't working the show. In past years I worked with Brian Gadell. We were Steve and Irwin the Fairy Hunters and children hated us. Most recently I have worked with Brin Gadell and Becky Yares as Leper #2
[submitted 1/15/2006]

bodypainted@yahoo.com

I started MRF in 1986. I was lucky to have a friend whos parents owened a booth. I obviously found my niche since I've been here ever since. You can find me on the Jousting Track getting the croud all riled up before the knights begin thier joust!
[submitted 4/12/2004]

general@royaltonheating.com

I started doing Ren faires in California, working the small, weekend faire circuit since 1990. I moved to MN in 95 and started working for Beth and Charles Knutson at McGregor Games. I moved to street for the 2001 season, working with the Court and Anjou, the French Ambassador. I'm now a member of the French Ambassadorial Staff... Ask Anjou about his personal staff and! you'll understand the distinction.

kstieers@yahoo.com

Beckey Stoffel, Games Worker ~ Childrens Games
Lady Becca

1997 was the first year I had ever even stepped on grounds. It was a lot of fun because I was with my best friend but yet it wasn't someplace where I ever thought that I would spend lot of time. Well when push came to shove a friend of mine needed some help at the last minute and I said that I would help out. That was in 200 and I was back again this year and for many in the future.

PrincessPea79@aol.com

Molly Stoffer, Tatterdemalions

mollystoffer@hotmail.com

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I've been going to Fest for about 10 years and started wearing my garb three years ago. I can usually be found watching the Terpsichory Courtly Dance Troupe as two are related to me.
[submitted 9/29/2008]

robs1950@yahoo.com

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The 2002 season was my first year working out at fest. I became part of the Faerie Court with two of my best frinds and had an amazing time. I think I'll be taking a few years off to do that whole college thing, but I'll be back as a patron a few times this year.

Nami585@yahoo.com

True I've only worked 2003 and 2004 but believe you me, it already feels like home. 2003 I suffered the burden of CKC (600 Pizza) and 2004 had a delightful upgrade to Drench a Wench with the gamers. Lord, I was made to insult people. But now there's plans for entertainment and with hopes flying high I'll make a name for myself yet.
[submitted 9/28/2004]

SpiteCookie@hotmail.com
http://www.spitecookie.com

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Jim Stone, CKC ~ Peasant
Guil (Guildenstern), former Dip in the Road

Dip was born in the back of a turkey leg booth in 1993. He got his first big break (and I was told CKCers didn't get breaks!) when his supervisor pointed out that Dip was wearing a very nice homemade costume and perhaps he should be out front hawking. One taste of the limelight was all Dip needed. He hawked his heart out all that day (legend has it that he actually told a double amputee, in a wheelchair, that he could fix him up with a 'pair of legs'!). Dip's enthusiasm, creativity and wit didn't go unnoticed. His supervisor, in an effort to keep what little customers he had left, recommended him for Ices Cart duty! And so, his very next day, he reported to the Ices Cart adjacent to the King of the Log. There he remained for a full weekend and a half, till complaints were lodged by two actors from the Legend Stage (apparently, Dip was stealing their audience with his antics). And so it was decided that Dip would helm the Ices Cart in the Narrows, where he could do less damage and possibly scare patrons deeper into the Festival grounds. Dip spent 15 years there, pulling puns on unsuspecting patrons, performing road writing with rocks, wearing outlandish costumes and playing with silly props, and creating the now infamous Daily Bard's Tail; all while selling an Icey or two if the mood struck him.

Dip retired in 2007, and along with him the burlap kilted Jamie MacBurlapp, the hero of the Narrows Squire Redbreast (Renaissance Robin), the multi-clanural Tartan MacPlaid and Scurvy the privateer.

