The deadline for submissions our 2026 season has passed. All proposals received after 1/13/26 will be considered for our 2027 season.

• Musicians:  The music should be appropriate to the Renaissance Festival venue. Acoustic instruments only. Please send a link to music. Must have a demo of at least 3 songs.
• Dancers: a video of your dance troupe. Please note that dance groups are expected to provide their own live music for the festival. The use of recorded music is not permitted at the show.
• your resume, references, and any PR (Public Relations) materials you may have
• When applying as a duo or group, it is expected that the performers in the video will be performing at the Festival. No substitutions are allowed without the approval of the Artistic Director of MDRF.
• your salary request per day (no hat passing, although musicians can sell approved merchandise at the end of each set). Musicians traditionally play 4 twenty-five minute sets per day (although more or less can be arranged). Dancers perform 3 twenty-five minute sets per day.
• If merchandise sales are approved, musicians must limit their sales pitch to ONE 15-second pitch per show. (This is a show, not an infomercial to sell merchandise.) 
• your availability. In 2027 the MD Festival runs Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day Monday from August 28 until October 24. Full or partial contracts are possible. A partial run can be as short as one weekend or as long as six weekends. If you are interested in a partial contract, please state the weekends in which you are particularly interested.
• All musicians and dancers are required to carry general liability insurance.
• All performers must be 18 years or older. 
• We strongly encourage all performers will be vaccinated against Covid. 

Proposals that do not include a salary request and availability information will not be considered seriously. Note: We are always willing to negotiate.

NO PHONE CALLS.

Electronic Press Kits, containing all of the information listed above, can be emailed to: carolyn@rennfest.com.

Company of the Rose: the professional acting & dance companies of the Maryland Renaissance Festival.

This season we have only 3 roles available in the acting company, and 2 roles for actor/combatants. Scroll down to see roles available for acting company and the actor/combatants. We are looking to add up to 4 dancers, feminine and masculine presenting. 

If you have interest in the Acting and/or Dance company and wish to be considered for our 2026 season, please send a picture and resume to: Carolyn Spedden, Artistic Director at carolyn@rennfest.com. 

Deadlines:
Interested actors must submit a picture & resume by February 13th.
Interested actor/combatants must submit a picture & resume by March 28th.
Interested dancers must submit a picture & resume by March 28th. 

ROLES AVAILABLE FOR ACTING COMPANY:

Master Thomas Culpeper (he/him) Age range: mid 20’s to early 30’s. Elegant, handsome, roguish young man, a member of King Henry’s Privy Chamber. A favorite of the king and courtiers, he has an easy wit but a reckless streak.

Mistress Anne Basset, maid of honor. (she/her) Age range: In her 20’s. Witty, flirtatious, and charming, Mistress Anne was always a favorite of the King. (It was rumored that she was his mistress, but that has never been proven.) When Queen Jane died after childbirth and the queen’s household was dispersed, Henry kept Anne at Court. She was in attendance to welcome Anne of Cleves to England and was a member of Anne’s household as well.

Susanna Horenboult, Mistress Gilman. (she/her) Age range: 40 – 60. A talented painter, intelligent, thoughtful, responsible. The daughter of Gerard Horenboult of Ghent, her father and brother were painters for King Henry VIII by the late 1520s. Susanna was an accomplished illuminator and miniature painter who also came to England in the 1520s to work for the King as well. She married John Parker, a Yeoman of the Wardrobe, in 1526. Most likely she stopped painting professionally when she married. She had a position in the household of Queen Jane Seymour but lost that position when the Queen died in 1536, the same year her husband died. She married John Gilman in 1539. King Henry sent Susanna to Cleves to travel with Anne of Cleves as a personal ambassador (and possible spy), likely because Susanna spoke Flemish and probably German. She traveled with Anne to England and became a beloved and trusted gentlewoman in the new Queen’s household.

ROLES FOR ACTOR/COMBATANTS:
Actors interested must be in good physical condition as these roles will involve stage combat. Actors must have training and experience in stage combat, preferably trained and passed a Skills Proficiency Test in three different weapons/disciplines. Age of characters can range from 21 – 60, but actors themselves should be at least 21 years of age. The characters will be crafted in greater detail once cast.

