Last Huzzah for Knights of Iron at Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire
L. Dale Walter, director of Knights of Iron, announced on the forums at RenaissanceFestival.com that Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire in Battle Creek, Michigan, will be our last opportunity to see the company in action. The faire runs July 5 through August 3, 2008.
For their final performances the Knights of Iron will do a brand new show. “The Adventures of Robin Hood” includes four scenes, a human chess match, and an interactive show where children of the realm get to learn swordsmanship from Robin himself, and then square off against the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. In addition, there are a couple of other scenes that will occur during the day at random times. It’ll take a sharp eye not to miss something.
The Knights have decided that it’s time to move on to other projects. They’ve spent the last eight years bringing us shows like:
- The Pirate Magic Danger Show (2000)
- Robin Hood (2001)
- The Three Musketeers -vs- The Pirate King (2002-2003)
- Legends Never Die (2004-2005)
- The Legend of King Arthur (2005-2007)
How like them to go out with a bang, giving us one final production! Thanks for the shows, guys, good luck in the future, and maybe … we’ll see you at Faire!!
Tweet This
Comment by Former Ringer | June 5, 2008
There is a small error in this article. While Dale did indeed help write and produce the Pirate Magic Danger Show in 2000, it was not a Knights of Iron show. At that time, Dale was a member of The Ring of Steel and thus the Danger show was a Ring of Steel production. KOI formed after the 2000 season, so the 2001 Robin Hood show was the first official Knights of Iron production.
Comment by Escarlata | June 5, 2008
My thanks for that correction.
Esc
Comment by L. Dale Walter | June 23, 2008
>Dale did indeed help write and produce the Pirate Magic >Danger Show in 2000, it was not a Knights of Iron show.
This is not correct. The Pirate Magic Danger Show was written by me, and Dr. Todd Huhn. We hold joint copyright on it.
>At that time, Dale was a member of The Ring of Steel and >thus the Danger show was a Ring of Steel production.
In theory this may be agued as true, but there was much less involvement from Ring of Steel in the actual production of the show then from those of us that became the founders of Knights of Iron. Ring of Steel provided personnel, weapons, costuming, and fight choreography. The Knights of Iron group provided script, direction, staging equipment, and special effects.
In addition, I was under contract from Mid America Festivals to produce the show and was paid by them, not by Ring of Steel. Ring of Steel was paid, again by Mid America Festivals, to provide personnel for the show.
I suppose I would look at it as a transitional show, from the student club that Ring of Steel was at the time, to the new professional team that became Knights of Iron. It was a launching point showing what could be done. Knights of Iron have gone on to do many more shows in the same vein, Ring of Steel has not. They evolved into very different organizations.
>KOI formed after the 2000 season, so the 2001 Robin Hood >show was the first official Knights of Iron production.
Again, this is true, but Todd and I did write, and hold copyright on, Pirate Magic Danger Show, and I did direct it, as well as design and build all of the effects and equipment, so I guess it makes it sort of both fish and fowl. In addition, of the 13 cast the majority never performed with Ring of Steel again, where 6 of them went on to work with Knights of Iron in subsequent years.
It was a collaborative effort between a group of amazingly talented people, one that, unfortunately, will probably never happen again. Sometimes the stars do align. I am sitting in my office looking at the directors’ gift that the cast gave me, a wonderful caricature of all of those in the show. It was a great show, and a great time with some wonderful people. Some of them have stayed as my best friends. Some I have not seen in years. Be that as it may, and whoever takes credit, the truth of it is we set a new standard for Renaissance Faire entertainment with The Pirate Magic Danger Show. Everyone involved should be proud of their achievement.
L. Dale Walter
Director
Knights of Iron
http://www.knightsofiron.com
Comment by Escarlata | June 23, 2008
And my thanks for further clarification of the 2000 season. It sounds as if all parties have continued to develop in the areas where they are most comfortable. We look forward to seeing what both groups come up with next, hoping as always to one day … see you at Faire!!