title: Trinity League

abstract: The Trinity League is a high school athletic conference in Southern California, part of the CIF Southern Section. The League is regarded as one of the most competitive high school leagues in the United States. Most famous for football, the Trinity League is extremely competitive in its other sports as well. Baseball, tennis, and water polo players are top recruits and are some of the most talented Division 1 players in the nation. This makes the Trinity League the toughest league in high school sports. For the fall 2023 season, High School Football America rated it the toughest league in the nation, with the top two nationally ranked teams and five out of the six ranked the top 300. In 2021, three of the six programs had been ranked in the top 10 in the country, with five in the top 200.

text:
# Trinity League

The **Trinity League** is a high school athletic conference in Southern California, part of the CIF Southern Section. The League is regarded as one of the most competitive high school leagues in the United States. Most famous for football, the Trinity League is extremely competitive in its other sports as well. Baseball, tennis, and water polo players are top recruits and are some of the most talented Division 1 players in the nation. This makes the Trinity League the toughest league in high school sports. For the fall 2023 season, High School Football America rated it the toughest league in the nation, with the top two nationally ranked teams and five out of the six ranked the top 300. In 2021, three of the six programs had been ranked in the top 10 in the country, with five in the top 200.

## Members

The league currently includes seven high schools, six in Orange County and one in Los Angeles County. Orange Lutheran, which joined in 2006, is the first member which is not a Catholic school.

| School | City | Founded | Enrollment | Nickname |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| JSerra Catholic High School | San Juan Capistrano, California | 2003 | 1,150 | Lions |
| Mater Dei High School | Santa Ana, California | 1950 | 2,100 | Monarchs |
| Orange Lutheran High School | Orange, California | 1973 | 1,322 | Lancers |
| Rosary Academy | Fullerton, CA | 1965 | 461 | Royals |
| Santa Margarita High School | Rancho Santa Margarita, California | 1987 | 1,700 | Eagles |
| Servite High School | Anaheim, California | 1958 | 920 | Friars |
| St. John Bosco High School | Bellflower, California | 1940 | 820 | Braves |

## History

### Angelus League

The Trinity League is the latest iteration of what was originally known as the Angelus League, founded in 1961 to match Catholic high schools—the Angelus is a Catholic devotion. The founding members were Servite (Anaheim), Mater Dei (Santa Ana), St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs), Cantwell (Montebello), and Salesian (Los Angeles). Cantwell and Salesian soon dropped out of the league, due to its competitiveness, and were replaced by St. John Bosco (Bellflower) and Verbum Dei (Los Angeles).

From the outset, the league was marked by intense football rivalries, notably between Mater Dei, Servite, and St. Paul. Some games drew crowds in excess of 10,000 people, and violence was not uncommon. The intensity increased even further in 1967, when St. John Bosco and Verbum Dei dropped out and were replaced by Bishop Amat (La Puente) and Pius X (Downey). Along with St. Anthony (Long Beach), the iconic members of the Angelus League were now set.

Things shifted again in the late 1970s. St. Anthony dropped in 1977 and was replaced by Bishop Montgomery (Torrance). Pius X dropped in 1980, then Bishop Montgomery in 1981. In 1982, Pius X returned and a new member, Serra (Gardena) joined. Serra dropped in 1984 and was replaced by Bishop Montgomery again. In 1986 Pius X was gone and replaced by St. Bernard, which only lasted two years, dropping in 1988.

The 1980s saw the league produce future NFLers like Ed Luther (St. Paul), John Sciarra (Bishop Amat), Paul McDonald (Bishop Amat), Turk Schonert (Servite), Derek Brown (Servite), and Steve Beuerlein, who led Servite to the first of five consecutive CIF championships. Todd Marinovich also played for Mater Dei for two years, before transferring to Capistrano Valley. Major boys' basketball rivalries also emerged in the 1980s, with Mater Dei becoming a powerhouse and Bishop Montgomery capturing multiple California State Championships. Girls' sports were introduced, replacing the former Sunrise League, with St. Joseph's (Lakewood) and Rosary (Fullerton) joining the league.

### Breakup

In 1989 Bishop Montgomery and founding member St. Paul dropped and were replaced by Loyola High School and St. John Bosco. Santa Margarita, which had opened its doors in 1987, joined the in 1990, but this would mark the beginning of the end for the Angelus League.

As the only member in South Orange County, Santa Margarita faced longer distances to travel for away games than any other school, and their principal sought to get them admitted to a more local public school league. The public high schools strongly opposed the move, observing that their recruitment was limited to their school district, whereas the private schools had no geographic restrictions on recruitment. Nevertheless, the push to "regionalize" Catholic school sports won out, and the Angelus League was disbanded at the end of the 1991–92 school year. Angelus League teams had won 30 Southern Section championships in its 31 years, including 11 in football.

Starting fall 1992, Bishop Amat, St. John Bosco, and Loyola entered the Del Rey League, joining other Catholic schools in Los Angeles County. The others members were dispersed among public school leagues in Orange County: Santa Margarita to the Sea View League, Servite and Rosary the Sunset League before moving to the Golden West League, and Mater Dei the South Coast League.

### Serra League

In 1999, the league was re-formed as a football-only league called the Serra League (named for Catholic missionary Junípero Serra), with Servite, Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, and Santa Margarita at its core. In 2001, the Southern Section council approved Bishop Amat and Loyola to join the league, in essence reconstituting the old Angelus League.

This lasted until 2006, when Loyola and Bishop Amat were moved to the Mission League and were replaced by Orange Lutheran and JSerra. The post-realignment conference was renamed the Trinity League.

### Reconfiguration

In 2008, Rosary Academy became the only all-girls school in the conference. St. Margaret's Episcopal School joined the league as a lacrosse affiliate in 2005, winning the Trinity League title from 2007-2013 before its departure in 2015.

In May 2023, high school athletic directors in Orange County and neighboring areas approved a controversial realignment for 2024–25 that would create football-only leagues, based on each school's recent performance as rated by the website CalPreps.com. The Trinity League was exempted from the system in the final proposal submitted to CIF-SS. As part of the realignment, however, Rosary Academy was set to leave the Trinity League to join the new Pacific Coast Conference, leaving the Trinity League at 4 schools for girls.

## Champions

Each current member has won at least one CIF-SS championship, Mater Dei (8), Servite (4), and St. John Bosco (2) having won more than one. Each school has also won at least one State championship, Mater Dei (2) and St. John Bosco (2) having won more than one.

### Football

The Trinity League is one of the most competitive high school football leagues in the country. St. John Bosco was declared winner of the 2022 and 2019 High School Football America National Championship, and Mater Dei were national champions in 1994, 1996, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. From 2016 to 2021, these two schools alone sent 130 players to NCAA Division I football programs, and their rivalry and recruiting efforts have been compared to the D1 level.

The league was named the toughest in the nation by MaxPreps in 2019, and the second toughest in 2013 and 2010. MaxPreps also named Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, and Servite as the teams with the second, third, and fifth toughest schedules in the nation for the 2022 season.

| Year | Team | Record |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2023 | Mater Dei | 5-0-0 |
| 2022 | St. John Bosco | 4-1-0 |
| 2021 | Mater Dei | 5-0-0 |
| 2020 | Mater Dei | 5-0-0 |
| 2019 | St. John Bosco | 5–0–0 |
| 2018 | Mater Dei | 5–0–0 |
| 2017 | Mater Dei | 5–0–0 |
| 2016 | Mater Dei | 5–0–0 |
| 2015 | St. John Bosco | 5–0–0 |
| 2014 | St. John Bosco | 5–0–0 |
| 2013 | St. John Bosco | 5–0–0 |
| 2012 | St. John Bosco | 5–0–0 |
| 2011 | Servite | 5–0–0 |
| 2010 | Servite | 5–0–0 |
| 2009 | Servite | 5–0–0 |
| 2008 | Servite/Mater Dei | 4–1–0 |
| 2007 | Servite | 4–1–0 |
| 2006 | Orange Lutheran | 4–1–0 |

## Notable athletic alumni

### JSerra

### Mater Dei

### Servite

### St. John Bosco

### Santa Margarita Catholic

### Orange Lutheran


title: University of Michigan Health - West

abstract: University of Michigan Health - West, formerly known as Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, is a nonprofit health system affiliated with the University of Michigan Health, with primary and specialty care services at 30 locations in West Michigan. The organization’s 208-bed main hospital is located in Metro Health Village in Wyoming, Michigan, and serves more than 250,000 patients annually. It is one of the only hospitals in the area that is not located in or near the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.

text:
# University of Michigan Health - West

**University of Michigan Health - West,** formerly known as Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, is a nonprofit health system affiliated with the University of Michigan Health, with primary and specialty care services at 30 locations in West Michigan.

The organization’s 208-bed main hospital is located in Metro Health Village in Wyoming, Michigan, and serves more than 250,000 patients annually. It is one of the only hospitals in the area that is not located in or near the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.

## History

### Founding

In the 1940s, Louis M. Monger, an osteopathic physician who had been working at the Detroit Osteopathic Hospital, intended to introduce osteopathic care to the residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Monger and a group of osteopathic physicians decided to set aside their personal resources to create a hospital dedicated to holistic care. It was decided to purchase the previous home of the bishop serving for the Diocese of Grand Rapids at 1225 Lake Drive in Grand Rapids, Michigan and nearly $50,000 was raised to equip the hospital. After some delays due to rationing during World War II, Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital opened in December 1942 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Andrew Taylor Still's creation of osteopathic education.

The hospital's first patient was Louisa Porcelli, wife of the hospital's Secretary-Treasurer James V. Porcelli, DO, who gave birth to their first child in the nearly finished hospital. Louisa had to be carried up the stairs and placed in the only functioning room in the hospital.

### Metropolitan Hospital

In 1957, the Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital relocated to 1919 Boston SE Grand Rapids, MI. The hospital was originally equipped with only 28 beds. By the late 1970s, the hospital had grown to include over 200 beds. After decades of growth, the hospital was renamed Metropolitan Hospital so it could represent the multiple specialties now working with patients.

By the 1990s, Metropolitan Hospital was seeking to expand. On December 2, 1996, the hospital's president and CEO Michael Faas unveiled a new organization called Metro Health, with the hospital partnered with over 130 physicians to create clinics throughout western Michigan. In May 1999, a $40 million proposal to expand, that included the purchase and destruction of 55 homes in the area, was opposed by residents in the area. By October 2000, Spectrum Health was expanding throughout the area while the hospital still lacked neighborhood support, resulting in a decision to construct a new facility elsewhere.

### Metro Health

On March 12, 2001, it was announced that the hospital was attempting to purchase 150 acres in Wyoming, MI to create a "health care village." The decision was made after years of remaining landlocked on its 17-acre property in Grand Rapids with residents denying expansion. The site was located near three major freeways; M-6, U.S. 131 and I-196, situated among the growing suburban area outside of Grand Rapids. It was chosen after studying population growth patterns and because of its size, which would allow the hospital to make multiple expansions.

