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Dubuque Museum of Art
Renaissance Faire
May 30 - 31, 2009
Media Gallery
2009 Press Releases
On March 2, 2009, Queen Catherine and King Edward visited Hempstead High School to talk to students about the Renaissance time period. The Telegraph Herald covered this event and you can visit the TH website to see a short video featuring the Queen and King. www.thonline.com
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Royalty bring Renaissance to life
Faire performers talk marriage customs and Bloody Mary at seminar for Hempstead students
BY STACEY BECKER TH STAFF WRITER
 Photo by: Dave Kettering Dressed as King Edward and Queen Catherine, Marty Ellenberger and Lynne Melssen show Hempstead High School students the different types of weapons used during the time period in which the king and queen lived. The two also take part in the Dubuque Renaissance Faire, which is held in May.
She knows his first name.
That's all Katie Bellows knows about the man who will one day become her husband.
Bellows, a freshman at Hempstead High School, was told Monday she must marry another student whom she has never met, named Josh.
"Oh dear," Bellows said after she craned her neck in the school's auditorium to get a glimpse of her future husband.
Fortunately for Bellows and her mystery suitor, their "arranged marriage" was simply a demonstration about life in the Renaissance period.
It was all part of two seminars on the romantic, yet bloody, time period presented at Hempstead by Queen Catherine and King Edward of the Dubuque Renaissance Faire.
Queen Catherine, as portrayed by Lynne Melssen, arranged the student "marriage" during a discussion about men in the Renaissance.
"I wouldn't be very happy if my parents did that," Bellows said.
The hour-and-a-half seminar brought the time period to life for Hempstead students who are currently studying William Shakespeare plays.
"It was a great opportunity and excellent timing," said Susan Swift, chairwoman of the English department. "It's really nice when, through grant money, we can have people come in as guests."
Melssen, a Dubuque native, was asked by an official with the Dubuque Museum of Art to help with the first Dubuque Renaissance Faire last year.
"We need to also be a part of the community," she said.
So Melssen offered to bring a little bit of the Renaissance to local schools by presenting seminars on the time period while dressed in full costume.
"It's the first time I've ever done anything like this," said Marty Ellenberger, who portrayed King Edward.
One of the popular topics during the seminar was Bloody Mary.
Melssen first asked all the Catholics in the room to raise their hands and put them back down. Then she asked everyone else to raise their hands.
"You're the ones that Mary killed," Melssen said to the students with their hands raised.
She told the students about Mary Tudor, the queen of England, who was known as Bloody Mary because so many non-Catholics were killed during her reign.
"She got a terrible reputation," Melssen said. "She reigned about five or six years before she luckily got sick and died and stopped killing everybody."
Some of the students, including Bellows, said they enjoyed the interactive presentation that gave history some life.
"When people think history is dull, it's not," Melssen said.
Three members of the Dubuque Renaissance Faire royal court (Have Court, Will Travel) gave presentations on March 16th and 17th to English classes at Western Dubuque High School. Queen Catherine, Princess Margaret and Nanny Fenwick spoke about the famous people and customs of the Renaissance time period to help prepare the students for their upcoming study of Shakespeare plays. They also stopped in at the Trinity Square Daycare Center (formerly Holy Trinity Elementary School) and visited with the delightful youngsters on St. Patrick's Day (Queen Catherine, a.k.a. Lynne Melssen, attended Holy Trinity in her younger days). One young lady was excited to know that it's possible to grow up and become a Queen!
Who: Queen Catherine (Lynne Melssen) and King Edward (Marty Ellenberger)
What: Royals visit Hempstead High School to give seminar on the
Renaissance time period
When: Monday, March 2, 2009 9:30 - 11:00 AM and 12:40 - 2:20 PM
Where: Hempstead
Queen Catherine and King Edward of the Dubuque Renaissance Faire will
be visiting Hempstead High School on Monday, March 2, 2009 to give two
seminars on the Renaissance time period to interested students. This
question and answer session will allow more than 100 young men and
women to gain a deeper understanding of life in England and Europe
between 1500 and 1700. Topics such as love and marriage, war and
weapons, medicine and hygiene will be discussed as will the famous
people of the time - Henry VIII and his six wives, Bloody Mary Tudor,
Elizabeth I and more. Students will see an example of a Renaissance
dance and be allowed to learn the steps themselves.
Susan Swift, the chairperson of Hempstead's English department
extended the invitation to speak, to Lynne Melssen and Marty
Ellenberger, the actors who portray the Queen and King of the Dubuque
Renaissance Faire. Between them, Lynne and Marty have read over 200
books on the renaissance time period. Lynne has portrayed Elizabeth I
for a national touring exhibition on the Virgin Queen and Marty has
taught stage combat in Iowal community theaters. They will apear
before Ms. Swift's students in full Renaissance costume and bring with
them a number of props to better bring the period to life. The first
presentation will take place from 9:30-11:00 a.m. and the program will
be repeated for a second group of students from 12:40-2:20 p.m.
The Dubuque Renaissance Faire is a fundraiser for the Dubuque Museum of Art and it's 2009 event is sponsored by Dubuque Bank & Trust. The
festival itself takes place on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 & 31, 2009
at Storybook Hill Children's Zoo and Park.
Our website: www.dbqart.com/DMAFaire.htm
January 30, 2009
The Dubuque Renaissance Faire, a fundraiser for the Dubuque Museum of Art is being sponsored by Dubuque Bank & Trust during its 2009 season. The festival, which was presented for the first time last year, will be held again on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31, 2009 at Storybook Hill Children's Zoo and Park at 12345 N. Cascade Road, just outside the city of Dubuque. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days and the festival is open rain or shine.
Audience members will meet the Queen and King, experience swordplay, juggling, fire-eating, period music and more, along with being able to purchase one-of-a-kind items and sample foods of the period in our renaissance marketplace. Thanks to DB&T, our ticket prices are remaining the same this year and all ticket sales go to benefit the Dubuque Museum of Art.
Participate in this year's photo contest, "Where Are The Royals?" for a chance to win a free ticket to this exciting family event. Simply visit the website each week, starting on Monday, Feb 2nd and click on the word "contest" to view the photo and guess where Queen Catherine and King Edward are over the next 16 weeks. Correct guesses are placed into a drawing for a free ticket to the festival.
eople interested in vending or performing at the Dubuque Renaissance Faire should visit the website to contact the producer.
Our website is: www.dbqart.com/DMAFaire.htm
Renaissance Faire 2008
 
 
 
 
 
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