Meet The Pirate Crews
The Holland Days Crew is one of the sauciest crews around. The Crew was founded at the First Annual Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival. Its ranks have grown since the first Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival, and continue to grow. The Crew has done theater promotions for Pirates of the Caribbean II and III as well as John Levique Pirate Festival, Gulfport events and medieval/renaissance festivals.
Boatswain Maggie Lashley
Played by Elizabeth Bollinger
Maggie grew up in the south of England, where her family had a long tradition of serving in the British Navy. She enlisted in the Navy and served in disguise, carefully hiding her identity as a woman. When her ship was captured by pirates, she elected to join their ranks. She learned the pirate trade and eventually ended up aboard the Holland Days. It was aboard this ship that Maggie found her calling. Maggie’s skill kept her as the Boatswain of the ship, and her feisty nature keeps her healthy.
Navigator Anu-Leena
Played by Sanna Kenarva-Kenefick
AnuLeena is from Salo, Finland, which is along the King's Road (a major European trade route dating from the 14th century - a link between the east and the west). Her father was a fisherman, and her mother a traditional woman-at-home, who taught her the usual womanly arts of cooking, weaving, sewing, etc. She was raised to be a "good Finnish girl", but wanted adventure. When widespread famine occurred, paired with political unrest, she decided to take her chance on the sea. She makes her living, and her way around the world, as a Wind Witch, for which the Finns are famed.
Ship’s Surgeon Willum Griffin
Played by Scott Hester
Born in the north of the Colony of New York, Willum (or “Doc” as his friends call him) learned herbal remedies from his mother (Half Native American, Half Dutch) and medicine from his English father. He eventually took over his father’s practice and became his settlement’s physician. He traveled the world, eventually ending up in Virginia where he met Gracie Fitzhoward. Their long courtship brought them to the Holland Days. They were married the day that Gracie became Captain of the ship, and Willum became Ship’s Surgeon.
Ships's Cook Munchy
Played by Michael A. Williams
Munchy was abducted from his Maori family by a pirate crew who intended to sell him. They did not realize that he was a cannibal, and that led to their untimely demises. He intended to kill and eat the Holland Days crew, but was stopped by his brother. Once the family was reunited, Munchy swore an oath of service to the crew that cared for his brother and aided him in the search.
Ship's Seamstress Availia O'Dell
Played by Brenda Dorsey
Availia, a bonny lass from the Emerald Isles, wanted a better life for herself and sought it. She escaped a badly arranged marriage and eventually made her home on the Holland Days. Her skill with a needle and thread has made her an invaluable member of the crew.
Master Gunner Grog
Played by James Jones
Grog was among the first members of the crew, rising from Powder Monkey to Master Gunner. He has been known to go wild during battle, and he is often considered the first line of defense on the ship. His care and knowledge of weapons has kept the ship and its crew safe, and his ability to “sniff out” a wealthy ship has made its crew rich.
Gunner's Mate Mattias
Played by Matt Hensley
Mattias' past is shrouded in mystery...
Ship's Carpenter John Doe
Played by James Knutson
After leaving the Carolinas following a sad love affair, John found his ship boarded by pirates. After hearing of his carpentry skill, the pirates offered him a place among the crew. He was picked up by the Holland Days after his ship was destroyed in a hurricane off the Florida Coast.
Gambler “Lucky” Bucky Wiggins
Played by James Knutson
Although he has no official position on the crew, Lucky Bucky is a valued person on board the ship. His friendly manner and talent for music is topped only by the “arrangement” with the crew. The crew receives a percentage of his winnings at port in exchange for his passage around the Seven Seas.
Cabin Boy Wala-Kani
Played by Elliott Vickory
Wala-Kani was found near the islands of the Maori peoples. Having been taught English by missionaries, he told the crew of his search for his lost brother. The crew took him on board and began to teach him sailing. He assists the crew in various capacities as he continues his search.
Captain Gracie Fitzhoward
Played by Anne Hester
Raised in Virginia Colony, Gracie had a privileged life. She fell in love with a doctor traveling in the Tidewater, but her father forbade her to see the doctor. After hearing that her marriage had been arranged, she ran away and headed toward Port Royal, Jamaica. There, she was reunited with her doctor and they began her courtship. She earned a place aboard Holland Days as the Quartermaster and was eventually elected Captain. She married her doctor (Willum Griffin) and they bought the boat from her former captain that day. She and “Doc” have made the Holland Days a family affair, installing her new family into positions of authority on board.