In 2009, the University of Michigan Health System and the Metro Health Cancer Center initially began a partnership for cancer treatment. Over time, clinical relationships began to develop between the two entities.

### Metro Health – University of Michigan Health

On December 15, 2016, Metro Health officially announced its affiliation with the University of Michigan Health System and was renamed Metro Health – University of Michigan Health. The University of Michigan Health System has some of the most advanced resources and expertise in the United States, patients are able to receive more specialized treatment at the hospital.

In 2019, the organization announced the formation of the Cancer Network of West Michigan, a joint venture with Mercy Health Muskegon, Mercy Health St. Mary’s in Grand Rapids, and Michigan Medicine. The network is designed to give patients broader access to advanced, comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and support across healthcare institutions.

In 2021, a similar joint venture with Mercy Health was announced for cardiovascular care: The Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan. As part of this collaboration, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health gained approval to launch an open-heart surgery program at its Wyoming campus.

### University of Michigan Health-West

On June 8, 2021, the organization’s board of directors approved plans to rename as University of Michigan Health-West. The name became official on September 27, 2021. The announcement of the change indicated two purposes: To describe the organization’s role within University of Michigan Health and to emphasize its focus on West Michigan.

## Services

Metro Health Hospital consists of child-birth services, neurosciences, medical care, surgical care, intensive care, and diagnostic/imaging services units. Its specialty services include cardiac care, stroke center, joint replacement, neurosurgery, assisted breathing center, sports medicine and wound care. The health system is also the first healthcare center in West Michigan to offer minimally invasive robotic surgery using the Da Vinci Surgical System in the outpatient setting, and also has an emergency department certified as a level II trauma center.

## Accreditations

* Accredited Chest Pain Center from The Society of Chest Pain Centers
* Only hospital in Michigan to be recognized by the Department of Environmental Quality as a Clean Corporate Citizen
* Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP)
* Comprehensive Stroke Certification from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program
* College of American Pathologists (CAP)
* Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)
* Sleep Disorders Lab accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
* Level 2b Accreditation for Bariatric Surgery Program from the Bariatric Surgery Center Network Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons
* Accredited Echocardiography Laboratory from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL)
* Accredited Vascular Laboratory from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL)
* Accredited Nuclear Cardiology Laboratory from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories (ICANL)

## Awards and recognition

* 2009 Excellence Through Insight Award from Health-Stream Research
* 2009 Diabetes Champion of the Year from American Diabetes Association
* 2009 Outstanding Performance on Dysphagia Screening from the Michigan Department of Community Health
* 2009 Outstanding Patient Experience Award from HealthGrades
* Inducted into the Environmental Leadership Circle (2009, 2010, 2011)
* Top 20 in *Most Beautiful Hospitals* by Soliant Health (2010, 2011, 2013)
* 2010 Merck Excellence in Diabetes Care Award from the American Osteopathic Foundation
* 2010 ASGE Certificate of Recognition of Quality in Endoscopy from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
* 2010 West Michigan Glycemic Collaborative (WMGC) with Saint Mary's Health Care and Spectrum Health and Diabetes Care Centers from the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
* 2011 Silver Performance Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology Foundation
* 2013 Women's Choice Award including America's 100 Best Hospitals award
* 2016 Women's Choice Awards including America's 100 Best Hospitals award, the America's Best Hospitals for Emergency Care award, the America's Best Hospitals for Obstetrics award and the Best Hospitals for Orthopedics award

## InfoBox

| University of Michigan Health - West | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
|  | |
|  | |
| Geography | |
| Location | 5900 Byron Center Ave, Wyoming, Michigan, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°51′27″N 85°43′05″W / 42.857575°N 85.718036°W / 42.857575; -85.718036 |
| Organization | |
| Affiliated university | University of Michigan Health System |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | Level II trauma center |
| Beds | 208 |
| History | |
| Opened | December 1942 (December 1942) |
| Links | |
| Website | uofmhealthwest.org |
| Lists | Hospitals in Michigan |


title: Festival of Lights (Berlin)

abstract: Festival of Lights Berlin is a free annual international event that takes place in September to October in Berlin, Germany. It transforms landmarks and buildings across the city through the use of illuminations, luministic projections and 3D mapping. Structures, streets and squares, including Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin TV Tower, the Berlin Cathedral, or the Berlin Victory Column have been metamorphosed through light each year since the first Festival of Lights took place in 2005. In 2008, the Light Festival opened on 14 October with the light fountain show Flames of Water in front of Humboldt University of Berlin in Berlin. The light artists lit up and cast projections across 49 landmarks and squares across Berlin. The church towers of the Nikolaikirche in the city centre were for the first time ever illuminated all in white, commemorating the legend of the escape of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg from his castle to the Nikolai quarter in the 17th century. A light clock on the Marx-Engels Forum with a diameter of 60 meters found its way into the Guinness World Records as the largest in the world. For joggers there was a ‘light run’ on a 7.5 km-long track bordered on either side by an array of illuminated buildings. A multitude of museums, theaters, embassies and companies opened their doors on this night and invited people in for light-oriented presentations. Each Festival of Lights has its own motto. In the program highlight "World Championship of Projection Mapping", the best video artists from all over the world skilfully present their visions in 3D video mappings each year. This was also the case in 2017 under the motto "Creating Tomorrow" at the Berlin Cathedral. One of the highlights of the 13th Festival Of Lights was the special "Democracy" award, in which video artists from all over the world took part. Their works were shown at Bellevue Castle, with the award ceremony being opened by Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier. There was also the first 360° production at Bebelplatz with a 3D video mapping for the 275th anniversary of the Berlin State Opera. Also for the first time there was a 3D video mapping on the Old Town House, which was opened by Oscar winner Julianne Moore. The 13th Festival of Lights was seen by 2.3 million visitors. Festival of Lights On Tour projects have already taken place in New York, Toronto, Luxembourg, Bucharest, Zagreb, Moscow, Beijing, Zwickau and Jerusalem. The event is a registered trademark, and the creative director is Birgit Zander of Zander & Partner.

text:
# Festival of Lights (Berlin)

**Festival of Lights Berlin** is a free annual international event that takes place in September to October in Berlin, Germany. It transforms landmarks and buildings across the city through the use of illuminations, luministic projections and 3D mapping. Structures, streets and squares, including Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin TV Tower, the Berlin Cathedral, or the Berlin Victory Column have been metamorphosed through light each year since the first Festival of Lights took place in 2005.

In 2008, the Light Festival opened on 14 October with the light fountain show Flames of Water in front of Humboldt University of Berlin in Berlin. The light artists lit up and cast projections across 49 landmarks and squares across Berlin. The church towers of the Nikolaikirche in the city centre were for the first time ever illuminated all in white, commemorating the legend of the escape of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg from his castle to the Nikolai quarter in the 17th century.

A light clock on the Marx-Engels Forum with a diameter of 60 meters found its way into the Guinness World Records as the largest in the world. For joggers there was a ‘light run’ on a 7.5 km-long track bordered on either side by an array of illuminated buildings. A multitude of museums, theaters, embassies and companies opened their doors on this night and invited people in for light-oriented presentations.

Each Festival of Lights has its own motto. In the program highlight "World Championship of Projection Mapping", the best video artists from all over the world skilfully present their visions in 3D video mappings each year. This was also the case in 2017 under the motto "Creating Tomorrow" at the Berlin Cathedral. One of the highlights of the 13th Festival Of Lights was the special "Democracy" award, in which video artists from all over the world took part. Their works were shown at Bellevue Castle, with the award ceremony being opened by Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier. There was also the first 360° production at Bebelplatz with a 3D video mapping for the 275th anniversary of the Berlin State Opera. Also for the first time there was a 3D video mapping on the Old Town House, which was opened by Oscar winner Julianne Moore. The 13th Festival of Lights (in 2017) was seen by 2.3 million visitors. Festival of Lights On Tour projects have already taken place in New York, Toronto, Luxembourg, Bucharest, Zagreb, Moscow, Beijing, Zwickau and Jerusalem.

The event is a registered trademark, and the creative director is Birgit Zander of Zander & Partner.

1. "Festival of Lights". Festival of Lights.
2. "Festival of Lights". Visit Berlin.
3. "Trademark information". European Union Intellectual Property Office.
4. "Trademark Registration". United States Patent and Trademark Office.
5. "Zander und Partner". *Zander und Partner* (in German).

Media related to Festival of Lights at Wikimedia Commons


title: Mario Levi

abstract: Mario Levi was a Turkish novelist, journalist and scholar with a focus on modern Turkish literature.

text:
# Mario Levi

**Mario Levi** (25 February 1957 – 31 January 2024) was a Turkish novelist, journalist and scholar with a focus on modern Turkish literature.

## Biography

Mario Levi was born in Istanbul on 25 February 1957. He graduated from Saint Michel High School in 1975 and from Istanbul University Faculty of Literature French Language and Literature Department in 1980. His first articles were published in the newspaper "Şalom". These were followed by his other articles in the publication organs like "Cumhuriyet", "Studyo Imge", "Milliyet Sanat", "Gosteri", "Argos", "Gergedan", "Varlik".

His first published book was "Jacques Brel: A Lonely Man" (1986). This book is a novelized version of his university graduation thesis. His first book of short stories, "Not Being Able to Go to a City" was published in 1990. These autobiographical stories are an account of the writer with both his loves, his childhood and preteen years. The book won the Haldun Taner Story Prize of the year. His second book of short stories, "Madame Floridis May Not Return" published in 1991, includes people in Istanbul who are having difficulty in adapting to their own minority group and to society. In 1992, his first novel, "Our Best Love Story," was published. Then a long silence took place. His 800-page novel, "Istanbul Was a Fairy Tale", published in 1999, is the story of a Jewish family who lived in Istanbul between the 1920s and 1980s. The heroes of the other minorities in the city are also seen in this novel.

Levi, in addition to being a writer, was a French teacher, an importer, a journalist, a radio programmer and a copywriter. He was still giving lectures at Yeditepe University up until his death. He also taught creative writing.

Levi's last novel "Where Were You When Darkness Fell?" was published in January 2009.

Levi's fiction questions myths about Turkish benevolence during the Holocaust, which he compares to the Armenian genocide.

Levi died on 31 January 2024, at the age of 66.

## Reception

Historian Marc David Baer states that Levi "creates characters that are far more believable than the stereotypical tolerant Turks, grateful Jews, and anti-Semitic Armenians and Greeks long propagated by historians."

