The Christmas Revels

In Celebration of the Winter Solstice

Directed by Patrick Swanson
George Emlen, Music Director

REVIEWS:

The Boston Globe: Traditional and Terrific 'Revels' Fun
Dorchester Reporter: Revels Returns Christmas Story to its Roots
Boston Herald: 'Revels' puts the fun back into Christmas

View The Program Book Online [8.4 MB]

The 41st annual Christmas Revels found pilgrims from all over Europe celebrating in a small fishing village in the south of France, ca. 1600. Led by their local Guild of Fools, villagers prepared for a great annual feast and holiday pageant to mark the end of the old year and the birth of the new. 

When the stars came out, the moon rose, and the music and singing began, mysterious visitors arrived from the East. With  sun, moon and stars in delicate balance, and three Fools in charge of the smooth transition to the new year, what could possibly go wrong?

Filled with music and dance from England, France, Spain and the Middle East, plus comedy, rituals and carols and familiar Revels touchstones like The Shortest Day, the Sussex Mummers Carol, Dona Nobis Pacem and the joyous and participatory, Lord of the Dance, this year's production was a truly celestial celebration. 

The 80-member ensemble included the Revels Chorus of adults and children, musician and song leader David Coffin, featured soloist Salome Sandoval, the Pinewoods Morris Men, Cambridge Symphonic Brass Ensemble, the Sharq Trio from the renowned Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble and our trio of actors from last year's anniversary production, Happenstance Theater's Mark Jaster and Sabrina Mandell, and local favorite actor Timothy Sawyer. 

The design team for the 2011 Christmas Revels included Jeremy Barnett, Set Design; Heidi A. Hermiller, Costume Design; Jeff Adelberg, Lighting Design; and William Winn, Sound Design; Andy Taylor-Blenis, Choreographer.  Cambridge artist Mitch Ryerson designed our "Ship of Fools".

More Press
Neighborhood Network News segment on The Christmas Revels (December 16, 2011)

Christmas Revels: The Sounding Joy an article by Jim Collins in Yankee Magazine. 40 years of reveling with photos from past productions. (December 2010)

Q&A with artist Mitch Ryerson, designer of our "Ship of Fools" (Cambridge Chronicle, December 16, 2011)

Steve Smith, the New Man Behind The Christmas Revels  (Boston Globe, December 10, 2011)