Revels
revel contemporary series american seasonal stage performance incorporating singing dancing recital theatrics loosely organized around central theme narrative folktraditionbased performance started restarted occur multiple city around u performance initially given christmas time christmas revel town hall new york city involved singing dancing recital theatrics usually brief skit often humorous usually audience participation appropriate holiday season performer usually local often nonprofessional frequently young event founded john langstaff christmas entertainment daughter carol later started producing christmas revel cambridge massachusetts harvard university sander theater frequently played soldout house death langstaff assisted member family led fostered several similar revel organization various american city ability get done well teaching performing style admired childrens television producer jonathan meath tenor two cd album entitled welcome yule victorian revel present organization revel inc produce event ten city across united state including four northeast region country additional seasonal celebratory event mark spring summer city production echo english theatrical precedent th century earlier professional singer actor musician mixed talented amateur traditionbearers often brought share featured culture music dance ritual authentic manner almost always childrens chorus performs song dance game themed period location traditional english morris dancing often incorporated adapted somewhat cultural theme particular year reviewer especially mentioned dance upbeat nature performance year christmas revel draw upon different era culture christmas winter solstice tradition example christmas revel cambridge based music song dance inspired writer thomas hardy beloved wessex earliest performance drew medieval english tradition mummer play retained albeit sometimes altered matter time period culture featured usually audience singing encouraged several part performance tradition include ending every first half production sydney carter lord dance hymn last verse audience encouraged dance along cast lobby memorial hall cambridge revel performance author susan cooper wrote poem christmas revel production recited near end second half performance annual celebration expanded several american city exist songbook production guide commercial recording assist unfamiliar ancient folk music dancing recording sometimes included noted performer particular folk tradition featured given year appalachian dulcimer player singer jean ritchie appeared wassail wassail early american christmas revel event combine professional paid performer unpaid volunteer often participate chorus dance crowd scene adult child spanning wide range age present stage audience addition large number volunteer help behindthescenes work costume set building promotion fundraising least ten independent revel organization active u cambridge revel cambridge massachusetts revel north hanover new hampshire new york revel new york new york washington revel washington dc revel houston houston texas rocky mountain revel boulder colorado santa barbara revel santa barbara california california revel oakland california portland revel portland oregon puget sound revel tacoma washington dickens fair master revel renaissance fair official website