## Bibliography

* Jacques Brel: A Lonely Man (Jacques Brel: Bir Yalnız Adam), 1986, biography.
* Not Being Able to Go to a City (Bir Şehre Gidememek), 1990, stories.
* Madame Floridis May Not Return (Madam Floridis Dönmeyebilir), 1991, stories.
* Our Best Love Story (En Güzel Aşk Hikayemiz), 1992, novel.
* Istanbul Was a Fairy Tale (İstanbul Bir Masaldı), 1999, novel.
* Amusement Park Closed (Lunapark Kapandı), 2005, novel.
* It Was a Summer Rain (Bir yaz Yağmuruydu), 2005, novel.
* Where Were You When Darkness Fell (Karanlık Çökerken Neredeydiniz?), 2009, novel.

## Works in other languages

* Istanbul war ein Märchen (İstanbul bir Masaldı)

Suhrkamp Verlag 2008 – Germany – \[www.suhrkamp.de\]

* Wo wart ihr, als die Finsternis hereinbrach? (Karanlık Çökerken Neredeydiniz?)

Suhrkamp Verlag 2011 – Germany – \[www.suhrkamp.de\]

* Istanbul era una favola (İstanbul bir Masaldı)

Baldini Castoldi Dalai editore 2007 – Italy \[www.bcdeditore.it\]

* La nostra più bella storia d'amore (En Güzel Aşk Hikayemiz)

Baldini Castoldi Dalai editore 2008 – Italy \[www.bcdeditore.it\]

* Estambul era un cuento (En Güzel Aşk Hikayemiz)

Galaxia Gutenberg 2013 - Spain \[www.galaxiagutenberg.com\]

## InfoBox

| Mario Levi | |
| --- | --- |
| Levi in 2018 | |
| Born | (1957-02-25)25 February 1957
Istanbul, Turkey |
| Died | 31 January 2024(2024-01-31) (aged 66)
Istanbul, Turkey |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist, scholar |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Spouse | Ece Levi |
| Children | 3 |


title: Finite sphere packing

abstract: In mathematics, the theory of finite sphere packing concerns the question of how a finite number of equally-sized spheres can be most efficiently packed. The question of packing finitely many spheres has only been investigated in detail in recent decades, with much of the groundwork being laid by László Fejes Tóth. The similar problem for infinitely many spheres has a longer history of investigation, from which the Kepler conjecture is most well-known. Atoms in crystal structures can be simplistically viewed as closely-packed spheres and treated as infinite sphere packings thanks to their large number. Sphere packing problems are distinguished between packings in given containers and free packings. This article primarily discusses free packings.

text:
# Finite sphere packing

In mathematics, the theory of **finite sphere packing** concerns the question of how a finite number of equally-sized spheres can be most efficiently packed. The question of packing finitely many spheres has only been investigated in detail in recent decades, with much of the groundwork being laid by László Fejes Tóth.

The similar problem for infinitely many spheres has a longer history of investigation, from which the Kepler conjecture is most well-known. Atoms in crystal structures can be simplistically viewed as closely-packed spheres and treated as infinite sphere packings thanks to their large number.

Sphere packing problems are distinguished between packings in given containers and free packings. This article primarily discusses free packings.

## Packing and convex hulls

In general, a *packing* refers to any arrangement of a set of spatially-connected, possibly differently-sized or differently-shaped objects in space such that none of them overlap. In the case of the finite sphere packing problem, these objects are restricted to equally-sized spheres. Such a packing of spheres determines a specific volume known as the convex hull of the packing, defined as the smallest convex set that includes all the spheres.

## Packing shapes

There are many possible ways to arrange spheres, which can be classified into three basic groups: sausage, pizza, and cluster packing.

### Sausage packing

An arrangement in which the midpoint of all the spheres lie on a single straight line is called a *sausage packing*, as the convex hull has a sausage-like shape. An approximate example in real life is the packing of tennis balls in a tube, though the ends must be rounded for the tube to coincide with the actual convex hull.

### Pizza packing

If all the midpoints lie on a plane, the packing is a *pizza packing*. Approximate real-life examples of this kind of packing include billiard balls being packed in a triangle as they are set up. This holds for packings in three-dimensional Euclidean space.

### Cluster packing

If the midpoints of the spheres are arranged throughout 3D space, the packing is termed a *cluster packing*. Real-life approximations include fruit being packed in multiple layers in a box.

### Relationships between types of packing

By the given definitions, any sausage packing is technically also a pizza packing, and any pizza packing is technically also a cluster packing. In the more general case of $d$ dimensions, "sausages" refer to one-dimensional arrangements, "clusters" to *$d$*-dimensional arrangements, and "pizzas" to those with an in-between number of dimensions.

One or two spheres always make a sausage. With three, a pizza packing (that is not also a sausage) becomes possible, and with four or more, clusters (that are not also pizzas) become possible.

## Optimal packing

The empty space between spheres varies depending on the type of packing. The amount of empty space is measured in the packing density, which is defined as the ratio of the volume of the spheres to the volume of the total convex hull. The higher the packing density, the less empty space there is in the packing and thus the smaller the volume of the hull (in comparison to other packings with the same number and size of spheres).

To pack the spheres efficiently, it might be asked which packing has the highest possible density. It is easy to see that such a packing should have the property that the spheres lie next to each other, that is, each sphere should touch another on the surface. A more exact phrasing is to form a graph which assigns a vertex for each sphere and connects vertices with edges whenever the corresponding spheres if their surfaces touch. Then the highest-density packing must satisfy the property that the corresponding graph is connected.

## Sausage catastrophe

With three or four spheres, the sausage packing is optimal. It is believed that this holds true for any $n$ up to $55$ along with $n=57,58,63,64$. For $n=56,59,60,61,62$ and $n\geq 65$, a cluster packing exists that is more efficient that the sausage packing, as shown in 1992 by Jörg Wills and Pier Mario Gandini. It remains unknown what these most efficient cluster packings look like. For example, in the case $n=56$, it is known that the optimal packing is not a tetrahedral packing like the classical packing of cannon balls, but is likely some kind of octahedral shape.

The sudden transition in optimal packing shape is jokingly known by some mathematicians as the *sausage catastrophe* (Wills, 1985). The designation *catastrophe* comes from the fact that the optimal packing shape suddenly shifts from the orderly sausage packing to the relatively unordered cluster packing and vice versa as one goes from one number to another, without a satisfying explanation as to why this happens. Even so, the transition in three dimensions is relatively tame; in $d=4$ dimensions the sudden transition is conjectured to happen around 377000 spheres.

For dimensions $d\leq 10$, the optimal packing is always either a sausage or a cluster, and never a pizza. It is an open problem whether this holds true for all dimensions. This result only concerns spheres and not other convex bodies; in fact Gritzmann and Arhelger observed that for any dimension $d\geq 3$ there exists a convex shape for which the closest packing is a pizza.

### Example of the sausage packing being non-optimal

In the following section it is shown that for 455 spheres the sausage packing is non-optimal, and that there instead exists a special cluster packing that occupies a smaller volume.

The volume of a convex hull of a sausage packing with $n$ spheres of radius $r$ is calculable with elementary geometry. The middle part of the hull is a cylinder with length $h=2r\cdot (n-1)$ while the caps at the end are half-spheres with radius $r$. The total volume $V\_{W}$ is therefore given by.

$$\begin{aligned}V\_{W}&=V\_{\text{cylinder}+2\cdot V\_{\text{half-sphere}\\\&=V\_{\text{cylinder}+V\_{\text{sphere}\\\&=\pi hr^{2}+{\frac {4}{3}\pi r^{3}\\\&=\pi 2r\cdot (n-1)\cdot r^{2}+{\frac {4}{3}\pi r^{3}\\\&=2\cdot \left(n-{\frac {1}{3}\right)\pi r^{3}\end{aligned}}}}}}}}$$

Similarly, it is possible to find the volume of the convex hull of a tetrahedral packing, in which the spheres are arranged so that they form a tetrahedral shape, which only leads to completely filled tetrahedra for specific numbers of spheres. If there are $x$ spheres along one edge of the tetrahedron, the total number of spheres $n$ is given by

$n=\sum \_{i=1}^{x}\sum \_{j=1}^{i}j=\sum \_{i=1}^{x}{\frac {i\cdot (i+1)}{2}={\frac {x\cdot (x+1)\cdot (x+2)}{6}}}$.

Now the inradius $r$ of a tetrahedral with side length $a$ is

$r={\frac {\sqrt {6}{12}\cdot a}}$.

From this we have

$a=2{\sqrt {6}\cdot r}$.

The volume $V\_{T}$ of the tetrahedron is then given by the formula

$$V\_{T}={\frac {\sqrt {2}{12}\cdot a^{3}={\sqrt {192}\cdot r^{3}}}}$$

In the case of many spheres being arranged inside a tetrahedron, the length of an edge $a$ increases by twice the radius of a sphere for each new layer, meaning that for $x$ layers the side length becomes

$a=2\cdot \left(x-1+{\sqrt {6}\right)\cdot r}$.

Substituting this value into the volume formula for the tetrahedron, we know that the volume $V$ of the convex hull must be smaller than the tetrahedron itself, so that

$V\<{\frac {2\cdot \left(x-1+{\sqrt {6}\right)^{3}\cdot {\sqrt {2}\cdot r^{3}{3}}}}}$.

Taking the number of spheres in a tetrahedron of $n$ layers and substituting into the earlier expression to get the volume $V\_{\text{W}}$ of the convex hull of a sausage packing with the same number of spheres, we have

$V\_{\text{W}={\frac {x\cdot (x+1)\cdot (x+2)-2}{3}\cdot \pi r^{3}}}$.

For $x=13$, which translates to $n=455$ spheres the coefficient in front of $r^{3}$ is about 2845 for the tetrahedral packing and 2856 for the sausage packing, which implies that for this number of spheres the tetrahedron is more closely packed.

It is also possible with some more effort to derive the exact formula for the volume of the tetrahedral convex hull $V$, which would involve subtracting the excess volume at the corners and edges of the tetrahedron. This allows the sausage packing to be proved non-optimal for smaller values of $x$ and therefore $n$.

### Sausage conjecture

The term *sausage* comes from the mathematician László Fejes Tóth, who posited the **sausage conjecture** in 1975, which concerns a generalized version of the problem to spheres, convex hulls, and volume in higher dimensions. A generalized sphere in $d$ dimensions is a $d$-dimensional body in which every boundary point lies equally far away from the midpoint. Fejes Tóth's sausage conjecture then states that from $d=5$ upwards it is always optimal to arrange the spheres along a straight line. That is, the sausage catastrophe no longer occurs once we go above 4 dimensions. The overall conjecture remains open. The best results so far are those of Ulrich Betke und Martin Henk, who proved the conjecture for dimensions 42 and above.

While it may be proved that the sausage packing is not optimal for 56 spheres, and that there must be some other packing that is optimal, it is not known what the optimal packing looks like. It is difficult to find the optimal packing as there is no "simple" formula for the volume of an arbitrarily shaped cluster. Optimality (and non-optimality) is shown through appropriate estimates of the volume, using methods from convex geometry, such as the Brunn-Minkowski inequality, mixed Minkowski volumes and Steiner's formula. A crucial step towards a unified theory of both finite and infinite (lattice and non-lattice) sphere packings was the introduction of parametric densities by Jörg Wills in 1992. The parametric density takes into account the influence of the edges of the packing.

