We believe in fostering a respectful, safe environment within our tribe. We spark passion for performance with education, constructive critique, and personal accountability. Our shared vision will pass the magic of festival to our cast and patron alike. ​Through our professionalism, education, and enthusiasm, we will awake the magic in the mind of every performer. 

Don Ryan

Also Known As: Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester & Master of Horse
Pronouns: He/Him
Role(s): Entertainment Director,
​Red Griffin Director
Years on Cast: 27
​Years on Leadership: 22
Our visionary leader and efficiency expert, Don has been a lifeline to our festival's heartbeat since day one! Their leadership style fosters an environment of collaboration, innovation, and excellence, ensuring that every aspect of the festival is not only entertaining but also historically authentic and culturally enriching. Don's true power is finding a person's potential and fanning the flames of passion and dedication. 

Jeremy Caviness

Also Known As: Thomas Benger
Pronouns: He/Him
Role(s): Assistant Director,
Peer Leader, Dance & Music Coordinator
Years on Cast: 27
​Years on Leadership: 22
Jeremy brings an impressive resume of dance, music, and acting to our team. He has grown up with our festival, even knowing our Steward since childhood! His education and experience is exemplified by a well earned Associate's Degree from the Community College of the Air Force, an Associate's from the University of Texas, a Bachelor of Arts from Regent University,  and his military service in the Air Force. Jeremy has a unique ability to inspire dedication from every person he guides.

Chris Ryan

Also Known As: Queen Elizabeth
Pronouns: She/Her
Role(s): Costume Coordinator, Humanities Instructor
Years on Cast: 27
​Years on Leadership: 22
   In addition to being our queen, Chris also teaches our humanities classes, including history, culture, and language. Growing up in a family that did historical reenactment prepared Chris for a lifetime of loving the time period. She started working towards a double major in Art History and Fine Arts with an emphasis on the Renaissance with hopes of doing Museum Art Restoration. Instead she fell in love with the art of Performance and joined the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival in 1997. Since then, she has used her passion to grow her skills as a Seamstress, Historian, and language nerd.

Michelle Behrens

Also Known As: Maeve Stewart
Pronouns: She/Her
Role(s): Website Developer, Peer Leader, Area Leader, Training 101
Years on Cast: 21
​Years on Leadership: 20
Michelle has been a champion of public education for 32 years with a Masters in Geoscience and NBCT. She tackles the impossible task of website management, social media, and scheduling for our festival. Her theater experience began as a tulip in kindergarten, elementary school plays, a prop master for the play Anne at the Muskogee Little Theater, and then joined us as a gatekeeper starting in 2004!

Diane Walker

Also Known As: Darcy Walker
Pronouns: She/Her
Role(s): Peer Leader, Area Leader, Training 101
Years on Cast: 21
​Years on Leadership: 20
Diane is one of our most enduring presences on the leadership team. She is half of the indomitable team that runs the Master Track: Teaching 101. Diane is a Muskogee history teacher with National Board Certification. She helped shape the Castle culture during the early stages of development.

Deborah Billingsley

Also Known As: Alice
Pronouns: She/Her
Role(s): Peer Leader, Area Leader, Event Leader, IP Coach
Years on Cast: 22
​Years on Leadership: 19
Deborah has over two decades of experience in interactive theater, stage combat, and costuming. Her journey started at the age of twelve, with six years in the Arthurian Order of Avalon, and then  working for Red Griffon Productions at OKRF. Deb's academic journey in theater, although not culminating in a degree, laid a strong foundation for her diverse career, blending creativity with strategy. She started her own costuming business in 2009 which has since grown to a successful production company.

Nicole Huskey

Also Known As: Audrey Armstrong, Mayor of Castleton
Pronouns: She/Her
Role(s): Peer Leader
Years on Cast: 22
​Years on Leadership: 19
Our Mayoress brings a passion for child development to our team. Nicole has a degree in Education, 20 years of experience working with youth, including her work with Campfire. She brings her experience to our academy with her Reflections practice, and her training in growth mindset to make sure cast and leaders alike are always growing.

Jenn Higgs

Also Known As: Lily the Pink
Pronouns: She/Her
Role(s): Peer Leader, Mentor Coordinator
Years on Cast: 16
​Years on Leadership: 11
Jenn has been with OKRF for fifteen years and has had the pleasure to see the festival and its cast evolve over the years. Outside of festival, she graduated from  University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelors in Psychology and a focus on helping individuals within their own lives. She has a passion for building up others and finding the potential in those she meets.

