Welcome to The Mystic Krewe of the Renaissance.  We are glad you have joined us. The following information should guide the reader to a fuller understanding of our Krewe.  These topics are included:            

Establishment   (Back to Top)

In March of 1995, five experienced Mardi Gras aficionados - Mary Beth Carrier, Lucille Guidry, Steve Landry, Keith Rodrigues, and Jay Smith - came together to form a Mardi Gras organization.  Their goals resulted in plans and guidelines that set this new club apart from all other existing Krewes.  Those include: an adult membership open to singles and couples, an elaborate Tableau and Ball, an opportunity to ‘parade’, a family oriented attitude, and the three benefits that members should most enjoy - FUN, FUN, FUN!

 The decision was made to be a ‘masked Krewe’, one that did not reveal its members’ identities publicly.  So, “Mystic’ would be part of the Krewe name.  Many names were discussed in pursuit of the correct Krewe identity.  Then, the Founders were briefly educated on the Commedia dell’ Arte, the Italian comedy theater that began around 1350 during the Renaissance.  Those roving bands of players began by performing on wagon beds in town squares.  Over the centuries, their shows developed into polished productions of international fame. The cast members were not only actors, but also jugglers, ropewalkers, acrobats, and singers.

The names of the Commedia characters were familiar in varying degrees: Harlequin, Columbine, Scaramouche, Gabriella, and Punchinello are some of them.  When an actor assumed a character’s identity, he usually played it for life through a succession of different plays.  Today we see this tradition continued, as when Harrison Ford ‘plays’ Indiana Jones in multiple films, each with a different story line.

In general, the Italian citizenry during the Renaissance were unschooled and illiterate.  So, for ease of audience comprehension, and as a clue of what to expect from a character, each Commedia role had a distinctive costume that remained the same from play to play.  Again, like when Indiana Jones’ familiar fedora and bullwhip appear, you know he’s the hero.  Or as in a melodrama, when the man with a black moustache appears in a black hat and cape, even before he speaks, there’s the villain.

The Founders were then enlightened on the Commedia’s role as an ancestor of the modern circus, ball masque, ballet, melodrama, and even Mardi Gras itself.  They were intrigued. But, when the Founders learned that the cast of Commedia players was collectively called the Zannis (zanies), the decision was made. ‘Zany’ is exactly what Mardi Gras should be; the Mystic Krewe of the Renaissance was born.

 The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were deliberately signed on the most ideal, zany day of the year, April 1st  - April Fool’s Day.

The Captain is the head of the Krewe and Chairman of the Board.  Based on old New Orleans’ Krewes, the position of Captain is elected for life and has broad decision-making powers.  The Captain produces the Tableau and Ball Masque and oversees the Krewe’s business.

Each year the Captain presents a slate to the Board for its approval.  The slate includes appointees for the five Officers and the Advisor Chairpersons of the five Divisions of the Krewe’s workload.  The officers are Scheneschal, Scribe, Steward, Quartermaster, and Parliamentarian.  The Divisions are Membership, Royalty, Entertainment, Courtesies, and Design and Production.

The Captain’s ‘right hand man’ is the Scheneschal, who coordinates the Divisions’ work.  The Scribe records and retains Krewe documents.  The Steward plans and oversees the financials matters.  The Quartermaster houses and tracks the Krewe’s assets.  The Parliamentarian assures adherence to correct meeting procedure, and reviews the bylaws annually.

The Membership Division handles applications and renewals, publicity, communications, newsletters, surveys, and the Krewe’s website.

The Royalty Division orients and guides the Court members, coordinates the Past Queen’s luncheon, the Past Royalty Supper, and the Royalty Brunch.

The Entertainment Division produces the Court Jester and the Ball Krewe Entertainers, coordinates Ball services, the four annual Krewe parties/supper, and oversees the Krewe floats and riders in the Friday Night and Children’s parades.

The Courtesies Division handles the Ball invitations and programs, centerpieces, beads, doubloons, Krewe favors, and Ball seating.

The Costs     (Back to Top)

The annual membership dues are $195 if paid by April 1, thereafter they will be $225.  New members will have a deadline of June 1.  Dues cover the four socials and the administrative costs, i.e. insurance, storage space, the newsletter, postage, etc.

When a member joins the Krewe, his/her first need is to make or have made a Zanni costume.  Styles, colors, details, and cost vary from individual to individual, but each period outfit must be completed with a hat/headpiece and an appropriate mask.  For women it is a ‘domino’, and for men a ‘long nose’, which is available through the Krewe.  All costumes must be approved by the Design and Production Advisor before worn.

