The Court Revelers

Nan Miller (Dame Nankins, formerly of the Abbey of Columba)

Nan Miller is the current and founding musical and executive director of The Court Revelers. Although switching to Alto in 2015, she started as a Soprano for TCR. As musical director she guides repertoire choice, musical quality and performance excellence. In 2003 Nan along with two other alumni of The Revelers, who entertained at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and elsewhere for many years, founded TCR and many former Revelers joined the new group. Previous to TCR, Nan sang with The Revelers for three years, two of which serving as the musical director of the group.

Nan began working at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in 1989 at "King of the Log" a game that has been the springboard for many performers at the festival. (2018 marks her 30th year at MRF). Nan has sung with several community singing groups, church choirs, and small ensembles (The Geneva Eschweiler Singers, The Hot Dishes and others) in her many years of performing since leaving the University of Minnesota Chorus. She has also acted, sung and choreographed in community theatre groups over the years, and co-directed the Children’s Musical at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in south Minneapolis for over ten years. Her film credit is Midnight Chronicles (2007).

Nan loves singing and working with the ensemble that is The Court Revelers. She is grateful to all the audience members, many of whom have become friends over the years. She says The Court Revelers is a special group, handpicked for a sound quality, a spirit of cooperative work, and a healthy dash of zany. $quot;We make fun, family and music simultaneously!$quot;

Becca Nemesi (Constance Amelia Wolfe, Her Ladyship, Countess of Couthe, aka "Lady Wolfe")

Becca Nemesi has been singing seriously nearly her whole life. She has been taking private vocal training since 1985 from Brad Hagen and Randy Johnson. She studied Vocal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Morris with Janet Ahern and Ken Hodgson, and performance training from the Hennepin Center for the Arts with Angela May and the workshop Performance and Movement at the Pangea Theatre with Dipankur Mukurjee.

She has been a Soloist several local churches, and has been a member of the University of MN, Morris Concert Choir; University of MN, Morris Chamber Singers; St. Peter’s Womens’ Ensemble; St. Peter’s Mixed Ensemble; Shakespeare’s Lovechild (an a capella trio) and Wrapped in Satin (a jazz/swing ensemble).

She performed in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Delano High School; A Christmas Carol, Morris Community Theatre; Messiah, University of MN; Celebration!, Delano Fine Arts Committee; Hey Big Spender, Morris Park Players; Amahl and the Night Visitors, St. Peter’s Church.

On a personal note, as much as Becca loves to sing she believes there's no replacement for singing with others. Our accomplishments on our own never seem to compare to the things that we can accomplish with the right company. Becca has proudly held on to this group like family for more than a decade because they bring out the best in people, and in each other. Here's to the Court Revelers! HUZZAH!

Jill M. Kohn (Adelaide Fenrix)

Jill Kohn, a Wisconsin native, has been with The Court Revelers for over 15 years now. Having only attended a renaissance festival twice before joining the cast, she was immediately drawn to this crazy, lovable, loyal, and stupendously talented family of singers. Jill is bi-sectional (or just indecisive, starting off as an alto in the group, later deciding that she wanted to join the sopranos, and recently rejoining the "dark side" by going back to the alto section.)

In her Wisconsin years Jill was a member of Wausau East High’s Concert Choir and Camerata Singers, St. Mary’s Church Choir, and the UWSP Choral Union. Her Minnesota vocal experiences include the Macalaster College Festival Choral, Minnesota Revels ,Twin Cities Show Chorus, and various musical productions with Heritage Theatre Co. and Woodbury Community Theater.

Adelaide is the older sister of Margery, who is "Bitsy" to her "Stretch". Adelaide has temporarily suspended taking candidates for a marriage contract with her dear sister (One Sister for Sale!), as a certain Baron has made a "Serious inquiry$quot;.

Adelaide loves bubbles, ponies, and small, cute fuzzy things. Jill will not comment on whether or not she shares these interests, though she does frequently cater to the demands of two small rabbits.

Suzy Harris (Brigid O’Bannon)

Suzy Harris-Ferguson fell in love with performing musically ever since her first starring role in her kindergarten class' production of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". She fostered her musical education through band and choir classes all the way through her junior high and high school years.

While in college, Suzy moved to musical theater and, later, kept up with her music by spending a summer working on a cruise ship performing in musical acts. She also sings in her church choir and was also involved in Prior Lake Players' 2015 production of "An Enchanted Evening: A Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical Revue".