The definition of density used earlier concerns the volume of the convex hull of the spheres (or convex bodies) $K$:

$$\delta (K,C\_{n})={\frac {nV(K)}{V(C\_{n}+K)}}$$

where $C\_{n}$ is the convex hull of the $n$ midpoints $c\_{i}$ of the spheres $K\_{i}$ (instead of the sphere, we can also take an arbitrary convex body for $K$). For a linear arrangement (sausage), the convex hull is a line segment through all the midpoints of the spheres. The plus sign in the formula refers to Minkowski addition of sets, so that $V(C\_{n}+K)$ refers to the volume of the convex hull of the spheres.

This definition works in two dimensions, where Laszlo Fejes-Toth, Claude Rogers and others used it to formulate a unified theory of finite and infinite packings. In three dimensions, Wills gives a simple argument that such a unified theory is not possible based on this definition: The densest finite arrangement of coins in three dimensions is the sausage with $\delta =1$. However, the optimal infinite arrangement is a hexagonal arrangement with $\delta \approx 0.9$, so the infinite value cannot be obtained as a limit of finite values. To solve this issue, Wills introduces a modification to the definition by adding a positive parameter $\rho $:

$$\delta (K,C\_{n})={\frac {nV(K)}{V(C\_{n}+\rho K)}}$$

$\rho $ allows the influence of the edges to be considered (giving the convex hull a certain thickness). This is then combined with methods from the theory of mixed volumes and geometry of numbers by Hermann Minkowski.

For each dimension $d\geq 2$ there are parameter values $\rho \_{s}(d)$ and $\rho \_{c}(d)$ such that for $\rho \leq \rho \_{s}(d)$ the sausage is the densenst packing (for all integers $n$), while for $\rho \geq \rho \_{c}(d)$ and suffiricently large $n$ the cluster is densest. These parameters are dimension-specific. In two dimensions, $\rho \_{c}(2)=\rho \_{s}(2)={\frac {\sqrt {3}{2}}}$ so that there is a transition from sausages to clusters (sausage catastrophe).

There holds an inequality:

$$\frac {V(B^{d})}{2V(B^{d-1})}{\rho \_{c}(d)}^{1-d}\leq \delta (B^{d})\leq {\frac {V(B^{d})}{2V(B^{d-1})}{\rho \_{s}(d)}^{1-d}}$$

where the volume of the unit ball $B^{d}$ in $d$ dimensions is $V(B^{d})$. For $d=2$, we have $\rho \_{s}(d)=\rho \_{c}(d)$ and it is predicted that this holds for all dimensions, in which case the value of $\rho \_{c}(d)$ can be found from that of $\delta (B^{d})$.

1. Wills, J. M. (1998). "Spheres and Sausages, crystals and catastrophes- and a joint packing theory". *The Mathematical Intelligencer*. **20** (1): 16–21. doi:10.1007/bf03024394. ISSN 0343-6993. S2CID 122751296.
2. Leppmeier, Max (1997). *Kugelpackungen von Kepler bis heute* (in German). Wiesbaden: Vieweg+Teubner Verlag. doi:10.1007/978-3-322-80299-6. ISBN 978-3-528-06792-2.
3. Gandini, P. M.; Wills, J. M. (1992). "On finite sphere-packings" (PDF). *Mathematica Pannonica*. **3** (1): 19–29.
4. Gritzmann, Peter; Wills, Jörg M. (1993), "Finite Packing and Covering", *Handbook of Convex Geometry*, Elsevier, pp. 861–897, doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-89597-4.50008-1, ISBN 978-0-444-89597-4, retrieved 2022-04-17
5. Hajnal, A.; Tóth, L. Fejes (1975). "Research problems". *Periodica Mathematica Hungarica*. **6** (2): 197–199. doi:10.1007/BF02018822. ISSN 0031-5303. S2CID 189833485.
6. Betke, U.; Henk, M. (1998). "Finite Packings of Spheres". *Discrete & Computational Geometry*. **19** (2): 197–227. doi:10.1007/PL00009341. ISSN 0179-5376.
7. Wills, Jörg M. (1995-01-01). "Kugelpackungen- Altes und Neues". *Mitteilungen der Deutschen Mathematiker-Vereinigung*. **3** (4). doi:10.1515/dmvm-1995-0407. ISSN 0942-5977. S2CID 179051027.


title: The Quest (2022 TV series)

abstract: The Quest is an American fantasy-based reality television series that streams on the network Disney+, that premiered on May 11, 2022. A reboot of the 2014 fantasy-based reality competition series of the same name, The Quest features a group of players brought to a castle in the fictional world of Everealm on a fantasy quest to save the realm from an evil force, and reveal the One True Hero among them who will defeat the evil. The show features a similar narrative/reality game structure to the 2014 series, but focuses more heavily on the scripted narrative, with all players now teenagers. Disney announced in January 2020 that a new version of The Quest would be produced for its Disney+ streaming service, with van Munster and Doganieri returning as executive producers. van Munster had pitched the revival to Disney after they had announced plans for the streaming service. On April 2, 2022, a trailer was released, announcing a May 11, 2022 premiere date. The series was removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023.

text:
# The Quest (2022 TV series)

***The Quest*** is an American fantasy-based reality television series that streams on the network Disney+, that premiered on May 11, 2022. A reboot of the 2014 fantasy-based reality competition series of the same name, *The Quest* features a group of players brought to a castle in the fictional world of Everealm on a fantasy quest to save the realm from an evil force, and reveal the One True Hero among them who will defeat the evil. The show features a similar narrative/reality game structure to the 2014 series, but focuses more heavily on the scripted narrative, with all players now teenagers.

Disney announced in January 2020 that a new version of *The Quest* would be produced for its Disney+ streaming service, with van Munster and Doganieri returning as executive producers. van Munster had pitched the revival to Disney after they had announced plans for the streaming service. On April 2, 2022, a trailer was released, announcing a May 11, 2022 premiere date. The series was removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023.

## Format

A group of teenagers participate in an immersive scripted adventure in a high fantasy setting, the kingdom of Everealm. The adventure is structured around various challenges tied to the fantasy storyline. While the ongoing storyline is scripted and the contestants are interacting with actors throughout the competition, the actual challenges are genuine, with competitive outcomes determined by the contestants' abilities and decisions. Unlike the 2014 series, the reboot is presented almost entirely in the mode of a traditional scripted drama, with minimal use of reality television devices such as confessionals or eliminations that would disrupt the immersion of the players in the adventure scenario.

## Plot

The dark sorceress Tavora and her Dark Legion seek to conquer the magical world of Everealm. As he falls in battle, King Magnus of Sanctum entrusts the mythical Divine Crown with his footsoldier Mila to bring to his three children—Emmett, Adaline, and Cedric—heirs to the throne of Sanctum. Mila arrives in Oraa to deliver the Crown, where the heirs are in hiding under the protection of King Magnus's brother King Silas—along with Magnus's advisor, Dravus, a palace mage. At the same time, eight American teenagers are summoned to Oraa by the Fate Talmuh to restore the Divine Crown and redeem the bond between Everealm and the three Fates. Designated "Paladins," the eight teenagers must reclaim the Divine Crown's four Gems of Virtue. Through these and other challenges along the way, the Paladins demonstrate the virtues of a hero. For each challenge, and outstanding Paladin is awarded a talisman. The accumulation of talismans is used in determining the Paladins who may seek to claim the Divine Crown's fifth gem, the Kingstone, revealing themself as the "One True Hero" with the power to save Everealm.

## Paladins

## Cast

* Emily Gateley as Mila, footsoldier of the Runeguard Army
* Braeden De La Garza as Prince Emmett, one of Sanctum's three heirs
* Racquel Jean-Louis as Princess Adaline, one of Sanctum's three heirs
* Elliott Ross as Prince Cederic, one of Sanctum's three heirs
* Kerwin Thompson as King Silas, King of Oraa
* Harry Aspinwall as Dravus, King Magnus' mage
* Mel Mehrabian as Sorceress Tavora
* Nandi Chapman as Talmuh, one of the three Fates.
* Sajel Oh as Solas, one of the three Fates.
* Louise Lagana as Karu, one of the three Fates.
* Keith G. Brown as King Magnus
* Frederic Winkler as General Kane, general of the Dark Legion
* Jarod Lindsey as Ramus, member of the Dark Legion
* Dane DiLiegro as the Dragior

## Production

*The Quest* was produced by Court Five (producer of *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy), The New Media Collective (producer of *The Amazing Race*) and Scout Productions (producer of *Queer Eye*). It was filmed on location in Calistoga, California at Castello di Amorosa. Originally intended to film at Burg Kreuzenstein as with the 2014 series, the new series moved production to Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production took place from January 2021 to March 2021.

Executive producers for the series are Jane Fleming and Mark Ordesky from Court Five; Bertram van Munster, Elise Doganieri and Mark Dziak from The New Media Collective; and Rob Eric, Michael Williams and David Collins from Scout Productions. Mike Foley is the showrunner.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Original air date |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | "Strangers Arrive" | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |
| 2 | "The Weight of the World" | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |
| 3 | "A Mysterious Gift" | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |
| 4 | "A Castle Divided" | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |
| 5 | "Chaos" | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |
| 6 | "Betrayal From Within" | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |
| 7 | "A Light in the Darkness" | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |
| 8 | "The One True Hero" | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |

## Game summary

| EpisodeTalismans | 1 | 2 | | 3 | | 4 | | 5 | | 6 | | 7 | | 8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | **David** | David | David | David | David |
| 2 |  |  | **David** | David | David | David | David | David
**Ava** | David
Ava | Ava | Ava | Ava
**Serean** | Ava
Serean
**Holden** | **Holden** |
| 1 | **David** | David
**Caden** | Caden | Caden
**Shaan** | **Ava**
Caden
Shaan | Ava
**Serean**
Caden
Shaan | Ava
Serean
**Holden**
Caden
Shaan | Serean
Holden
Caden
Shaan | Serean
Holden
Caden
Shaan | Serean
Holden
Caden
Shaan | Serean
Holden
Caden
Shaan
**Myra**
**Toshani** | Holden
Caden
Shaan
Myra
Toshani | Caden
Shaan
Myra
Toshani | Toshani |

**Bold** indicates a Paladin who was awarded a talisman for an outstanding performance in the challenge.

**Talismans**

1. Talisman of Courage - Awarded to David
2. Talisman of Speed - Awarded to Caden
3. Talisman of Strength - Awarded to David
4. Talisman of Initiative - Awarded to Shaan
5. Talisman of Wisdom - Awarded to Ava
6. Talisman of Resilience - Awarded to Serean
7. Talisman of Leadership - Awarded to Holden
8. Talisman of Knowledge - Awarded to Ava
9. Talisman of Ambition - Awarded to David
10. Talisman of Kindness - Awarded to Toshani and Myra
11. Talisman of Intelligence - Awarded to Serean
12. Talisman of Friendship - Awarded to Holden

Grouped based on the number of talismans accumulated, the Paladins selected a single member from each group to participate in the trial for the Kingstone. With the most talismans, David was the first Paladin selected. With 2 talismans apiece; Ava, Serean, and Holden were in the second group; from which Holden was selected. From the remaining Paladins, Toshani was chosen. In the trial, Holden was the first Paladin to complete the trial, and was the one to retrieve the Kingstone, proving himself the One True Hero.

