Our Cast of Fools!

Originally a shy and quiet girl, Amanda discovered her passion for acting in 10th grade by taking part in Thespian Club, acting classes, plays and musicals. At the age of 17, she joined the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), and learned about commedia dell'arte from i Genesii, a troupe in Pittsburgh, PA. Amanda moved to college and started a Renaissance Appreciation Guild to teach members about many arts, including commedia dell'arte. The guild wrote, directed and performed four successful scenarios. Post-graduation some actors wrote an original scenario called, "Misguided Hastiludes," and performed this show at a variety of renaissance festivals, zoo festivals, SCA events, and professional dinner theater shows across Pennsylvania.

Before relocating to Maryland, Amanda collaborated with i Verdi Confusi to perform at a variety of events. Upon moving to Maryland, she became a member of "Gli Zelanti," for two years. When "Gli Zelanti" disbanded, Amanda established a new troupe. The members voted to become, "Vagando Stolti - The Wandering Fools."

Since the name change, the troupe has successfully performed at various SCA events and festivals including Spoutwood Fairie Festival, Wicked Faire, Virginia Faery Festival, Maryland Faire Festival, Artscape Festival and Balticon. Amanda enjoys performing a variety of female characters including Columbina, Pasquella (the Witch), Columbina as a the courtesan or servetta, or an enthusiastic and peppy Isabella. She recently started experimenting with masked zanni characters in the skit, "Dottore's Sausages." Amanda frequently teaches a variety of commedia classes at SCA events and Pennsic and Atlantian University. Amanda also uses her improvisational skills as an actress in the escape rooms and haunted house at Laurel's House of Horror and some Ovation Dinner Theater shows. In Vagando Stolti, Amanda is thankful she is able to bring laughter, surprise, and comedy into the lives of every audience among a talented ensemble of fools!

Laura discovered her love for the stage at a young age as she started dancing at age 3. She fell in love with performing for others as she became a competitive dancer from the ages of 5 – 18. When she went to college she started missing the stage but didn’t want to return to dance. She started working as a stage hand and eventually performed in the musical “In the Beginning” at a local theater. In 2014, Laura experimented with commedia dell' arte with Vagando Stolti, at an SCA Iron Commedia perfomance titled, “War and Pie”! She recently reconnected with the group and her quirkiness and passion for life helps to bring joy to the troupe and adds humor to the performances.

Laura enjoys playing Columbina and has performed this role several time even conducting commedia classes as Columbina. Laura also enjoys crafting, set design, and costuming, which comes in handy for many of our performances. She completed sets, coordinated, designed and made costumes, and other amazing creations for our Balticon performance “Fools LOST in Space.”

When not performing, Laura enjoys quilting, painting, sewing, and being crafty. She also enjoys spending time outdoors, going on adventures like going to festivals, including Renaissance and SCA events. She also loves spending time with her pets Meeko and Shilo.

Jonathan is a new addition to The Wandering Fools in our 2018 season! Jonathan has played the role of Dottore, in our original production during a SCA event for Lochmere. Jonathan is mundanely a librarian, and has a MA in History, and is the father of two adorable girls. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys gaming, cuddling with Amanda, watching horror movies, and reading a variety of books.

Andrew Harasty is a skilled actor and has been instigating shenanigans with The Wandering Fools since 2016. Andrew often performs with Commedia All-Stars at Pennsic War, and also performs with a Kinky Shakespeare theater group in Washington, DC. Andrew teaches a marvelous acting class called, "Failing with Style," and he always brings his creativity and energy to every performance.

Emily Weed Baisch (Em) has been involved in the improv and theater scene since 1985, conventions in the mid-Atlantic since 1994 and the SCA since 1998 (known in the SCA as Emma Barfoot). She has been a member of Vagando Stolti since 2016. Other hobbies include costuming, calligraphy and embarrassing her two daughters.

Miriya Biasch, younger daughter of Emily, has been in improv, theater, conventions, and the SCA since her birth in 2008 (known in the SCA as Clara Barfoot). Normalcy has never been an option!

Lola Miyashiro, eldest daughter of Jonathan, has acted in many school performances. She recently debuted as Midnight, the robotic kitten in "Fools Lost in Space!" Lola is a spirited young actress and she is already looking forward to future Vagando Stolti performances!

Jessica Marie

Actress, and "Fool with Long Sleeves"