Hanlon-Lees Action Theater
Encyclopedia
Hanlon-Lees Action Theater is an American entertainment company credited with the development of theatrical jousting
. The company was formed in 1979 by partners Kent Shelton, Robin Wood, Richard "Dikki" Ellis, R. Vincent Park, Taso N. Stavrakis
, and Stephen "Omms" Ommerle.
Inspired by the 19th century Hanlon-Lees
- a troupe of pre-Vaudevillian acrobatic performers - the young partners conducted thorough research into the background of their Victorian
counterparts and recreated many of their stunts and patented theatrical apparatus (for example, a device capable of simulating an onstage decapitation) for modern usage. Vince Park managed to locate the final surviving descendant of the original Hanlons and received her blessing to continue using the moniker "Hanlon-Lees;" Omms is generally credited with the invention of the addendum "Action Theater."
Early off-Broadway theatrical performances by the new Hanlon-Lees included an original Three Musketeers show entitled The Queen's Diamonds (featuring another friend from North Carolina, Terrence Mann
who would shortly afterwards be prominently cast in Cats
) and a comedic free-for-all, Etched In Stone. The group alternated these infrequent stage productions with appearances at the New York Renaissance Faire
, where their primary attraction was a tournament of knightly skills culminating in a mounted jousting
match.
These early shows centered upon the training of a squire
who would, over the course of a three-act program, be challenged to a joust and win his knighthood from the King. While other medieval festivals featured historically authentic jousting re-enactments (usually featuring combatants chosen at random and separated by a tilt rail), the Hanlon-Lees were the first performers to incorporate a choreographed joust and ground battle into a scripted dramatic performance.
Horses were purchased and trained to become acclimated to the crashing of weapons and shields, as well as to the cheering of thousands of patrons; durable swords had to be crafted from spring steel because lightweight aluminum props would not withstand the heavy combat required in the ground fights. The result, eventually termed "theatrical jousting" by Kent Shelton, was co-opted by dozens of rival companies in the years to follow.
In the early 1990s, the company also began performing a Wild West event based upon the legendary extravaganzas of Buffalo Bill Cody. These performances typically include demonstrations of trick-shooting, lasso-twirling, and whip-cracking, among other such spectacles.
Originally based in New York City
and later Chicago
, the company is today headquartered at a private ranch (dubbed the "Wild West Knights' Rest") in Luther, Oklahoma.
Theatrical jousting
Coined in the late 20th century by American stunt performer Kent Shelton, the term "theatrical jousting" refers to a form of live entertainment in which a medieval jousting tournament is recreated in conjunction with a scripted performance...
. The company was formed in 1979 by partners Kent Shelton, Robin Wood, Richard "Dikki" Ellis, R. Vincent Park, Taso N. Stavrakis
Taso N. Stavrakis
Taso Nicholas Stavrakis is an American film and television actor and stunt performer best known for his appearances in the George A. Romero films Dawn of the Dead, Knightriders, and Day of the Dead...
, and Stephen "Omms" Ommerle.
Inspired by the 19th century Hanlon-Lees
Hanlon-Lees
A group of pre-Vaudevillian acrobats founded in the early 1840s, the Hanlon-Lees were world-renowned practitioners of "entortillation" – that is, tumbling, juggling, and an early form of "knockabout" comedy A group of pre-Vaudevillian acrobats founded in the early 1840s, the Hanlon-Lees were...
- a troupe of pre-Vaudevillian acrobatic performers - the young partners conducted thorough research into the background of their Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
counterparts and recreated many of their stunts and patented theatrical apparatus (for example, a device capable of simulating an onstage decapitation) for modern usage. Vince Park managed to locate the final surviving descendant of the original Hanlons and received her blessing to continue using the moniker "Hanlon-Lees;" Omms is generally credited with the invention of the addendum "Action Theater."
Early off-Broadway theatrical performances by the new Hanlon-Lees included an original Three Musketeers show entitled The Queen's Diamonds (featuring another friend from North Carolina, Terrence Mann
Terrence Mann
Terrence Vaughan Mann is an American actor, director, singer, songwriter and dancer who has been prominent on the Broadway stage for the past three decades...
who would shortly afterwards be prominently cast in Cats
Cats (musical)
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot...
) and a comedic free-for-all, Etched In Stone. The group alternated these infrequent stage productions with appearances at the New York Renaissance Faire
New York Renaissance Faire
The New York Renaissance Faire is a Renaissance faire located in Tuxedo, New York off New York State Route 17A. As of 2011, the faire is in its 34th season. The faire comprises permanent structures and has twenty stages and more than 100 shops...
, where their primary attraction was a tournament of knightly skills culminating in a mounted jousting
Jousting
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...
match.
These early shows centered upon the training of a squire
Squire
The English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
who would, over the course of a three-act program, be challenged to a joust and win his knighthood from the King. While other medieval festivals featured historically authentic jousting re-enactments (usually featuring combatants chosen at random and separated by a tilt rail), the Hanlon-Lees were the first performers to incorporate a choreographed joust and ground battle into a scripted dramatic performance.
Horses were purchased and trained to become acclimated to the crashing of weapons and shields, as well as to the cheering of thousands of patrons; durable swords had to be crafted from spring steel because lightweight aluminum props would not withstand the heavy combat required in the ground fights. The result, eventually termed "theatrical jousting" by Kent Shelton, was co-opted by dozens of rival companies in the years to follow.
In the early 1990s, the company also began performing a Wild West event based upon the legendary extravaganzas of Buffalo Bill Cody. These performances typically include demonstrations of trick-shooting, lasso-twirling, and whip-cracking, among other such spectacles.
Originally based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and later Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, the company is today headquartered at a private ranch (dubbed the "Wild West Knights' Rest") in Luther, Oklahoma.