## Reception

### Critical reception

Several reviewers praised *The Quest* for its high production values for a reality TV show—with good effects and production design, dedicated performances by the actors, and ambitious scriptwriting—such that the show felt more like a regular scripted fantasy drama than a reality TV show. Reality TV blogger Andy Dehnart writes, "The show provides attention to details that few reality TV shows are even aware of, and there are plenty of scripted shows on broadcast and cable with weaker acting and writing." The actors were complimented on both their handling of the scripted material, as well as their apparent improvisational skills when dealing with the teenaged players. The enthusiastic, positive, and collaborative attitudes of the players was commended as a refreshing change of pace for a reality series, and wholesome for the intended young adult fiction audience. Denhart gave the series a "B" letter grade, Joel Keller for Decider gave *The Quest* a favorable "stream it" recommendation, and Tony Betti of Laughing Place gave it a score of 7 out of 10.

While praising the scripted fantasy aspect of the show, a number of reviewers expressed disappointment at the limited attention drawn to the players, with the little opportunity to distinguish them or explore their individual stories—which was attributed to the shift away from a reality TV presentation style. Regarding the omission of confessionals, Keller notes, "Without the benefit of side interviews, it’s hard to know exactly what these kids are thinking." Multiple reviewers remarked on being unable to name most of the players after watching the initial episodes. The reviewers posited that the quality of the scripted fantasy aspect of the show worked to the detriment of the players on the reality TV side of the show, with Denhart stating, "The Quest’s storytelling and production are so thoroughly immersive, it nearly entirely swallows the contestants, making them more like props than main characters."

From a scripted sci-fi/fantasy perspective, Nelson Acosta of Fiction Horizon called *The Quest* "a TV series that is trying to be two things at the same time," and deemed the series a failure on nearly every level from conception to execution—criticizing the believability of the players' behavior as "clearly directed," the acting as "pretty bad overall," and the story as "so incredibly generic that it is laughable." Acosta argued that having the entire season available to view all at once eliminates any suspense to a reality competition, and attributed the decision to an lack of faith on the part of Disney—an attempt to dispense with the series as quickly as possible. Acosta gave the series a score of 2 out of 10, calling it "potentially one of the worst shows of the year." Sharon at DisneyFanatic.com stated that "*The Quest* is filled with fantasy tropes. However, \[...\] the show comes across as charming in its predictability instead of being silly."

### Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2022 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special Effects Costumes, Hair and Makeup for a Live Action Program | Mike Elizalde, Alan J. Gonzalez Ramirez, Rose Labarre, Tim Peters, Johnny Wujek, Sarah Dixey, Erica Adams, Alyn Topper, Lauren McKeever, Jennifer Tremont, Elle Favorule, Michelle Sfarzo, Sonia Caberera, Nancy Leonardi | Won |  |
| | | Outstanding Directing for a Multiple Camera Program | Jack Cannon, Harold Cronk, Elise Doganieri, Bertram van Munster | Won | |
| | | Outstanding Editing for a Multiple Camera Program | Derek Esposito, Rob Chandler, Lindsay Ragone | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Makeup - Children and Teen Programming | Elle Favorule, Michelle Sfarzo, Sonia Cabrera | Won |  |
| | | Best Hair Styling - Children and Teen Programming | Erica Adams, Alyn Topper, Lauren McKeever, Jennifer Tremont | Won | |

1. "Disney+ Announces Slate of New Nonfiction Projects at Realscreen Summit". Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-05-21. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
2. Schneider, Michael (January 29, 2020). "'The Quest' Revived as Disney Plus Brings Back ABC Fantasy Reality Show". *Variety*. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
3. "Disney+ Embarks On An Epic Adventure Like No Other In The Original Hybrid Fantasy-Competition Series 'The Quest,' Available To Stream On May 11". Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. 2 April 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
4. Weatherbed, Jess (May 19, 2023). "Disney will remove over 50 shows from Disney Plus and Hulu this month". *The Verge*. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
5. Dehnart, Andy (16 May 2022). "The Quest on Disney+: questions, answered about this new season". *reality blurred*. Ordesky told me Disney+ executives "don't see it as a season two," while Fleming said they're thinking of it as "a reboot
6. "The Quest: Meet the Paladins" (PDF). Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
7. "The Quest: Meet the Residents of Everealm" (PDF). Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
8. Eberling, Barry (February 24, 2021). "'The Quest' granted filming extension at Napa's 'castle winery'". *Napa Valley Register*. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
9. "The Quest: Fact Sheet" (PDF). Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
10. Sharon (12 May 2022). "REVIEW: 'The Quest' Is a Surprising New Fantasy Adventure". *DisneyFanatic.com*.
11. Keller, Joel (11 May 2022). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Quest' On Disney+, Where Real Teens Complete Challenges To Save A Fictional Kingdom". *Decider*.
12. Dehnart, Andy (11 May 2022). "Disney+'s The Quest: so impressive and immersive the real-life players get lost". *reality blurred*.
13. Betti, Tony (10 May 2022). ""The Quest" on Disney+ Is An Entertaining Experiment in Immersive Theatrical Storytelling". *Laughing Place*.
14. Acosta, Nelson (12 May 2022). "'The Quest' Review: Disney Fantasy Show Doesn't Know What It Wants To Be". *Fiction Horizon*. The Quest tries to be a competition where 8 teenagers fight to not be eliminated every episode.
15. "2022 CAFE Nominees (ALL) - The Emmys". *Emmy Awards*. November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
16. Tangcay, Jazz (2023-02-11). "'Elvis,' 'Wakanda Forever,' 'The Whale' Lead 2023 Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Awards". *Variety*. Retrieved 2023-05-19.

## InfoBox

| *The Quest* | |
| --- | --- |
| Genre | Fantasy/Hybrid-Reality |
| Directed by |  |
| Starring | * Emily Gateley * Braeden De La Garza * Racquel Jean Louis * Elliott Ross * Kerwin Thompson * Harry Aspinwall * Mel Mehrabian * Jarod Lindsey |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |  |
| Production locations | Calistoga, California |
| Cinematography | Mark Kohl |
| Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
| Production companies |  |
| Original release | |
| Network | Disney+ |
| Release | May 11, 2022 (2022-05-11) |
| Related | |
| The Quest (2014 TV series) | |


title: The Quest (2014 TV series)

abstract: The Quest is an American fantasy-based competition series that aired on the network ABC that premiered on July 31, 2014. Filmed on a castle estate outside Vienna, Austria, contestants face a variety of fantasy-themed challenges in the fictional land of "Everealm". The show ran for a single season, but a reboot was developed for Disney+, which premiered May 11, 2022.

text:
# The Quest (2014 TV series)

***The Quest*** is an American fantasy-based competition series that aired on the network ABC that premiered on July 31, 2014. Filmed on a castle estate outside Vienna, Austria, contestants face a variety of fantasy-themed challenges in the fictional land of "Everealm". The show ran for a single season, but a reboot was developed for Disney+, which premiered May 11, 2022.

## Format

A number of people compete in a reality competition that takes place against the backdrop of a high fantasy setting, the kingdom of Everealm. While the ongoing storyline is scripted and the contestants are interacting with actors throughout the competition, the actual challenges and eliminations are genuine and determined by the contestants' abilities and decisions.

In each episode, the contestants (called "Paladins") compete in a challenge related to events in the storyline. The winning Paladin receives a "mark" of a virtue corresponding to the challenge; it is a medal that the Paladin wears, however, this medal doesn't save them from elimination. A predetermined number of losing Paladins are subjected to a subsequent challenge (the "Fates' Challenge"), and the winner of that challenge remains safe from elimination ("banishment"). The remaining Paladins, including the winner of the Fates' Challenge, decide which of the losing Paladins should be banished; the Paladins deliberate as a group and then each publicly stands behind the Paladin he or she wishes to save from banishment. The Paladin with the least support is banished.

## Plot

Everealm is a magical land of twelve peacefully coexisting kingdoms that is periodically menaced by a dark power. Each time a threat to the realm appears, the three Fates summon “Paladins”, heroes from our world who are transported to Everealm. Each receives one piece of a mystical weapon called the Sunspear. The Paladins are constantly tested by the Fates under a processes that has them procedurally “banished”, one by one, until one single paladin remains. The remaining paladin is designated as the “One True Hero”, and is destined to use the Sunspear to defeat the threat.

Each Paladin receives a scroll, proclaiming that he or she is a Paladin, beckoned to save Everealm from a menace known as Verlox. The Paladins gather underground at a passageway between realities; there, the Fates explain the quest. The Paladins are sent into Everealm to find the pieces of the Sunspear and to meet their guide, Crio, a follower of the Fates who is also Royal Steward of Castle Saenctum, the stronghold of the only kingdom still resisting Verlox. The Paladins are welcomed by Queen Ralia XXIII and are trained by Sir Ansgar, who initially doubts the Paladins' worth but eventually comes to respect them. However, the Grand Vizier seems hostile to the Paladins.

## Paladins

| Paladin | Finish |
| --- | --- |
| **Katherine "Katie" Smaluk**
25, Chicago, Illinois | 1st Banished
12th Place |
| **Ashley Guerrero**
35, Murrieta, California | 2nd Banished
11th Place |
| **Jim Curry**
22, Little Rock, Arkansas | 3rd Banished
10th Place |
| **Jasmine Kyle**
31, Media, Pennsylvania | 4th Banished
9th Place |
| **Christian Sochor**
23, New York City, New York | 5th Banished
8th Place |
| **Adria Kyne**
41, Nashua, New Hampshire | 6th Banished
7th Place |
| **Leticia Reyes**
36, White Plains, New York | 7th Banished
6th Place |
| **Bonnie Gordon**
28, Lafayette, Louisiana | 8th Banished
5th Place |
| **Patrick Higgins**
40, Joliet, Illinois | 9th Banished
4th Place |
| **Shondo Blades**
30, Houston, Texas | 10th Banished
3rd Place |
| **Andrew Frazer**
24, West Hartford, Connecticut | 11th Banished
2nd Place |
| **Lina Carollo**
27, Delran, New Jersey | One True Hero
Winner |

## Cast

* Peter Windhofer as Sir Ansgar, head of the Royal Army
* Jan Hutter as Crio the Dreamer, Royal Steward of Castle Saenctum
* Marcello de Nardo as the Grand Vizier, the Queen's Chief Advisor
* Susanne Gschwendtner as Queen Ralia XXIII, Protector of Saenctum
* Stephanie Buddenbrock as Karu, one of the three Fates
* Florence Kasumba as Talmuh, one of the three Fates
* Mai Duong Kieu as Solas, one of the three Fates
* Doug Tait as Verlox/Rana Chief

## Production and filming

*The Quest* was developed by a production team who had produced *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy, *The Amazing Race* and *Queer Eye*. The local service company was Gebhardt Service Productions.