Additional costs begin with Ball seating, which is reserved in multiples of 4 on the membership renewal or application form.  The cost is $100 per set of 4 and is paid for at the drawing at the fall Cocktail Party.  A round table accommodates 8 seats.

The caterer mails out forms prior to the ball, so members can order food trays ($25-45) and drink setups for their tables.  A cash bar is available at the ball. Each member must provide beads and doubloons to throw during the Tableau and favors for the Call Out dances.  At the fall party, the Courtesies Division provides an order form for ‘throw’, cloisonné, bronze, and silver doubloons, as well as a variety of beads and favors, many of them with our Krewe’s insignia.

Should a member choose to serve as, or sponsor a member of the court, the Royalty fees are:  King or Queen $2500; Duke, Duchess, Lady-in-Waiting, and/or Courtier $850; and Royal Page $375.  The vast majority of all costs, i.e. costume, gifts, photography, Brunch tickets, and flowers are included. (We say ‘it covers everything, but your shoes and underwear’, and that’s pretty close to the truth.) Additional Royalty Brunch tickets are available at $25 each.

The parade rider fee for an adult or teenage Court member is included in the royalty fee. The parade fees for children, including pages, are paid separately. The cost is $105 for a member’s child. An adult member’s cost to ride ($195) is included in each of a variety of packages of Krewe beads and doubloons - at prices from $195 to $465.  If space is available, members can invite guests to ride at a cost of  $50 plus a package.

The Crest of the Krewe     (Back to Top)

The Crest is composed of a shield divided vertically into two fields by a yellow border.  The left field is covered in the diamonds of Harlequin’s costume, in alternating rows of red and rows of blue and green. The right field is divided horizontally. The upper half is purple and features the red, long nosed mask of Krewe Zannis.  The lower field is green and displays the ornate ‘R’ for our ‘Renaissance’ name. Atop the shield is the gold and blue crown of Lorenzo de Medici. Surrounding the shield is a lambrequin in black and yellow.

The Cast/The Court     (Back to Top)

Once it was decided to attach the Krewe identity to the theater, the formulation of the Krewe Court became the casting of a play.  For the stars of our show, we needed to select appropriate characters for our monarchs.  This turned out to be a simple task, because the individuals chosen were so outstanding.

During the Renaissance, Italy was divided and ruled by six powerful City-States.  In Florence, the Medici family accumulated vast wealth and established the first banking system throughout Europe.  The most famous of the Italian Renaissance ‘princes’, Lorenzo de Medici was tall, handsome, and well educated.  He not only further expanded the family fortune, but was also a world-class collector of art and a patron of Michelangelo.  Lorenzo de Medici is the ideal choice for our noble king.

Isabella d’Este was born into the ruling family of Ferrara and married into the ruling Gonzaga family to become the Duchess of Mantua.  Her father had ‘treated her like a son’ and provided her with an outstanding education, unusual for a woman in that era.  She was multilingual, accomplished in several fields of knowledge, and became a world-class art collector. But, Isabella had real genius as a politician, and during both war and peace, she successfully outmaneuvered the male Italian rulers, as well as the King of France.  Regally, Isabella d’Este reigns as our queen.

The four adult costars of our show are cast as the Dukes and Duchess from two of the City-States: Venice, Milan, Verona, and/or Naples.  Members who desire to be cast in one of the six adult roles in the upcoming Ball submit their names at the Krewe Supper in March.  Selection is by ‘luck of the draw’.

Young men and women 16-19 years old, who are sponsored for presentation by a member, are cast as Courtiers and as Ladies-in-Waiting.  Children, 6-12 years old, are cast as Pages to the King, the Queen, and the Dukes and Duchesses.

Some Krewe members are cast as Featured Players with speaking and singing parts, the real theatrical stars of our show.  The majority of members are cast as extras, the Zannis, maskers who entertain the audience and throw beads and doubloons.  The non-Krewe members of our production include the Minstrel, our valued, pivotal announcer/player/singer, the Jester, who dances to entertain the audience, and the Visiting Royalty, those Kings and Queens of other Krewes, who’ve been invited for presentation in costume and regalia. 

