Revels North presents Midwinter Revels

 Revels North Presents Midwinter Revels 2023

Fri. Dec. 15, 2023 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Claremont Opera House

Join us for a very special year as we take the Midwinter Revels on the road for the first time. In preparation for our 50th year in 2024, we will be reviving magical moments from past productions and bringing them back to life with a very special celebratory touring show full of music, dance, community singing, special guests, and more.

Directed by Alex Cumming with Sharon Groblicki (Revels Kids) and Laurel Swift (Dance).

Concert baritone, recording artist, and music educator John Langstaff staged his first Christmas Revels in New York City at Town Hall in 1957. The critically acclaimed production with its traditional songs, dances, mime, and a mummers’ play introduced a wholly new way of celebrating the winter solstice. Ten years later NBC Television engaged him to create a nationally televised “Hallmark Hall of Fame” Christmas special (called A Christmas Masque but using the same framework as today’s Christmas Revels) which ran for two consecutive years. In the meantime, Jack continued his active teaching and singing career, instilling the love of traditional and classical music in thousands of young children through televised BBC programs in England where he also made a number of children’s recordings with his friend and producer, George Martin. Returning to the States, for many years he was an influential and much-loved Head of Music at the Potomac School in Maryland.
 

In 1971, Jack’s daughter Carol persuaded him to revive The Christmas Revels. As a team they pulled together a large group of performers and staged three performances in Harvard’s Sanders Theatre. By 1974, an energetic community of “Revelers” was actively involved, a board of directors was formed, and Revels, Inc. was established as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Starting as a producer in 1977, Gayle Rich led the growth of the company as Executive Director from 1984-2011.
 

Carol Langstaff brought the Revels from Cambridge to Hanover, New Hampshire, and in 1974 Revels North was founded. With its own rich traditions and events, Revels North is a cultural institution in the Upper Valley, providing year-round programming and events for all ages.

In our forty-five-year history, we have been fortunate to be inspired to do things we didn’t always think possible by our artistic directors, Carol Langstaff, David Gay, Maureen Burford, Nils Fredland & Alex Cumming. They have created and brought together so much marvelous material for us all to embrace and present to our audiences. We also are grateful beyond measure for the enormous gifts of time and talents given by many diligent board members, past and present, whose work, ideas, money, and determination have kept us going.
 

Today, Revels companies across the country create opportunities for communal celebration and participatory theater.

Tickets are $12 – $75 plus fees.

VIP EVENT: Support Revels North and enjoy some after-show refreshments. $75 buys a preferred front-row seat and access to our VIP reception featuring light appetizers and desserts with beer, wine, and soft drinks. Mingle with Board members, Executive Director Julia Hautaniemi and Artistic Director Alex Cumming to learn more about our future plans for Revels North.

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