Shakespeare in Sandpoint seeks artisans, vendors
Shakespeare In Sandpoint is soliciting artisans and food purveyors for this year’s Montana Shakespeare in the Parks event to be held at the Bonner County Fairgrounds on Aug. 21.
The group invites people who want to be involved in the merriment, music, and costumed characters who would have been at home in the late 1500s and early 1600s of Shakespeare’s day, for an afternoon of medieval education and fun before the play begins.
Last year, for the first time since the opening of its first season in 1973, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks was held in Sandpoint.
“There were over 1,000 folks in attendance, despite the smoke from wildfires and a storm that threatened,” said the group’s Christine Holbert. “The audience arrived early with chairs, blankets, and picnics to enjoy medieval entertainments, including an authentic medieval village, tribal-style belly dancers, a juggler, and musicians featuring flute, mandolin, percussion, lute.”
Vendors were on hand to demonstrate their crafts: a jewelry-making venue for children and adults, a spinning wheel demonstration, an herb and basket-making demonstration, a purveyor of poetry books, and a demonstration on the art of fencing.
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, part of Montana State University’s outreach program, makes quality, live theatrical productions of Shakespeare and other classics accessible to communities in Montana and surrounding states with an emphasis on the underserved, rural areas that would not otherwise have an opportunity to see performances of this type. The performances have been free since 1973, making this event available to everyone.
Among artisans being sought are those who make jewelry, musical instruments, candles, metalwork, leather items, pottery and ceramic art, woodwork, lotions and more.
Food purveyors are needed to provide vituals you might find in a medieval village, such as coffee, teas, chocolate, nuts, crepes, baked goods of all varieties, soups, turkey legs, sweet potato fries, roasted chicken, corn on the cob, sausage on a stick, barbecue pork or beef, baked potatoes, beef jerky, root beer floats, apple dumplings with ice cream, brownie sundae and pretzels. We are also open to suggestions.
In addition, the group is searching for vendors who provide services like face and body painting, chair massage, fantasy hairweaving, fortune telling, tarot card reading or other mystical activities, musicians, and genealogy. Organizations, nonprofits
Rental rates for a space are $10 for a table plus 5 percent of sales.
Please email interest to montanashakespeareinsandpoint@gmail.com. For information on Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, please visit www.shakespeareintheparks.org or the Facebook page, Shakespeare in Sandpoint, or contact organizer Christine Holbert at Lost Horse Press: losthorsepress@mindspring.com or 208-255-4410.