PHOTO BY GL ENN TRI EST Ye Ole Goode Tyme B JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER onnie Wolfe is paid nothing, works every weekend in a hot cos- tume made from tacky old curtains and spends her Saturday nights sleeping on a lumpy piece of earth in a place called Yogi Bear Campgrounds. And she is having the time of her life. Wolfe, along with 300 other ac- tors and actresses, is a part of the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly, a 17-year-old event that's now running weekends through Sept. 29. Featuring full-contact, ar- mored jousting and unique con- cessions including Dragon's Breath Ale and roasted turkey drumsticks, the festival boasts continuous entertainment on 12 themed stages as well as street performers in 16th century peri- od dress. Set on 15 wooded acres about an hour north of Detroit, it is annually staffed by local vol- unteers and members of a na- tional touring troupe who entertain at five other such fes- tivals. More than 200 local enter- tainers auditioned in May to be street performers, with half be- ing selected for the roles. Some First-time thespians at the Michigan Renaissance Festival: Bonnie Wolfe (in red and gold) plays Francesca Maria and Sarah Bricker (in burgundy) plays Calliope Caleidoscope Wee Tree Faery. of the lesser-experienced actors, as well as those wanting to hone their craft, attended workshops called Academy. The other sea- soned thespians, like Sarah Bricker of West Bloomfield who's making her festival debut this year, are considered apprentices or journeymen, a skill that earns them each $10 a day. "I am not doing it for the mon- ey," said Bricker, a veteran of the Farmington High School stage. Instead, she is paid in the ex- perience of being a part of the fes- tival. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, Bricker plays the part of Calliope Caleidoscope Wee Tree Faery, speaking in different dialects to festival-goers from her perch which is in the shade of a tree. This Week's Best Bets Detroit Film Theatre Art and Apples Gerta Weissmann Klein LIVE, it's Boston's Alloy Orchestra performing the scores to three horror and fantasy classics. DIA, Woodward. (313) 833-2323. Presented by the Paint Creek Center for the Arts, the festival features 300 ex- luliting artists children's ' art activities, stage perform- ers, musicians, food and more, Rochester Municipal Park. (810) 651-4110. The author ofAll But My Life, and the subject of the Academy - Award-winning - documentary Aletropolis,7 Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Nosferatu: Sat., 7:30 p.m. & Sun., 4 p.m.; The Unknown: Sun., 7 p.m. Sat. 10.15 a m 5:45p.m ā–  , Sun., 10:15 a.m.-5 p.m. 9 it . . ' Mon., 4 p.m. One Survivor Remembers, signs her book and discusses her Holocaust experiences. Borders Books and Music, Farmington Hills. (810) 737-0110. r,-,, ,tsiw ' .' iā€˜ i .'''' .- For ----' - The MA's Sam Sachs and MOT's David DiChiera in- vite you to join them at a Riverboat, Regatta to bene- fit the Business Volunteers for the Arts. Boat, races, food and entertainment. (313) 226-9492. Tues., 6 p.m. At night, she stakes out a place in the Yogi Bear park and sings around a campfire with the oth- er entertainers, many of whom remain in character. "Once the costume comes off, I can't get rid of the accent," Bricker said. "It took me until Wednesday to lose the accent. My parents almost killed me." Wolfe, a 22-year-old Michigan Technological University student majoring in material science en- gineering, is Francesca Maria, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer from Florence. For her role, she had to learn an Italian accent as well as make her costume, a high-waisted gown made of red and gold brocade drapes she found on a hunting expedition in a Salvation Army store. "I have been going to the fes- tival since high school and I thought it would be a lot of fun to be there," Wolfe said. "I really am having such a wonderful time out there." Despite the meager or non-ex- istent pay, the less-than-ideal working conditions and the "earthy" accommodations, both actresses plan to return to the Michigan Renaissance Festival stage. "Next year, I am definitely go- ing to do it again," Bricker said. "It is the best experience I have ever had." ā‘ Et The Michigan Renaissance Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sun- days through Sept. 29. Daily jousting is at 12:45, 3:30 and 5:45 p.m. on the fields of Up- son Downs. Tickets are $12.95 for adults, $5.95 for children 5-12 and free for children un der 5. Food booths and a pub are available; parking is free. In Holly, located off I-75, Exit 106, on Dixie Highway be- tween Pontiac and Flint. For more information, call (800) 601-4848. Ark Grand Opening The new digs for Ann Ar- bor's most venerable folk music hotspot is finally open and primed for celebrating. Join Greg Brown, the Thurs., 8 p.m. Chenille Sisters and Andy Breckman for the festivities. The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann. Arbor. (313) 761-1800.