The Tableau and Ball Masque     (Back to Top)

Our annual presentation has developed into more of a play than a pageant.  Our scripts are written in a form of rhyming verse call iambic pentameter. The result is words that have a measured pace and lyrical quality. Our past titles have included: 1996- The Coronation; 1997- The Arts of Florence; 1998- The Commedia dell’ Arte’; 1999- The Feast of Harlequin’s Marriage; 2000-The Genius of Da Vinci; 2001-Venetian Carnevale’;  2002- The Victors of War; 2003- The Lusty Month of May; 2004- The Royal Gala at LaScala; 2005- The Magic of Love.

Each year the script tells a story involving the Commedia dell’ Arte players, as well as presents a royal court in traditional Mardi Gras style.  The scripts’ ‘special touches’ over the years have included a variety of show tunes, song and dance numbers, and impressive theatrical moments, as when Leonardo Da Vinci’s flying machine ‘flew’ in over the audience, and/or when the Head Gondolier sang ‘O Solo Mio” while poling his gondola through the crowd. It was pure Mardi Gras magic.

The stage is elegantly dressed to most often represent an Italian palace, a plaza, or a villa.  Designs have included columns, arches, moldings, balconies, galleries of artwork, yards of brocades and lames, bowers of flowers, and our ornate, handcrafted throne.  It requires two days in the ballroom for Krewe members to complete all the set up details to the stage, the decorations, and the props.

The theme color of the ball changes each year and is taken, in rotation, from the colors in the Krewe crest- green, red, blue, and purple.  The invitations, programs, stage decorations, and the costumes of the King, Queen, and their Pages feature the theme color.  The two Dukes and Duchesses are chosen from the remaining colors.  They are always costumed as follows: Venice in blue, Milan in red, Verona in green, and Naples in purple.

The costumes of the court positions are extravagant creations.  The designs, details, cloths, colors, trims, appliqués, and heavy jewelling are rich and varied.  A professional seamstress constructs each costume base. The transformation from base into royal garment by the application of jewels, trims, and sequins is the result of our member volunteers in the Krewe’s ‘Glitter and Glitz Gang’.  This group of very dedicated, hard-workers always seems to accomplish the impossible, by outdoing their last year’s results.  They also create an appropriate headpiece for each costume and hand pieces for the ladies.

Once all characters have been presented at the ball, and the Tableau story is told in full, it’s time for the Call Out dances.  These are not general dancing, but opportunities for our masked members to anonymously ask Ball guests to dance.  This is a very old, romantic tradition of Mardi Gras mystique. These five songs are shortened versions of original tunes. At the end of each song, in appreciation of ‘doing the Zanni the honor of dancing with him/her’, the masker presents the guest with a ‘favor’. After presenting the gift, the masker then disappears into the crowd.  Examples of Call Out favors would include a cloisonné doubloon, an elaborate string of Mardi Gras beads, crown or mask pin or similar jewelry.  Many of these are available to order through the Krewe and often are personalize to our Krewe.

The conclusion of the Tableau is the Court’s Grand March exit.  After a brief intermission, the Ball begins when the band plays its first song.  The king and queen re-enter the Ballroom and resume the throne to receive guests who approach to pay their respects.

Social Events     (Back to Top)

The Tableau and Ball Masque are the major project of each year.  Every other social function is some how tied to this project’s accomplishment.  The four membership functions are the Summer Bar-b-que, the Fall Cocktail Party, the pre-ball Zanni Party, and the Year-end Supper.

Our Summer Bar-b-que is held in early June.  It is the first opportunity for our existing membership to meet the year’s new members. New members have a chance to ask questions about topics from the New Member Orientation they attended the week before. Committee chairs use the evening to recruit new workers. It’s a more casual affair that’s perfect for member ‘visiting’. But its relaxed atmosphere is regularly interrupted by riotous ‘mixer’ games, courtesy of the Entertainment Division. There is always lots of laughter, and the seeds of new friendships are planted.

September is the time for our costumed Cocktail Party.  The theme has varied from ‘Vicars and Vamps’ to ‘Louisiana Living’.  This is a great evening for fun and fellowship, and prizes are given in several costume categories.  This is also the important occasion for the purchase and selection of Ball seating and the ordering of beads, doubloons, and Krewe favors.

Seating for the ball is at round tables of 8 seats.  In the spring, each member reserved a half or whole table on his membership application or renewal form.  The Captain assigns the placement of the Court members’ tables in the Royalty section. Other Krewe members each ‘draw a number out of the bowl’ to determine the order of table selection.  Should 2 or more members choose to select tables together, they register together, and ‘draw’ only one number between them.  The member who draws the number ‘1’ selects his/her table first from the seating chart.  The drawer of ‘2’ selects next, and so on.

