Last Sunday, open auditions were held at the Norman Public Library to fill positions as the Royal Court, hawker criers and street performers for the Medieval Fair.
The whole community of Norman was encouraged to come out and audition for a part, and no prior experience was required.
Throughout its thirty-six years, the Medieval Fair has grown from a collection of tents on the South Oval to a three-day event that people come from across the state to attend.
Ann Eckart, Medieval Fair coordinator, says she is “nervous as can be. I have no idea how many people will show up,” to the open audition.
“We are here to recreate a village…using people from all walks of life,” says Eckart.
Positions in the royal court are the face of the Medieval Fair. Those who were trying out for these positions must be extremely dedicated to representing the fair and looking good while they do it.
Street performers can do anything from playing an instrument to a magic act. Their job is to give patrons the whole fair experience by improvising their act and interacting with crowds.
While hawker criers have the job of advertising shows or acts around the fair and engaging with the patrons as well.
University of Oklahoma freshman, Lucas Morton, showed up to the auditions out of sheer curiosity sparked by an email he received from OU.
“I want to get acting experience for the school of dance at OU,” he says. “Everyone here is really laid back and cool. I’m not nervous at all.”
Auditions were described by those running the fair as “improvisational fun” and according to director Cody Clark, the audition process is “a bunch of kindergarten games.”
One part of the audition process included an improvisational skit where one auditioner pulled a random item from a bag and had to pretend it was something that it clearly is not. But then another auditioner would interrupt them claiming that the item was another thing altogether.
Throughout this game where hoola hoops were turned into mirrors and bubbles and where a plastic foot was turned into a gun and a telephone, auditioners got their first chance to show off acting and improv skills.
The laid back and fun atmosphere combined with games that make it easy for the directors and coordinators to see the personalities of the auditioners. And cast them in roles that will suit them perfectly.
Auditioners who get a part will attend rehearsals monthly throughout the fall semester and biweekly during the spring up until the big event.
The Medieval Fair will be held from March 30 to April 1 for all of those who want to come out and take a trip back to fourteenth century England.
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