Hanlon-Lees Action Theater

American entertainment company Hanlon-Lees Action Theater is an American entertainment company credited with the development of theatrical jousting. The company was formed in 1979 by partners Kent Shelton, Robin Wood, Richard "Dikki" Ellis, R. Vincent Park, Taso N. Stavrakis, and Stephen "Omms" Ommerle. Inspired by the 19th century Hanlon-Lees—a troupe of pre-Vaudevillian acrobatic performers—the young partners conducted thorough research into the background of their Victorian counterparts and recreated many of their stunts and patented theatrical apparatus (for example, a device capable of simulating an onstage decapitation) for modern usage. Vince Park managed to locate the final surviving descendant of the original Hanlons and received her blessing to continue using the moniker "Hanlon-Lees"; Omms is generally credited with the invention of the addendum "Action Theater." Early Off-Broadway theatrical performances by the new Hanlon-Lees included an original Three Musketeers show entitled The Queen's Diamonds (featuring another friend from North Carolina, Terrence Mann who would shortly afterwards be prominently cast in Cats) and a comedic free-for-all, Etched In Stone. The gr