Catchpole* & Clarke: Constables from Albury
Tristian Catchpole and Ryder Clarke are from the small village of Albury in Oxfordshire, England. This is within walking distance to Revel Grove, where our harvest festival is held. They have been hired by the Bailiff of Revel Grove as catchpoles (to aid in collecting the taxes and debts) and constables (basic law enforcement) during the Michaelmas period and the Harvest Festival

Tristian Catchpole (he/him. Masculine-presenting) is the senior of the two, and self-appointed leader of the duo. Tristian and Ryder are old friends.

Ryder Clarke (he/him or she/her. Masculine-presenting or feminine-presenting). Allows his/her friend Tristian to think he is the leader of the duo, but Ryder knows better.

*Catchpole is a real surname. It is also the name of a device, still used by animal control of a long pole with a role at the end to catch people by the neck or leg. Catchpoles were also tax/debt collectors.

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Auditions will be by invitation only. Detailed information on auditions, including roles available, rehearsals, and pay will be sent to those who submit information via email.

Actors and dancers must be over the age of 18. All ROLES PAID. Note: There is no public transportation to the festival site. Ride sharing might be possible but all actors should have reliable transportation. Rehearsals begin July 7th. Actors and dancers must be available for all performance dates, which are Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day Monday, August 29th to October 25th. Performance day is from 10am - 7pm for acting company, 10am - 5:30pm for dancers. 

NEW this season: The Guild of St. Genesius (supernumerary guild).

Have you always wanted to be part of the Renaissance Festival? Would you like to add to the magic of Revel Grove? We are looking for supernumeraries to add some pomp to every royal circumstance! What is a supernumerary? Think of an extra in a movie or non-singing roles in opera.

Our supernumeraries will be lords, ladies, or high-ranking servants of our royal court. The day would include processing with the king and queen, viewing jousts from the reviewing stand, chatting with fellow courtiers at the Royal Pavilion, taking part in our knighting ceremony for children. And much more.

Interested Guild of St. Genesius members must be over 18 years of age and in good physical health. They must be comfortable walking outdoors.

Acting experience is helpful, but not necessary to be a St. Genesius guild member. Enthusiasm, enjoyment of the festival and being comfortable talking to people are a must!

Rehearsals: Begin July 7^th, however the rehearsal load is much lighter for Genesius members than Acting Company members. Your rehearsals will also include some history and character improvisation workshops.
Performances: Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day Monday, August 29^th to October 25^th. Cast Call is at 9:30am. St. Genesius members performance day is from 10am – 4pm. Lunch break and multiple short breaks are included. It is preferred if Genesius members can work on all 19 performance dates, but 3 or less conflict days will be allowed.
Characters: You will be members or high-ranking servants in the Royal Court.
Costume: The Renaissance Festival provides all costumes. St. Genesius members will be responsible for their tights and shoes.
Genesius roles are paid, plus a $200 rehearsal honorarium. 

Interested? Please send an email of interest to Carolyn Spedden, Artistic Director at carolyn@rennfest.com for interview/audition information. Please include a picture - it does not have to be a professional headshot or in Renaissance Costume.
Deadline is February 27th. 

INTERNATIONAL MUSICIANS:
To be considered for the Maryland Renaissance Festival, please follow the instructions under 'Musicians and Dancers' for what to submit in your EPK. I MUST have your salary request per day to be considered!

Info from Carolyn Spedden, the Artistic Director:

I welcome bands from around the world. As part of my job as director of MDRF, I love bringing great new bands to our audiences, who love music!
Outside of my job at the Festival, I have also been a manager and booking agent for musicians from the UK, Russia, and the EU. And from that experience, I'd like to give you some hints if you have never performed in the United States before and what should be considered before applying to the Maryland Renaissance Festival.