The series was set in the Kingdom of Saenctum and was filmed on location in Austria, for the most part at Burg Kreuzenstein, just north of Vienna. Arie Bohrer of Location Austria of The National Film Commission of Austria, said that the location was very film-friendly and had a huge courtyard which lent itself to set construction. The castle was closed to the public for a month and the furniture was moved out and replaced with props. Location Austria grants funding subsidies for scripted film and television productions, but *The Quest* was not eligible as reality shows are largely extemporary.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Original air date | Viewers
(millions) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | "The Quest Begins" | July 31, 2014 (2014-07-31) | 2.82 |
| In the series premiere, the quest begins with twelve strangers who are transported from the real world into a fantasy world of heroes, magic and dangerous beasts. Becoming Paladins, they meet The Fates who tell them to retrieve an ancient weapon called the Sunspear. They follow their guide Crio, who takes them to Castle Saenctum, where their first challenge is all about teamwork. They break up into teams of three to work together handling a weapon called a scorpion. The Fates challenge presents an archery duel where each Paladin shoots an arrow in a spinning straw dummy representing their color, loading as many arrows into the opposing players dummies as they can. | | | | |
| 2 | "Tournament for the Queen" | August 7, 2014 (2014-08-07) | 2.19 |
| With the battle on the front lines raging, Sir Ansgar tests the Paladins horsemanship skills in the field in front of the queen's audience. In order to move on, they must display their weapon handling techniques while riding a horse through the "gauntlet", which includes archery, a spear throw, jousting, and smashing a skull with a war hammer. Later, they dine with Queen Ralia who recounts her childhood growing up with her brother in Castle Saenctum, however, their celebration ends abruptly with a shocking situation. During the Fates challenge, keeping the theme of horses, the three Paladins have to fix five horseshoes onto a large wooden wheel. | | | | |
| 3 | "Save the Queen" | August 14, 2014 (2014-08-14) | 2.07 |
| As Queen Ralia lies sick in her bed, Sir Ansgar gathers the Paladins to pore over scrolls of symptoms to find an antidote. They begin to get suspicious of the Grand Vizier—an expert of all magic and poisons in the kingdom—who claims to have run out of ideas to save the Queen. When they find the right potion, Crio takes them into the dangerous Marwood Forest where they meet the hag of Purgwal, "The Collector" who challenges them to find the potion's ingredients behind sealed doors. During the night, the castle comes under attack. In the Fates challenge, each paladin had to perfectly balance a scale by precisely measuring ingredients, placing them onto it. | | | | |
| 4 | "Battle Dome" | August 21, 2014 (2014-08-21) | 1.91 |
| The Paladins hastily get ready for the oncoming castle attack, but as they mix up their armor, Sir Ansgar tells them this was just a drill and he is to blame for not training them. They do, however, train with the sword and then pick teams of three to compete against each other in the "battle dome", where they must strategize a way to knock their opponent off a raised beam and onto the ground. After the challenge, they are greeted by the surprisingly healthy-looking Queen Ralia. At night, ogres threaten to break through the outer walls. During the Fates challenge, the Paladins must focus to accurately smash the most skulls with a wooden sword. | | | | |
| 5 | "Under Siege" | August 28, 2014 (2014-08-28) | 1.37 |
| The Paladins must assemble a scorpion while Sir Ansgar battles an ogre, but they are unsuccessful, yet Ansgar is able to defeat it. He then sets a challenge with the Paladins splitting into two teams of four to barricade a gate with the materials provided. Once completed, the teams use a battering ram to break through the opposing gate. The team that is successful plants their flag and is victorious. In the Fates challenge, the four losing Paladins are locked in cages and navigate a course, returning to the hall for a key. That night, the Paladins sing a song about Sir Ansgar ("Sir Ansgar the Fierce"), but soon after, face danger from Verlox's "spy orb". | | | | |
| 6 | "A Traitor in Saenctum" | August 28, 2014 (2014-08-28) | 1.37 |
| When Herra, a traitor with a connection to Sir Ansgar is captured and imprisoned, the Paladins learn that he left seven fire orbs scattered around the castle grounds. Ansgar's men recover three, leaving them tasked to find the missing four. After, they follow Ansgar to observe him questioning Herra and note he feels betrayed by Herra's actions. They then investigate why he has a map of all the kingdoms and reveal their findings to Crio. At the Fates challenge, the three losing Paladins re-arrange 9 swords correctly to allow a light beam to shine upon a completed map, showing the location Verlox will attack from. Later, they celebrate with Ansgar as he opens up about his past, but are interrupted when Verlox attacks the castle. | | | | |
| 7 | "Verlox Attacks" | September 4, 2014 (2014-09-04) | 1.85 |
| When the Dark Army attacks the Caste Saenctum, the Paladins catch a glimpse of Verlox for the first time. In all the chaos, Herra escapes and Vizier is conveniently in the right place, giving Queen Ralia a mysterious protection amulet. Sir Angsar leads the Paladins deep into the forest to a command post in Darvia where there are abandoned signal towers to alert the front to Verlox’s attack; their challenge. It was the female paladins versus the male paladins—one member deciphered a key code from a tower and signaled the others to place flags in a specific order to send a message to the Royal Army. During the Fates challenge, the losing Paladins had to spy on the enemy, trying to remember the most details. | | | | |
| 8 | "The Dragon's Lair" | September 4, 2014 (2014-09-04) | 1.85 |
| After they see a fire-breathing dragon Verlox released from its lair, the Paladins make their way to the now-scorched town of Asper. Sir Ansgar issues a mechanical puzzle challenge by building devices with a ratchet system that lowers a gate over the exposed hole, keeping this menace locked in. As they set up camp with camouflaged tents, they confront Angsar and Crio, stating they don't trust the Grand Vizier, to which Ansgar responds that they accuse the Vizier of high treason. In the Fates challenge, Queen Ralia and Ansgar join the Paladins for their first time there, and three of them must retrieve a dragon egg out of a deep muddy pit without touching it, for it will burn their skin. At night while Crio is on watch, the Queen's amulet mysteriously lights up green. | | | | |
| 9 | "Escape from Rana Village" | September 11, 2014 (2014-09-11) | 1.97 |
| The four remaining Paladins, along with Queen Ralia, Sir Ansgar and Crio are attacked for camping on the land of mutant sea creatures called "Rana". They are all captured and then brought to their village before the Rana chief alongside a hooded figure. After the Paladins try to convince the chief to let them go because among them there is the One True Hero, the mysterious figure reveals himself as the Grand Vizier, which the Paladins are not surprised by his betrayal. He has the Paladins locked up in suspended cages, which they race to break out of to free the queen, Ansgar and Crio. In the Fates challenge, three Paladins try to cross a bog to bring an offering to a wailing banshee. | | | | |
| 10 | "One True Hero" | September 11, 2014 (2014-09-11) | 1.97 |
| The end draws near as the remaining three Paladins face one final test to reveal who will be the One True Hero. Their last challenge is composed of previous skill challenges of four trials. As Shondo, then Andrew falls, Lina succeeds and assembles the Sunspear. Its power brings back the banished Paladins who, along with Sir Ansgar, serve as Lina's army against Verlox's dark forces. They storm Castle Saenctum and Lina confronts Verlox, who is holding Queen Ralia and Crio hostage. She defeats Verlox as Sir Ansgar apprehends the Vizier. Following a kingdom-wide celebration, Lina and the Paladins depart for home, and the Vizier is briefly seen breaking his handcuffs while in his prison cell, setting up the plot for a potential second season. | | | | |

## Game summary

### Sir Ansgar's challenge results

| Episode #: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Paladin | Placement | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lina | 2nd | 6th | 4th | *3rd* |  | **1st** | **1st** | *2nd* | *5th* | *DNF* |
| Andrew | 1st | 2nd | **1st** | 1st | 2nd | 1st | *DNF* | 1st | **1st** | **1st** |
| Shondo | 2nd | **1st** | 5th | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | *DNF* |
| Patrick | *4th* | 4th | 2nd | 2nd |  | *2nd* | 4th | **1st** | *3rd* | *DNF* |
| Bonnie | **1st** | 8th | *DNF* | 2nd |  | *2nd* | 2nd | *2nd* | *4th* |  |
| Leticia | 3rd | 5th | 7th | 1st | **1st** | 1st | *DNF* | *2nd* | |  |
| Adria | 3rd | 7th | 3rd | *3rd* |  | *2nd* | *DNF* | | |  |
| Christian | *4th* | *11th* | *DNF* | 2nd |  | *2nd* | | | |  |
| Jasmine | 3rd | 2nd | 6th | *3rd* |  | | | | |  |
| Jim | 2nd | *9th* | *DNF* |  | | | | | | |
| Ashley | 1st | *10th* | |  | | | | | |
| Katie | *4th* | | |  | | | | | |

A **bold** placement indicates the Paladin who received the Mark, either by placing first or being chosen by and between the winning team
An *italicized* placement indicates the Paladin placed in the bottom group of Sir Ansgar's challenge and, as a result, faced the Fates' challenge

### Fates' challenge and voting results

| Episode #: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banished: | Katie | Ashley | Jim | Jasmine | Christian | Adria | Leticia | Bonnie | Patrick | Shondo | Andrew |
| Vote: | 8–2 | 5–4 | 6–2 | 5–2 | 2–2–1 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | *None* | |
|  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paladin | Vote to save | | | | | | | | | Final result | |
| Lina | Katie | Christian | Christian | *Saved* | Adria | Leticia | *Saved* | *Saved* | *Saved* | **One True Hero** | |
| Andrew | Patrick | Christian | Christian | Lina | Adria | Leticia | Lina | Lina | Lina | ***Banished*** | |
| Shondo | Patrick | Ashley | Jim | Jasmine | Bonnie | Leticia | Lina | Lina | Patrick | ***Banished*** | |
| Patrick | *Saved* | Ashley | Christian | Lina | Bonnie | Adria | Lina | Bonnie | ***Banished*** |  | |
| Bonnie | Patrick | Christian | Christian | Lina | *Saved* | Adria | Lina | ***Banished*** | |  |
| Leticia | Patrick | Ashley | Christian | Jasmine | Christian | *Saved* | ***Banished*** | | |  |
| Adria | Patrick | Ashley | Christian | Lina | *Saved* | ***Banished*** | | | |  |
| Christian | Patrick | *Saved* | *Saved* | Lina | ***Banished*** | | | | |  |
| Jasmine | Patrick | Christian | Jim | ***Banished*** | | | | | |  |
| Jim | Patrick | Christian | ***Banished*** | | | | | | |  |
| Ashley | Katie | ***Banished*** | | | | | | | |  |
| Katie | ***Banished*** | | | | | | | | |  |

**^1** The vote was tied between Patrick and Lina. As holder of the Mark, Andrew was to break the tie; he chose to save Lina, banishing Patrick.