Suzy fell in love with the Minnesota Renaissance Festival on her first visit as a patron in 2011 and was thrilled to be asked to be a Reveler. She feels that she is "at home" with her musical family and hopes to be a member of the Court Revelers for as long as she is able.

Adam Treece (Thomas Colby, Huntsman to his Majesty)

For Rent: 1 Tenor Vocalist.

Well used, but still in great condition. Extensive experience in various school and church choirs including the Edina High School Concert Choir (1998-2000) and Edina High School Chamber Singers (1998-2000). Member of the National Junior High Honor Choir (1996). Involved in many instances of Musical Theater including such shows as The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, and Beauty and the Beast. Currently in training for his first run at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival with the Court Revelers, and a member of the Wayzata Community Church Chancel Choir, he also has years of experience performing as a small ensemble with his family.

Upgrades on the base (bass) model include tenor range enhancement, 4 years of professional voice lessons, "lady killer eyes", and facial shag carpeting.

Bradley Scarp (Commodore Sir Roger Sherman, Royal Navy)

Bitten by the performing bug at age 10, Brad began in local children’s theaters before progressing to community and professional theaters around the Twin Cities area. He was the top singer for his school at the 2005 Solo/Ensemble Contest, as well as a performer at the 2005 Minnesota Music Educator’s Association conference. He began performing at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in 2009, where he was awarded the Cracked Cup Award for Best New Entertainer, as well as the Herald marketing award in 2010 and an award for Best Entertainment by a Group in 2012 with the Mermaid Cove.

He enjoys playing baseball, reading good books, and sailing. (No, really.)

Ken Lauer (Giuseppe "Pépé" Biondi)

We have ourselves a new tenor, his name is Ken Lauer.
He was getting kindof dirty, so we put him in the shower.
He drank up all the water, and ate up all the soap.
Now he's sick at home in bed with bubbles in his throat.
Bubble bubble bubble
Bubble bubble bubble
Bubble bubble bubble
Bubble bubble POP!

Adam Erdmann (Arthur D. Worthing)

Hailing from a family of musicians and performers, Adam feels right at home among his beloved Court Revelers. Ever since his break-out role singing a solo in elementary school about the mosquito being Minnesota’s state bird, Adam has been involved with music, theatre, or musical theatre in one capacity or another.

Adam has had the opportunity to perform many diverse roles in the theatre realm, ranging from the suave gangster Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls to Johnnypateenmike, the crazy old town gossip in The Cripple of Inishmaan. Among his favorite roles are Yvan in Yasmina Reza’s Art and Macduff in a Kabuki verson of *ahem* "The Scottish Play." Adam has also made appearances acting in the Twin Cities, performing for Bedlam Theatre Company and The Unit Collective.

On the music side of things, Adam has sung with numerous ensembles throughout his high school and collegiate career - most notably, Luther College’s flagship vocal ensemble, Nordic Choir. He also played trumpet for 8 years and Cello for 5 years, but is admittedly a bit rusty on both, having shifted his focus to vocal music at Luther and beyond. Adam was also chosen as a featured vocal soloist with the Luther College Concert Band for their late spring tour of Japan in 2010.

Since joining the Court Revelers in 2011, Adam has had a stupendous time and believes The Court Revelers have the best fans in all the kingdom!

Chris Ackert (Christoph 'Kit' Cellarius)

The mighty renaissance man surveys his festival, but his heart is inquiet. Is he made of renaissance, or is the renaissance festival made of him?

He does not know.

David Nyquist (Robert Andrews aka "Wonderboy" / "Wubbi")

A diehard Renaissance fan, David started working at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival as a street performer in 2006. This was all well and good, until one day someone mentioned that a certain singing group was looking to add new male voices. That group was The Court Revelers (“Huzzah!”). The very next week he tracked them down on the streets of the festival and said, “I hear you're looking for male voices!” He had his audition for the group right then and there and began performing with The Court Revelers (“Huzzah!”) in the 2007 season. The rest, as they say, is history.

David is a seasoned veteran of theater and music. He has performed in numerous plays and choirs and possesses a bachelor's degree in theater from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Beyond live performance, David has also dabbled in direction, makeup, stage and lighting design, and even spent a few years as the director of a small film studio.