Doubloons are oversized coins by modern standards.  They are minted in bas-relief, with the Krewe crest of one side and an image depicting the year’s theme on the other side.  ‘Throw’ doubloons are cast in aluminum and can be anodized with color.  They are called ‘throw’ doubloons, because they are tossed to the audience during the Tableau and to the street crowds by parades floats riders.  Our Krewe members can purchase aluminum ‘throws’ in plain ‘silver’ or in a three-color mix that includes the theme color, and a complimentary third hue.  Gold ‘throws’ are reserved for the Royalty.  More upscale than ‘throws’, bronze doubloons are often used as favors to give to men.  Colorful, intricate cloisonné doubloons are a favorite Call out favor to give to women or men.  Throughout the season, women (in street cloths) can continue to wear them as accessories.  Pure silver doubloons are usually purchased by our more serious collectors.

The evening of the Tableau and Ball Masque begins earlier for Krewe members than for their guests. Members arrive at 6 pm for a Zanni Party. Excitement is in the air.  The ‘Ball’ starts in 2 hours. The court members are officially presented to the membership for the first time.  New members show off their new Zanni costumes.  Friends exchange beads and mementoes.  The consumption of food and drink seems to help the Zannis prepare for their theatrical entrance at the Tableau.

The Zannis’ role in the tableau is a simple one.  The ‘opening’ includes the cast taking a group bow on the stage, and then parading through the crowd throwing beads and doubloons.  At the sound of the Captain’s whistle, they join their guests at their tables.  At the end of the tableau, the Zannis parade a second time while ‘throwing’, just before the Call Out dances.

In late March, the Krewe hosts a Year-end Supper.  It’s a dress down, whole family fun, late afternoon. Games and diversions for the kids are provided. In addition to the excellent meal and fellowship, the Krewe members are presented with the annual financial reports, the election of new Advisors, the deadline for membership renewal, and the drawing for the next Ball’s Royalty.

There are four other social events connected to the Krewe.  The first two are by-invitation only.  About two weeks before the ball, the past King Lorenzos coordinate an informal, Past Royalty Dutch-treat supper for the new Dukes and Duchesses to meet the members of previous courts.

The week of the Ball, the reigning Queen Isabella is hostess at a private luncheon for the past Queens, the new Queen, and the ladies of the incoming court.

The Royalty Brunch is held the Sunday after the Ball.  Tickets are available through the Royalty Division The new King and Queen preside over a celebration to exchange gifts among adult court members and to distribute the Krewe favors and ‘thank yous’ to the member volunteers.

About two Sunday afternoons after the ball when the video is ready, a very informal ‘Debrief’ Party is held in a member’s home.  Snacks are served, the video is viewed, the evening is re-lived, and suggestion sheets for improving next year’s ball are collected.  It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the ball experience one last time.

Parades     (Back to Top)

Our Krewe loves to parade!  This is a whole different Mardi Gras experience from the Tableau and Ball Masque and the parties.  Attending a parade on the street as one of the crowd is certainly fun.  “Throw me something, Mister” is the mantra of the day.  But there is nothing like riding on a float!  ‘Why’ is hard to fully describe in words.  Anonymity?  Power?  Generosity?  Excitement?  It must be experienced!

 The Friday Night Parade, three days before Mardi Gras, is composed of floats sponsored by several Krewes.  Traditionally, we enter three floats, one for our Royalty and two for Zannis.  The next day, on Saturday afternoon, is the Children’s Parade.  This parade also presents floats sponsored by many Krewes.  Our Royal Pages and the children/grandchildren of members fill a float and gleefully toss ‘throws’ to the crowd.

 The downside of a night parade is that the roar of the parade crowd is so deafening, and coupled with the pace of the moving float, makes it difficult for riders to locate the faces of friends to throw to among so many.  So, our Krewe began a tradition its first year, that has grown each year and is now copied by others. We distribute large black ‘R’s on bright yellow paper to our families and friends. When held up, an ‘R’ is much easier to spot than a face from a moving float.  However, the public has ‘caught on’, and now non-Krewe produced ‘R’s spring up all along the parade route.  It’s wonderful validation of a good idea.  It also confirms that, even on the street, Lafayette knows the Mystic Krewe of the Renaissance has ‘arrived’.