In 2008, two new figures entered the Festival: Rosie Krantz & Guildenstern. Trying desperately to stay one step ahead of a death warrant and three steps behind everybody else, Rosie and Guil wander the grounds disguised as the traveling players group 'O-Prose-Ing Farces'. With their hangman's rope stretched out between them, rounding up confused patrons and quizzing them about Shakespeare as they go, Rosie and Guil lead an 'alias Smith and Jones' life while trying to clear their names or, at least, to shift blame on somebody else.

Jim Stone is a sometime character actor and writer. Although he has performed numerous plays and events, (most notably as Austin Powers and The Tick's sidekick Arthur at local conventions) he considers the Minnesota Renaissance Festival his favorite venue, where he has 'the privilege of working with some of the finest actors and comedians ever produced!' Recipient of the 'Hammy' for 2001, the Sir Howard of Yorkshire (the Skippy) in 2005, the Cracked Cup in 2008 and the Unicorn Award 2010. Find me on Facebook and Twitter.
[submitted 10/7/2010]

dipinroad@hotmail.com

Shealynn Strege, Games

I, Hamish MacHaggis, have been apprenticed at Master Looseleaf's WindRose Mill for 11 years, with my wife Rose, whom I adore... (just ask her). I have demonstrated the bookbinding process on behalf of Master Looseleaf @ this and the Siouxland Renfest for 2 years, and my wife has done so with the papermakers of our little WindRose family.
[submitted 6/7/2006]

stphnsdbck@gmail.com
www.elbindery.com

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I moved to MN in June of 2001 and started working for GemiGlass in that year. A dear friend of mine had a lot of purple material to get rid of (and I had no costumes at the time), so he made me a couple of belly dance costumes.

In 2003, John White (SS) nicknamed me "Something Purple" because I still had not expanded my festival wardrobe...what can I say the name has stuck and I like it. So now my entire wardrobe is purple!

During the 2005 run, my dance instructor and good friend Amanda invited me to join her dance troupe. It was very exciting performing with her and lead to my dancing for charities including the Shiners.

Come by a see me and all of the lovely art at GemiGlass or spot me at Drum Jam at the closing of the day!

If you can't remember my name I'll answer to "Something Purple" too. (^o^)
[submitted 2/2/2010]

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Kim Swanson, Court Revelers
Master Grailing Bates

I started the show in 1981 in a crafts demo booth where they held character and played with the patrons. In the fall of 82, I joined the beginnings of the Revellers (not yet named that) when the festival wanted a singing group for Victorian Christmas. We were awful! I started street in 83 as part of the Revs. In 84 or 85, I was in the Mayors Entourage for a year. I still address the Mayor as Your Dotardship and he, I as Graything. As the second son of a minor landholder not to inherit, with little interest and almost no duties, I wander the village meeting people by sticking my nose into there private conversations. Taking part by twisting their words, flirting or directing to something. With one rule, ALWAYS treat them as if they are a part of the time, so that for one minute they are a part of and not an observer of our world!

kimswanson@uswest.net

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James: In the early 80's I was a hawker for games. Two years later I joined Court. When I turned 30 I realized I had spent 15years, half my life working this show. I quit for a few years and came back as a musician. I met my wife at the BLT. We have been married since 1989 with two wonderful children(ok, I'm biased). Unicorn Award (long time ago)

swajam@tcinternet.net

Our adventures at MRF began long ago at different times. Swanee began helping a wood carver in about 1977. He then assisted another crafter as a kite flyer where in 1984 Beth was assisting a raku potter in the next-door shop. We both joined forces to help our third artist in '86 and were married the following year. The Hawkers Workshop and The Merchants Assistant (TMA) started from this unique union. TMA was a successful business for 5 years at MRF. Beth has also served in the office with the crafts department and most recently spent two seasons as Costume Director. For 2004 and 2005 we were a little more "relaxed" as Beth will assist as stage manager for the Cappaferro Chess Match troupe. We are currently inactive in the show.
[submitted 9/13/2007]

tma-tax@mchsi.com