From a post in the Facebook group King Richards Faire/ BRF Past and Present.
Oyez, Ahoy and Hello again to Chicago’s King Richard’s Faire Fans! Here is the program for 1983 (program scanning courtesy of Kathie Obuchowski). This was marketed as the eleventh-year anniversary season. Some items of note:
- This year’s scenario was titled, “The Pirate’s Revenge.” It was written by Russ Tutterow and Katherine J. Amato-von Hemert. John Mills continued as the artistic director of the show. Mike Dvorak and Katherine Amato-von Hemert were co-entertainment directors
- The Crow’s Nest was created from the old Armory shop, becoming an interactive “backstage” area
- “Little Folks’ Glen” was carved out of the inner circle with the Rose & Thorn Puppet Theatre performing there. In future seasons it would become The Minstrel’s Glen
- The Mud Pit and the Gallows were located in the north section of the New Market area near where a fencing ring was located the previous year
- The stage in the southwest corner of the faire was dedicated to RogueOafanFool; it had been a puppet theater stage previously
- King Richard was played by Phillip Bowman and Queen Katherine was played by Barbara Burinski
- Richard Weber makes his first appearance as Sir Percival Degagé
- Jose Granados and Douglas Kondziolka had several, principal roles in this year’s scenario
- Several principal members of the ensemble “fight cast” were non-Ring of Steel members, notably Gary Boeck and Tony Wright
- The Don Juan & Miguel Show was an act this year with Donna Goforth as part of the group, as well as a member of the Pirates group
- Sungarden was a musical act performing this year. Several other musicians of note were Jacquie Blevins Manning, Marilyn Middleton Mellor, Jim Lillquist, Dave Landreth, Diane Ippel and Rob Middleton
- Brian Leo directed Madrigals by Command
- There was a regularly scheduled Mud Show this year with a regular cast including John Goodrich, Conrad Warren, Tim Goforth, Ross Salinger, and John C. Hueben. (Rush Pearson was either not with the troupe this season or was not credited in the program.)
- Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine fame) played Oliver Osborne in The Troupe
- Frank Harnish returned to play William Shakespeare
- Clifford Spenger and Mary Spenger were back this year
- The Singing Executioners entertained this year
- Danny Lord is billed as Rolo Polo “The Crazed Spiceman from the Orient” for the first time
- John Goodrich directed the Moonsop Minions
- The College of Wizards had four set shows this year
- The Queen’s Dance Company appeared this year with several members who would return regularly in later seasons
- The Hanlon-Lees Action Theatre was the joust troupe this year, replacing Knights of the Silver Sword
- This year’s schedule featured seven theme weekends