WEST CAPE MAY--Cape May is preparing to host its first ever Renaissance Festival and the planning has been intense. Auditions were held today for the event, which hopes to mix in professional actors with local talent.

"Let this fair queen not be unattended," To be, "the thirst thou from the sun doth rise, doth ask a drink divine," or not to be, was the question for those auditioning young actors for the first ever Cape May Renaissance Festival.

"The people you saw today are young people that are gonna be part of the courtiers, the court, and doing some improv with the crowds," explained Barbara Beitel, the executive director of Access to Art, "this is our first audition with them."

Today the group of young actors showed off their skills to see if they have what it takes to make the cut. "This is a little bit different as far as theater goes," said Patrick Mulvaney, who was running the audition.

"It's tricky," said Beitel, "because you have to be able to engage people, you can't be afraid and you have to be snappy in your responses, plus you have to keep in character, keep the language, keep the accent."

It's a challenge few of the actors have faced, but are looking forward to. "I've done dinner theater, professional equity theater, various school plays and things like that," said Monty LoSasso, who was auditioning today, "but never anything of this nature, so it's kinda cool."

The fair will be held in a field among 40 acres of vineyard, which will be transformed into a makeshift Elizabethan village, that everyone is excited to see come to life. "I can just see people walking through the vineyards," said Hamilton Wilde, "I can see all the tents set up."

It's a vision they've been working on for more than a year, but one they're certain will be worth it. "We are working hard at this and you know, it's fun already," said Mulvaney.

The festival will be held October 2-3. For more information, click here.