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Mesquite’s local legends bring renaissance to life
By Ann Marie Shambaugh, Staff Writer
Once upon a time there was a beautiful queen who was married to a legendary slayer of monstrous beasts. But this is no fairy tale. Allen and Shannon Hopps live in Mesquite, and at least twice a week they voyage to Waxahachie to bring alive the Scarborough Renaissance Festival.
Shannon has played Queen Anne Boleyn every day of the festival for the last 20 years, but she hasn’t always lived in royalty. She became interested in the fair after a spontaneous visit with her mother more than two decades ago.
“I loved it so much that I applied to work there the next week,” she said “I got a job hawking turkey legs.”
Allen joined the festival in 2002 as a stilt-walker, but for the last four years he has played monster hunter Magnus Krane. He is responsible for the Mythical Monster Museum, a collection of creatures and the weapons used to defeat them. He also participates in swordfights, human chess matches, and works as the lead character instructor.
The festival has so many aspects that everyone will find something to enjoy, which is one reason Allen said he enjoys working at the fair.
“There are people who could care less about monsters, but they’ll come and spend an hour and read every little plaque in the garden [in front of the museum], because that’s their brand of geek,” Allen said.
Like any queen, Shannon’s schedule is packed with public appearances and administrative duties. She arrives in Waxahachie around 7:30 a.m., spends about half an hour dressing in her royal garments, meets with festival officials at 9 a.m., then spends the next nine hours speaking with visitors, knighting children, attending weddings, and watching jousts.
That’s where the similarities end. The festival workers aren’t paid in gold, and they don’t return home to a castle. During the week, Shannon works as a lieutenant in the Dallas Fire Department.
“When we’re in the thick of [festival season], I wake up and say, ‘What’s today? It’s Wednesday. You’re an officer today. What’s today? It’s Sunday. You’re a queen today.’” Shannon said. “I’m either wearing a uniform or costume. I’m either a queen or lieutenant, and there’s a huge amount of juggling.”
Although the festival only runs from April 4 to May 25, preparations begin in November and rehearsals commence in February. Most performers have several months to recuperate, but the Hopps’ schedules quickly pick up again preparing for the site’s other use: the Screams Halloween Theme Park.
Allen creates haunted houses, and he works as the artistic director for Screams. He will start planning next month for Screams, which will be open throughout the month of October.
“What the crew does [to the site] is pretty darn amazing considering people pay to have weddings in it in May and April,” he said. “Come October, we’re running through 4,000 people to scare the crud out of them every night.”
Between Scarborough and Screams, the Hopps stay busy year-round. Yet they both agree that the rewards far outweigh the fatigue and other downsides.
“A lot of my friends make more money than me, but they all envy me because I’m really doing what I love,” Allen said.
Young girls look upon Shannon’s character with reverence and awe. The queen encourages children to work hard for good grades, and often they will reappear at the festival with a big smile and report card in hand.
Shannon said the festival has also taught her valuable life skills that cannot be picked up elsewhere.
“We don’t have any scripts, and we don’t have any staging,” Shannon said. “We do everything by the seat of our pants, so it really trains you to think on your feet.”
The Scarborough Renaissance Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 24 and Memorial Day. Cost is $21.99 for adults and $8.50 for children age 5 to 12. Children under 4 are free. The festival is at 2511 Farm-to-Market Road 66 in Waxahachie.
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