Autumn Tree Productions, LLC provides the highest quality historical education and entertainment for schools, history events, private and public functions. We strive to maintain and enhance our reputation as the best resource to bring history from the dusty page to full color life.

ATP represents performing groups such as The Great Unwashed and ATACC and would be happy to send them to your next event. ATP also produces entertainment specifically suited to your needs, and will provide trained actors and educators or would be happy to provide training to your community. An ATP Production can include producing scripts, directing shows, training actors in interaction, dialect, stage fighting, historical singing and dancing to bring all areas of history to life! We have performed all over the North East and into Canada and in venues ranging from schools and libraries to weddings and corporate events. We also provide entertainment to Renaissance Faires all over New England.

The Sherrif Bracken Show

Autumn Tree Productions was started by Stephen Pasker in 1997 in order to bring professional training in historical entertainment to the New England Renaissance Faire Circuit. Pasker has been involved in renaissance faires since 1988.

After moving to Massachusetts from Pennsylvania, Pasker became involved in fund raising activities at Hammond Castle in Gloucester, including the direction of their annual Renaissance Faire. It was here that he was approached about directing the newly forming Maine Renaissance Faire. During the fall of 1997, he was working at King Richard's Faire and was encouraged to begin teaching western combat classes. These events provided the impetus to form Autumn Tree Productions.

The Great Unwashed

For the Maine Renaissance Faire ATP developed a plot, shows and a local cast of talented actors to provide entertainment to faire visitors starting in 1998. Out of this came The Great Unwashed, a troupe of mud beggars who, since then, have performed in the streets and in the mud at many other New England faires. Also out of this came the despicable, yet lovable Sheriff Bracken and his Trial and Dunke Show.

Through his combat classes, Stephen Pasker met some very talented folk who would be instrumental in the growth of Autumn Tree Productions. Foremost was Scott Rodlin, who shares his interest in Medieval Western Martial Arts, and along with Clint Heilman formed The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (or GBU) is a fight troop of extraordinary sword fighters who combined comedy and education to create the first act in ATP and have become New England's favorite independent Act. At this time he also met Ken Elwell with whom he formed the highly respected Village Tailor and Smith, makers of fine weapons, armor, and costumes. These folk were joined by many more in Pasker's combat classes, which eventually became the Autumn Tree Armored Combat Company, ATACC for short. Now ATACC presents medieval and renaissance combat wearing full suits of Armor and using real steel blades at shows all over New England. ATACC often now performs besides the Paragon Joust Company, owned and operated by Scott Rodlin, and the two groups continue to work closely together.

ATACC

While directing the cast at the Maine Renaissance Faire, Pasker came to the attention of the Vermont Renaissance Festival. GBU had performed at the Vermont Festival and in 2001 Pasker was hired as associate Director and to choreograph, teach and direct all stage fighting at the faire. Pasker still fills this role at VTRF. The Great Unwashed, headed up by Mayer Lipman, joined GBU at VTRF and brought their mud and mayhem to the Green Mountain state. The Autumn Tree Armoured Combat Company was brought in to provide the climactic end of day performance the faire desired. In 2004 Paragon Jousting joined ATACC, in this show.

The Good, Bad, and The Ugly

One year after leaving the Maine Faire and starting at Vermont, Autumn Tree Productions was approached by the owners of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire about creating a fight troupe for the faire's 2002 season. Instead, ATP proposed creating a local cast to be trained and directed by ATP. The owners gladly accepted the proposal. GBU had been performing at CTRF since its first year in 1999 and CTRF respected the hard work, authenticity and professionalism the trio (Now featuring Pasker, Rodlin and Seth Holmes) exhibited as GBU and had heard many good things about ATP's work at Maine and VT. A team was assembled under Pasker and Rodlin from all over New England: Jodi Clark, Meadow Osmun, and Alena Shumway, from the VT Festival; Ron Beaudoin, Misty Kuprevich, and Walter Sobczak from Maine Faire; and many other talented New England residents to put on a tremendous show at CTRF in 2002. Pulling from the various skills of all the assembled talent under the banner of Autumn Tree Productions, ATP has put on a magnificent show at CTRF ever since and looks forward to doing so for many more years.

In 2004, Autumn Tree Productions incorporated to become Autumn Tree Productions, LLC. ATP, LLC looks forward to bringing many new opportunities for the Renaissance Faire Community, and also for New England. In 2005 ATP, LLC we introduced a new educational aspect: Past Perfect Presentations, bringing new totally interactive shows to our local schools and communities to encourage students to get as excited about history as we are! In 2007 be sure to keep a look out for cowboys, saloon gals, prairie pioneers and more.

Stephen Pasker - Executive Director

Stephen is the owner and founder of Autumn Tree Productions, LLC, and has been involved in theatrical education for over 2 decades. His initial interest began as a member of the Boy Scouts of America (he is an Eagle Scout) and has grown ever since. He has a degree in Education from Young Harris College in Georgia, but feels that his classroom education is a minor portion of his learning. His early understanding of the Western Martial Arts was received at the hands of Robb Earhart of Roundtable Productions, and he has continued to expand upon that knowledge through practice, research, and training at the hands of such noteworthy instructors as Bob Charon and Christian Tobler. Since founding ATP, LLC, he has found himself filling every role possible, from that of beggar to Sir Walter Raleigh, and everything in between. His knowledge of stage work and interaction began while working at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire and continues to grow, making him comfortable on either side of the boards, as well as the director's chair. In addition to being the Executive Director and CEO of Autumn Tree Productions, LLC, he plays Gustav of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, serves as Associate Director and Fight Choreographer of the Vermont Renaissance Festival, directs and writes for the Connecticut Renaissance Faire and aids in the direction and writing of ATP, LLC's other independent acts. Stephen is a costumer of no minor ability and a blacksmith, skills that often come in handy when running a historical entertainment company. Recently he has been seen hoisting firearms, from musket to revolver, as ATP, LLC expands its already vast repertoire of historical entertainment.

Alena Shumway - Production Manager

Alena is an Environmental Historian and a Stage Manager. She has a BA from Smith College in Public History and has worked at several history museums as a researcher, educator, & horticulturist. She has worked as an Actor, Stage Manager, Technical Director, Props Master, Squire, costumer, and educator at Renaissance faires since 2002, mainly at the VTRF, CTRF, FlaRF, and other small New England Faires. Her most recent projects include working as ATP's Production Manager and Marketing Manager, as CTRF's Education Coordinator, and starting Past Perfect Presentations a program to bring history to life in classrooms and other venues around New England.

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