A word of explanation may be in order, as this year's update has been postponed several times already. "Mea culpa," sez your Humble Webmaster, who has been embroiled in the production of a couple of cinematic masterpieces-in-progress. One (which he is directing hisself) is nearing completion; details will be forthcoming as production wraps. The other is an Art Department gig for The Possession, a new experiment in terror from our good pals at Haxan Films, the same folks who brought you The Blair Witch Project. So watch for them soon!

Well, we've done it again (sort of)! For a second consecutive year, the Hanlon-Lees Action Theater (and yes, it really is TheatER, not TheatRE, though we're not picky) took 2nd Place in the category of Best Jousting Troupe for the 2010 Renaissance Festival Awards, sponsored by Renaissance Magazine and CelticMusic.org. And like the man says, as Number 2...we try harder. (We also ride harder and hit harder. Just sayin'.) So thanks for the shout-out, joust fans!

As you may have noticed, our 2011 Season is well underway! Our opening show at the Arizona Renaissance Festival was a smashing success, due in no small part to exciting performances by our very own Stephan "Steve" Cowan (as Master of Arms), his sturdy son Jackson "Jack" Cowan, the dependable and durable Giuseppe "Joe" D'Arrigo, Brian "No Nickname Yet" Fertel, and a fellow whom, for reasons of national security, shall be referred to only as "Wolf." Watch the video above (just one of many fine examples on YouTube) and you'll see what I'm talkin' about.

Also on the agenda are some of our usual haunts, as well as a new show: The Chippewa Valley Renaissance Faire, a new venue presented by Renaissance faire legend John Mills, who is "happy as hell!" to have the Lees headlining his big comeback to the world of medieval revelry. The venerable Lionel Lee has climbed out of the saddle to act as Production Manager of the event, which takes place over five weekends in scenic Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

A 2-man joust is the order of the day, and Taso will be appearing on opening weekend, so come out and cheer on Ewain the Invincible! We'll also have some nice Starfire Swords for sale, so bring a few extra dollars and take home a fine (American-made!) implement of destruction.

You may have seen a few of the Lees making appearances on various TV shows: Taso returned to his living-dead roots with a cameo in Frank Darabont's pilot episode of The Walking Dead, the hit series on AMC-TV, while Joel Bond popped up as a photographer on an episode of Grey's Anatomy. You never know where these guys will turn up next...

...but it just may be in Cowgirls n' Angels, a new film currently preparing to shoot in the Oklahoma City area. Kent has been contacted by the production and may be providing saddlery and props for the project; we'll keep you posted on further developments.

Or perhaps you'd rather venture out to Frontier City! A rough-and-tumble outpost in the wilds of Oklahoma... a hostile, savage territory where Wildcats and Diamondbacks reign supreme and Silver Bullets fly... and, incidentally, where Kent and Joe now roam the dusty plains as newly-appointed Marshals. If you see them, remember this: they love candy apples. So surprise them with a treat and maybe they'll grant you a souvenir photo.

Speaking of Kent (who is spending less and less time in 21st century attire as the years march on), the Hanlon-Lees Action Theater is proud to present our newest attraction: The Buffalo Bill Historical Presentation! (Yes, you've got to hand it to Kent when it comes to snappy event titles. At least he refrained from using "extravaganza" this time.)

In this latest endeavor, Buffalo Bill himself (or at least a highly accurate rendition thereof, as portrayed by the redoubtable Señor Shelton) takes center stage in his field tent, surrounded by the accoutrements of the Old West, which the elder frontiersman takes great pains to explain and demonstrate the uses of whilst exploring the rich history of the late 19th century. A fine, educational experience for children of all ages! Click the title above for more information, and check our 2011 Schedule for upcoming appearances.

Interested in having Buffalo Bill appear at your event? Call us at 1-888-404-HERO for bookings!

In other news, Kent has recently been interviewed at length by soon-to-be renowned author Rachael Ruben for her upcoming book Well Met, an exhaustively researched history of the Renaissance festival phenomenon. It is scheduled to be published in December 2012, so watch for its eventual appearance in your grocer's freez- er, your local bookstore.

Say, have a look at this page on the Presidio la Bahia in Goliad, Texas. Do those Tejanos having a "picknic" [sic!] look familiar? (A fine time for a picknic, I might add, after "loosing" their possessions to the Mexican Army.)

And, if you just can't get enough Kent photos, here's one more: a swell shot of the Legend of Luther with his Lady, as captured for an article on historical re-enactors in Tulsa World magazine.