**Legend:**

This Paladin won Sir Ansgar's challenge, earning the Mark and the sole vote in case of a tie   This Paladin lost Sir Ansgar's challenge but won the Fates' challenge   This Paladin lost both Sir Ansgar's and the Fates' challenge, but was saved from banishment   This Paladin lost both Sir Ansgar's and the Fates' challenge, and was banished

### Marks

These badges are pinned on a Paladin who achieves the best performance during each of Sir Ansgar's challenges, either by placing 1st or being selected by and between the winning team. Each Mark represents a different Kingdom and the values they represent.

1. Mark of Leadership (Kingdom of Saenctum) – Awarded to Bonnie by her team for being the "eyes" of the winning team during the scorpion challenge.
2. Mark of Dexterity (Kingdom of Lluas) – Awarded to Shondo for earning the most points during the horsemanship challenge.
3. Mark of Wisdom (Kingdom of Sanare) – Awarded to Andrew for completing the potion making challenge and saving the Queen.
4. Mark of Strategy (Kingdom of Kunnacht) – Awarded to Leticia for defeating Andrew and Shondo in the finals of the battle dome challenge.
5. Mark of Ingenuity (Kingdom of Austeer) – Awarded to Lina by her team for being the smallest member of the winning team in the barricade challenge.
6. Mark of Observation (Kingdom of Glic) – Awarded to Lina for being the first Paladin to return with a Fire Orb during the retrieval challenge.
7. Mark of Intelligence (Kingdom of Faisnay) – Awarded to Patrick by his team for both being the "eyes" and strategically rotating tasks during the flag signals challenge.
8. Mark of Bravery (Kingdom of Fortiteer) – Awarded to Andrew for being the first Paladin to reassemble his ratchet system and then use it to close one of the dragon's gates during the dragon trapping challenge.
9. Mark of Strength (Kingdom of Darvia) – Awarded to Andrew for being the first Paladin to break out of the Rana's cage.

## Reception

### Critical response

Lily Sparks of Gawker praised the show saying, "The Quest is vicarious wish fulfillment, and one of its greatest joys is witnessing the sheer unadulterated happiness on the contestant's faces. I have never seen people enjoy their time on reality TV so much, ever, and I love it." Whoopi Goldberg of *The View* posted on Facebook, "I love this show!" Andy Dehnart of Reality Blurred compared the show favorably to its grand predecessor, *Survivor*, saying, "Watching Survivor for the first time was an experience that inspired awe, its high quality and rich storytelling creating a new world that drew from familiar elements. That's how The Quest feels, and it builds in a similar way, with the context and contestants continually offering epic surprises." Geoff Berkshire of *Variety* commended the show for taking a risk and setting itself apart from other reality television and called it "An epic adventure." The series made numerous "Must Watch" lists including Entertainment Weekly, *The Wall Street Journal*, *Parade Magazine*, *The Los Angeles Times*, *The New York Post*, *The Huffington Post*, *TV Guide*.

### Accolades

The series received a nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs at the 2015 Directors Guild of America Awards.

### Legacy

A Facebook group, known as "The Quest Army" was created by founder David Patterson as a community for discussing episodes, narratives, and topics raised by the show. In addition, he also created an online petition at change.org, calling for a renewal of the show to Robert Mills of the American Broadcasting Company.

## Reboot

Disney announced in January 2020 that a reboot of *The Quest* would be produced for its Disney+ streaming service, with van Munster and Doganieri as showrunners. van Munster had pitched the reboot to Disney after they had announced plans for the streaming service. The new version would have a similar type of narrative/reality game structure, but focus heavily on the scripted narrative, differing from the previous iteration. It would also feature primarily teenaged contestants, as van Munster stated the original show's broadcast had attracted a high teen demographic. The new version intended to film again at Burg Kreuzenstein but moved production to Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production took place from January 2021 to March 2021.

On April 2, 2022, a trailer was released, announcing a May 11, 2022 premiere date.

## InfoBox

| *The Quest* | |
| --- | --- |
| Genre | Fantasy/Hybrid-Reality |
| Directed by |  |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |  |
| Producers | * Gregg Hale * Ady Ryf * Eduardo Sanchez |
| Production locations | Vienna, Austria (ABC) |
| Cinematography | Mark Kohl |
| Editors | * Dave Berenbaum * Erin Cumming * Mike Ellis * Jason Hujber * Rob Lawrenson * Edwin Ochmanek * Nancy Rosenbaum * Peter Steel * Scott Winlaw |
| Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
| Production companies | * Court Five * Green Harbor Productions * Profiles Television Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | July 31 (2014-07-31)
September 11, 2014 (2014-09-11) |
| Related | |
| The Quest (2022 TV series) | |


title: The Rance Allen Group

abstract: The Rance Allen Group was a gospel music group formed in Monroe, Michigan, and based in Toledo, Ohio, named after its lead vocalist, Bishop Rance Allen. The group was formed by vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter Rance Allen with his brothers Tom (drums) and Steve; another brother, Esau (percussionist), joined the group on an intermittent basis. During an appearance at a gospel talent contest in Detroit, Michigan, they came to the attention of one of the judges, record promoter Dave Clark, who worked for Stax Records. The group was the first to be signed to the Stax imprint Gospel Truth, and they recorded for the Stax organization throughout the 1970s. In 1972, the group appeared in the documentary film Wattstax. Following this appearance, the group was named "Best Religious Group" by the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA). David Porter co-produced the group's 1975 album A Soulful Experience, for which he wrote an autobiographical song, "Just Found Me". The group's incorporation of rock and soul into traditional black gospel music prefigured the crossover success of such artists as Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch, and The Winans. In 1978, the group had a Top 30 R&B hit, "I Belong to You." The group received a nomination at the 34th Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album for their 1991 album Phenomenon. The group's latest release, God Has Been So Good, is a collaboration with hip-hop pioneer Glenn “Sweety G” Toby, producer Bernard Jackson and new gospel artist Mydason.

text:
# The Rance Allen Group

**The Rance Allen Group** was a gospel music group formed in Monroe, Michigan, and based in Toledo, Ohio, named after its lead vocalist, Bishop Rance Allen.

The group was formed by vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter Rance Allen (b. Monroe, Michigan) with his brothers Tom (drums) and Steve (bass guitar); another brother, Esau (percussionist), joined the group on an intermittent basis. During an appearance at a gospel talent contest in Detroit, Michigan, they came to the attention of one of the judges, record promoter Dave Clark, who worked for Stax Records. The group was the first to be signed to the Stax imprint Gospel Truth, and they recorded for the Stax organization throughout the 1970s. In 1972, the group appeared in the documentary film *Wattstax*. Following this appearance, the group was named "Best Religious Group" by the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA). David Porter co-produced the group's 1975 album *A Soulful Experience*, for which he wrote an autobiographical song, "Just Found Me".

The group's incorporation of rock and soul into traditional black gospel music prefigured the crossover success of such artists as Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch, and The Winans. In 1978, the group had a Top 30 R&B hit, "I Belong to You."

The group received a nomination at the 34th Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album for their 1991 album *Phenomenon*.

The group's latest release, *God Has Been So Good*, is a collaboration with hip-hop pioneer Glenn “Sweety G” Toby, producer Bernard Jackson and new gospel artist Mydason.

## Rance Allen

**Rance Allen** (November 19, 1948 – October 31, 2020) was an American Bishop, Minister, and gospel musician, and the founder and leader of the Rance Allen Group. Known for his extremely wide vocal range and powerful singing voice, Allen became known as the main lead vocalist and the leader of the influential group.

He was the senior pastor of the New Bethel Church Of God In Christ in Toledo, Ohio, since its July 1985 establishment. In November 2011, Rance Allen was elevated to the office of Bishop in the Church of God in Christ, for the Michigan Northwestern Harvest Jurisdiction.

Allen was born in 1948 in Monroe, Michigan to Thomas and Emma Pearl Allen, to a family of African American, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latino American heritage. He had 11 siblings: six sisters and five brothers. Allen founded the Rance Allen Group in Detroit in 1969 joined by his brothers Thomas and Steve.

Allen was married to Ellen Marie Allen (*née* Groves). The two were married on December 1, 1970. The couple had no children together.

Allen and his group had performed with many gospel musicians throughout the country, including Andrae Crouch, Marvin Winans, Bebe and Cece Winans, the Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, John P. Kee, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett, Shirley Caesar, Donnie McClurkin, Bernard Jackson Jr. and Mary McLaurine Glover. He also performed for President Barack Obama at a White House Celebration of Gospel Music and was nominated for five Grammy Awards.

Allen died on October 31, 2020, from complications due to a medical procedure he had the previous week. He was 71 years old.

## Awards

| Year | Award-giving body | Award | Reference |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2012 | Stellar Awards | Quartet of the Year: "The Live Experience II: Celebrating 40 Years of Music and Ministry" |  |
| | | Traditional Group/Duo of the Year: "The Live Experience II: Celebrating 40 Years of Music and Ministry" |  |

## Discography

* *Rance Allen Group* (1972)
* *Truth Is Where It's At* (1972)
* *Brothers* (1973)
* *Sanctified* (1975; UK-only compilation)
* *A Soulful Experience* (1975; reissued 1981 as *Ain't No Need Of Crying*)
* *Say My Friend* (1977; reissued 1979 as *The Way It Is*)
* *Straight from the Heart* (1978; reissued on CD with bonus tracks in 1994)
* *Smile* (1979)
* *I Feel Like Goin' On* (1980)
* *Hear My Voice* (1983)
* *I Give Myself to You* (1984)
* *The Best of The Rance Allen Group* (1988) (Stax Records)
* *Phenomenon* (1991)
* *Up Above My Head* (1995 compilation)
* *You Make Me Wanna Dance* (1995)
* *Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul* (1997; vault release)
* *Miracle Worker* (2000)
* *The Soulful Truth Of The Rance Allen Group* (2001; UK-only compilation)
* *All the Way* (2002)
* *Wattstax* (various artists; box set) (2003)
* *The Live Experience* (2004)
* *Closest Friend* (2007)
* *The Live Experience II* (2011)
* *Amazing Grace* (2012)
* *Celebrate* (2014)
* *Live From San Francisco* (2016)
* *God Has Been So Good* (2020)

## InfoBox

| The Rance Allen Group | |
| --- | --- |
| Origin | Monroe, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Gospel, R&B |
| Years active | 1970–2020 |
| Labels | Gospel Truth Records, Stax, Bellmark |
|  | |
| Past members | Rance Allen
Thomas Allen
Steve Allen |


abstract: Before the Acts of Union 1707, the barons of the shire of Fife elected commissioners to represent them in the Parliament of Scotland and in the Convention of the Estates. The number of commissioners was increased from two to four in 1690. After 1708, Fife was represented by one Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons at Westminster.

text:
# Fife (Parliament of Scotland constituency)

Before the Acts of Union 1707, the barons of the shire of **Fife** elected commissioners to represent them in the Parliament of Scotland and in the Convention of the Estates. The number of commissioners was increased from two to four in 1690.