QUICK INFO:
1. I no longer handle VISAS. It is expected that international performers either have their visas in place before sending in a proposal, or have a contact in the United States who will apply on their behalf. Unless you already have a following in the US, securing a P3 visa will be your easiest route.
2. We have campgrounds available onsite for performers, but we do not provide hotel or other housing. That should be factored into your expenses. I can help you find the best priced accommodations in the area, but we do not make the reservations ourselves. 
3. We are an outdoor performing venue with 12 stages/performing areas in addition to pathway performing (street performing). Performances are daytime only. We are Renaissance in theme and the stages vary in size. While sound systems are available, they are rather basic - we do not have full concert sound systems  as you'd find at concert halls or specific music events with a mainstage. 
4. The Festival is located near 3 international airports. However, the Festival is not accessible by public transportation so performers will need to rent a car/van during their visit.
5. When applying to the festival, it is assumed we are part of a larger tour you are planning. It will not be economically viable for you to fly from the UK or Europe for one or two performance weekends at the Festival. 

DETAILED INFORMATION: 

If bands are interested in performing at MDRF and are coming from outside the United States, please be aware of the following:

1. It is assumed that if you are applying to perform, the band will obtain the visa necessary to work in the United States. While the festival will provide the contract and a letter of support, we will not act as your agent and file the paperwork or pay for it. Your US agent, a legal representative or someone acting on your behalf in the US should submit the paperwork at least 5 months in advance of your first performance date in the US. Be aware of the cost. You will need either an O visa (really hard to get - you need to be known in the US), or a P1, P2 or P3.  A P3 visa is the one most bands should go for. It will be the easiest to obtain. The form is an I-129. https://www.uscis.gov/i-129. As of April 1, 2024, the filing fee ranges from $510 - 1015. PLUS an Asylum Program Fee of either $300 or $600 added to that. There is also cost when the performers go to the consulate in their own country for the interview and get approval. That varies. 
2. You will first need a consultation letter from one of the Musicians Unions. American Federation of Musicians, AFM: https://www.afm.org/what-we-are-doing/travel-resources/need-a-visa/#consultation which currently costs $300. You use AFM if instrumentalists form at least 50% of the band. You get your letter from American Guild of Musical Artists for singers (this would be most bands) https://www.musicalartists.org/about-agma/visa-consultation/ Their cost is $350.
   1. 1. To get their approval letter you will need to provided a filled out I-129 form, along with PR materials, etc... they all clearly explain what they need. In the 129 form it asks if you have provided that letter. Check off yes, and get the advisory letter first, so you can include it with your visa paperwork. They won't approve your visa without a letter from a union, so get that first.
3. The MDRF is located just outside of Annapolis, Maryland, and in easy driving distance of both Washington, DC and Baltimore. Because of the nature of our event, we are fine if you book a gig in the nearby area. We have no radius clause.
4. It isn't realistic to expect to come to the States just to play at our Festival. To make any economic sense at all, you'd need to secure additional work OR view this as a work/vacation experience. You have to figure in visa costs, airfare, local transportation, lodging and food. 
5. The US is big and public transportation varies city to city. You will need to rent a car/van when performing here. Because we are located in such a great area, there are many major markets within reasonable driving distance to each other to form a tour. (DC - 40 minutes; Baltimore- 30 minutes; Philadelphia - 2 hrs; New York City- 3.5 hours; Pittsburgh- 4.5 hours; Boston -6.5 hours, just to name a few.)
6. You will probably get more of a guarantee from festivals or cultural organizations. Booking clubs or bars - they might offer you a percentage of the door, but if you are unknown in the States they most likely won't give you much of a guarantee, if any at all. 
7. Most concert venues in the US will not be providing hotel. You are much more likely to get free or reduced housing via bookings in a music series, or concerts sponsored by churches, universities, or cultural organizations. Or, contact friends and relatives here in the states.
8. Be realistic in your expectations. Think seriously of what you hope to achieve by performing in the United States. Do you just want the experience? Hoping to build a fan base? Make industry contacts while you are here? All reasonable. But expect to lose money on your first tour - can you afford to do so? If you break even, that would be amazing!
9. I am happy to offer hints and be helpful, but I cannot be your US agent as I am not accepting new clients at this time.