Byron Huskey

Also Known As: Thomas Howard
Pronouns: He/Him
Role(s): Stage Coordinator,
Improv Coach
Years on Cast: 10+
​Years on Leadership: 11
Byron is one of our outstanding coaches on our Improv team, and brings to our cast a rich history in improvised performance and stage acting. He has coached multiple national-award winning Improv teams, has years of theatre experience, and brings a gravitas to any class or activity that he’s involved in. He would also like you to know that he makes really good tacos. 

Joel Higgs

Also Known As: John Hawkins
Pronouns: He/Him
Role(s): Novice Coordinator, IP Coach, Gauntlet Event Lead
Years on Cast: 9
​Years on Leadership: 7
 Joel is probably the most meticulous of our team! He has a background in theater, but a Master’s Degree in Microbiology. Don’t let him catch you not washing your hands. Joel has a talent for taking his experiences and adapting and improving them for all others who come after. He wants our cast to be the best it can be, and by being our dedicated Novice Coordinator, he makes that happen from the moment you step inside the gates to our festival.

Justin Bishop

Also Known As: Jasper Silverthorne
Pronouns: He/Him
Role(s): Area Leader, Dance Coordinator
Years on Cast: 11
​Years on Leadership: 7
Bishop is a whirlwind of creativity on the streets and behind the scenes. He has National Level child interaction training, a decade of experience coaching kids, including over ten years of acting experience and dance training, both historical and modern. He leads our dance team with boundless enthusiasm, and educates the cast with his coaching tips in his Kid Connect classes. 

Demi Gray

Also Known As: Clover
Pronouns: She/They
Role(s): Social Media Coordinator, Area Leader, Irish Dialect Coach
Years on Cast: 11
​Years on Leadership: 4
Demi brings her aesthetic genius to our festival. She is an award winning cosplay model and then judge from 2006-2021. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Visual Communications. She has experience working as a photographer, videographer, color technician, and is a published writer. She operates as our outreach marketing ambassador; you might see her outside of festival promoting our work at other events!​

Drew Duch

Also Known As: Walter Raleigh
Pronouns: He/Him
Role(s): Area Leader
Years on Cast: 10
​Years on Leadership: 4
Drew is the quiet calm of our leadership team. He has a Bachelor of Arts, Acting & Directing, with a minor in History, with an emphasis on 16th century studies. Like his character, he is a true Renaissance man, with skill and experience in writing, history, dance, fencing, and more. 

Brittany Bland

Also Known As: Lady Elizabeth "Bestie" Throckmorton
Pronouns: She/Her
Role(s): Area Leader, Peer Leader, Scottish Dialect Coach
Years on Cast: 6
​Years on Leadership: 4​
Brittany brings her skill, education, and natural talent in empathy to our leadership team. She is a great listener, and may be our most organized member. Her focus on inclusivity, especially the LGBTQIA2S+ community, mental health, women’s health and safety, has made continued to improve our festival so everyone feels welcome.

Clayton Wooden

Also Known As: Timbo
Pronouns: He/Him
Role(s): Area Leader, Peer Leader
Years on Cast: 6
​Years on Leadership: 3
Clayton brings nearly a decade of experience with early childhood development, youth education, professional training in group dynamics and management, as well as experience and training in event management. 

Jamie Hardison

Also Known As: Soleil
Pronouns: She/Her
Role(s): Area Leader, Peer Leader
Years on Cast: 5
​Years on Leadership: 3
Jamie recently graduated with her Bachelor's degree in Professional Media from the University of Central Oklahoma. She  manages the social media presence for various businesses in the Oklahoma area, including EquiPro Roadside, Sidecar, and the Castle of Muskogee!

Al Kerwin

Also Known As: Maddie
Pronouns: They/Them
Role(s): Area Leader, Peer Leader
Years on Cast: 5
​Years on Leadership: 2
Al is one of our tenured fae characters on cast and has helped team up with Jamie to build an interactive and  inclusive history to our characters and playground. 

Will Wood

Also Known As:  John Law
Pronouns: He/Him
Role(s): Area Leader
Years on Cast: 4
​Years on Leadership: 2
Will brings his experiences working at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival to his repertoire and helps our cast with staging and projection to help everyone learn to be bigger than life! 

Krystal Head

Also Known As: Amaleta
Pronouns: She/Her
Role(s): Area Leader
Years on Cast: 4
​Years on Leadership: 2