After 1708, Fife was represented by one Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons at Westminster.

## List of shire commissioners

* 1593: Myreton of Cambo
* 1600: Kynynmound of Craigie Hall
* 1607, 1608, 1609: Sir Andrew Murray of Balvaird

| Parliament or Convention | Commissioners | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1612 Parliament | Sir David Carnegie of Kinnaird | Sir John Learmonth of Balcomie |
| 1617 Convention | Sir John Wemyss of Wemyss | Sir James Wemyss of Bogie |
| 1617 Parliament | | Sir William Sandilands of St Monans |
| 1621 Parliament | David Beaton of Balfour | John Leslie of Newtown |
| 1625 Convention | Sir James Learmonth of Balcomie | Patrick Wardlaw of Torry |
| 1630 Convention | Robert Forbes of Rires | |
| 1633 Parliament | Sir John Leslie of Newtown | Thomas Myreton of Cambo |
| 1639–41 Parliament | Sir Thomas Myreton of Cambo | William Rigg of Aithernie |
| 1643–44 Convention | Sir Michael Balfour of Denmilne | Arthur Erskine of Scotscraig |
| | | Sir John Wemyss of Bogie (from 10 April 1644) |
| 1644–47 Parliament | David Bethune of Creich | Sir John Aytoun of Aytoun |
| | Arthur Erskine of Scotscraig (from 7 January 1645) | Robert Meldrum of Burleigh (from 7 January 1645) |
| | David Bethune of Creich (from 26 November 1645) | Sir John Wemyss of Bogie (from 26 November 1645) |
| 1648–51 Parliament | Arthur Erskine of Scotscraig | William Scott of Ardross |
| | | Sir James Halkett of Pitfirrane (from 4 January 1649) |
| | George Hay of Naughton (from 7 March 1650) | David Wemyss of Fingask (from 7 March 1650) |

During the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, the sheriffdoms of Fife and Kinross were jointly represented by one Member of Parliament in the Protectorate Parliament at Westminster. After the Restoration, the Parliament of Scotland was again summoned to meet in Edinburgh.

| Parliament or Convention | Commissioners | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1661–63 Parliament | William Scott of Ardross | | Sir Alexander Gibson of Durie (died 6 August 1661) | |
| | | Sir Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie (from 8 May 1662) | |
| 1665 Convention | Sir Philip Anstruther of that Ilk | | Andrew Bruce of Earlshall | |
| 1667 Convention | ||
| 1669–74 Parliament | Sir William Bruce of Balcaskie | | Sir John Wemyss of Bogie | |
| 1678 Convention | John Drummond of Lundin | | Sir Philip Anstruther of that Ilk | |
| 1681 Parliament | Sir Charles Halkett of Pitfirrane | | William Anstruther, younger, of that Ilk | |
| 1685–86 Parliament | Sir David Balfour of Forret | | Sir Thomas Stewart of Balcaskie | |
| 1689 Convention | William Anstruther, younger, of that Ilk | | John Dempster of Pitliver | |
| 1689–1702 Parliament | ||
| | By Act of Parliament 14 June 1690, the shire of Fife was allocated two additional Commissioners. | | | |
| | Sir William Anstruther of that Ilk | Sir John Dempster of Pitliver | James Melville of Halhill | George Moncrieff of Reidie | John Bethune of Craigfoodie |
| | 1703–07 Parliament | Henry Balfour of Dunbog | David Bethune of Balfour | Sir Patrick Murray of Pitdunnes (died in office) | John Bethune of Craigfoodie |
| | | | Robert Douglas of Strathendrie (from 1703; died in office) |
| | | | Sir Archibald Hope of Rankeillour (from 25 April 1706; died 10 October 1706) |
| | | | Thomas Hope of Rankeillour |


title: Fife (UK Parliament constituency)

abstract: Fife was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 until 1885, when it was divided into East Fife and West Fife.

text:
# Fife (UK Parliament constituency)

**Fife** was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 until 1885, when it was divided into East Fife and West Fife.

## Creation

The British parliamentary constituency was created in 1708 following the Acts of Union, 1707 and replaced the former Parliament of Scotland shire constituency of Fifeshire.

## History

The constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system until the seat was divided in 1885.

## Boundaries

The constituency covered the county of Fife.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | | Member | Party | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 1708 | Patrick Moncreiff |  |
|  | 1709 | Sir Robert Anstruther |  |
|  | 1710 | Sir Alexander Erskine |  |
|  | 1715 | Sir John Anstruther, 1st Baronet |  |
|  | 1741 | David Scott |  |
|  | 1747 | James Oswald |  |
|  | 1754 | James St Clair |  |
|  | 1763 | James Wemyss |  |  |
|  | 1768 | John Scott |  |  |
|  | 1776 | James Townsend Oswald |  |  |
|  | 1779 | Robert Skene |  |  |
|  | 1780 | John Henderson |  | 5th Baronet from 1781 |
|  | 1780 | Robert Skene |  |  |
|  | 1787 | William Wemyss |  |  |
|  | 1796 | Sir William Erskine, Bt |  | British Army officer, died insane |
|  | 1806 | Robert Ferguson |  |  |
|  | 1807 | William Wemyss |  |  |
|  | 1820 | James Erskine Wemyss | Whig |  |
|  | 1831 | James Lindsay | Tory |  |
|  | 1832 | James Erskine Wemyss | Whig |  |
|  | 1847 | John Fergus | Whig |  |
|  | 1859 | James Hay Erskine Wemyss | Liberal |  |
|  | 1864 | Sir Robert Anstruther, 5th Baronet | Liberal |  |
|  | 1880 | Robert Preston Bruce | Liberal |  |

## Election results

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Whig** | **James Erskine Wemyss** | ***Unopposed*** | | |
| Registered electors | | | 239 |  |
|  | Whig **hold** | | | | |

General election 1831: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Tory** | **James Lindsay (1793-1855)** | **85** | **55.6** |
|  | Whig | James Erskine Wemyss | 68 | 44.4 |
| Majority | | | 17 | 11.2 |
| Turnout | | | 153 | 64.0 |
| Registered electors | | | 239 |  |
|  | Tory **gain** from Whig | | | | |

General election 1832: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Whig** | **James Erskine Wemyss** | ***Unopposed*** | | |
| Registered electors | | | 2,185 |  |
|  | Whig **gain** from Tory | | | | |

General election 1835: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Whig** | **James Erskine Wemyss** | **1,051** | **64.3** |
|  | Conservative | James Lindsay (1793-1855) | 584 | 35.7 |
| Majority | | | 467 | 28.6 |
| Turnout | | | 1,635 | 70.8 |
| Registered electors | | | 2,309 |  |
|  | Whig **hold** | | | | |

General election 1837: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Whig** | **James Erskine Wemyss** | **1,086** | **65.7** | **+1.4** |
|  | Conservative | James Bruce | 567 | 34.3 | 1.4 |
| Majority | | | 519 | 31.4 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | | | 1,653 | 60.8 | 10.0 |
| Registered electors | | | 2,720 |  |  |
|  | Whig **hold** | | Swing | +1.4 |  |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Whig** | **James Erskine Wemyss** | ***Unopposed*** | | |
| Registered electors | | | 2,967 |  |  |
|  | Whig **hold** | | | | |

General election 1847: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Whig** | **John Fergus** | **834** | **52.1** | ***N/A*** |
|  | Conservative | John Balfour | 768 | 47.9 | *New* |
| Majority | | | 66 | 4.2 | *N/A* |
| Turnout | | | 1,602 | 65.6 | *N/A* |
| Registered electors | | | 2,444 |  |  |
|  | Whig **hold** | | | | |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Whig** | **John Fergus** | ***Unopposed*** | | |
| Registered electors | | | 3,211 |  |  |
|  | Whig **hold** | | | | |

General election 1857: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Whig** | **John Fergus** | ***Unopposed*** | | |
| Registered electors | | | 3,389 |  |  |
|  | Whig **hold** | | | | |

General election 1859: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Liberal** | **James Hay Erskine Wemyss** | **1,087** | **56.1** | ***N/A*** |
|  | Conservative | Robert St Clair-Erskine | 850 | 43.9 | *New* |
| Majority | | | 237 | 12.2 | *N/A* |
| Turnout | | | 1,937 | 47.8 | *N/A* |
| Registered electors | | | 4,056 |  |  |
|  | Liberal **hold** | | Swing | *N/A* |  |

### Elections in the 1860s

Wemyss's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 19 April 1864: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Liberal** | **Robert Anstruther** | ***Unopposed*** | | |
|  | Liberal **hold** | | | | |

General election 1865: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Liberal** | **Robert Anstruther** | ***Unopposed*** | | |
| Registered electors | | | 2,725 |  |  |
|  | Liberal **hold** | | | | |

General election 1868: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Liberal** | **Robert Anstruther** | **1,837** | **62.0** | ***N/A*** |
|  | Liberal | John Boyd Kinnear | 1,127 | 38.0 | *N/A* |
| Majority | | | 710 | 24.0 | *N/A* |
| Turnout | | | 2,964 | 70.5 | *N/A* |
| Registered electors | | | 4,206 |  |  |
|  | Liberal **hold** | | Swing | *N/A* |  |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Liberal** | **Robert Anstruther** | **1,859** | **60.2** | **1.8** |
|  | Conservative | Frederick William Hamilton | 1,230 | 39.8 | *New* |
| Majority | | | 629 | 20.4 | 3.6 |
| Turnout | | | 3,089 | 70.9 | +0.4 |
| Registered electors | | | 4,358 |  |  |
|  | Liberal **hold** | | Swing | *N/A* |  |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Fife
| Party | | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Liberal** | **Robert Preston Bruce** | **2,421** | **63.8** | **+3.6** |
|  | Conservative | James Townsend Oswald | 1,373 | 36.2 | 3.6 |
| Majority | | | 1,048 | 27.6 | +7.2 |
| Turnout | | | 3,794 | 79.6 | +8.7 |
| Registered electors | | | 4,767 |  |  |
|  | Liberal **hold** | | Swing | +3.6 |  |

## InfoBox

| Fife | |
| --- | --- |
| Former county constituency
for the House of Commons | |
| Major settlements | Fife |
| 17081885 | |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | Fife |
| Replaced by | East Fife
West Fife |