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Revels Houston Presents The Christmas Revels - An Elizabethan Celebration of the Winter Solstice

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 October 2008, 18:00 CDT

HOUSTON, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Revels Houston presents The Christmas Revels - An Elizabethan Celebration of the Winter Solstice for two weekends, December 13-14 and December 20-21 at Lowe Theater in the Virginia Stuller Tatham Fine Arts Center, 2401 Claremont in Houston on the campus of St. John's School. This year's show continues the Revels tradition of celebrating diverse holiday traditions across history and cultures.

An Elizabethan Celebration of the Winter Solstice features a whimsical story line, spirited madrigals from the time period, and an enthusiastic cast of local singers, actors and dancers. "It's like a play with music," says artistic director Beth Sanford. "I love the low-life characters in the show and all the humor; it's pure fun with no conflict."

Setting the show in Shakespeare's time opened up a world of creativity for Sanford and her loyal tribe of revelers. The curtain opens on Will Kemp, Shakespeare's famous clown, who has just finished Morris dancing all the way from London to Norwich in nine days. The town prepares for a visit from Queen Elizabeth I with joyous singing and dancing and a feisty troupe of rude mechanicals.

Noted local actor Barbara Lasater portrays Queen Elizabeth I in grand style. Jerry Miller heads up the three hilarious rude mechanicals while Ed Benyon brings Kemp to life. The fast-paced first act ends with a bring-down-the-house version of "Lord of the Dance," with everyone dancing joyously through the aisles.

The show reveals the richly textured music of the era. "This show highlights the golden age of Elizabethan music, with wonderful secular and sacred choral music," says Judy McEnany, music director. Well-known madrigals from John Bennet and Thomas Weelkes, along with motets by William Byrd, complete the musical score. Seattle-based early music expert Shulamit Kleinerman will be leading the period orchestra featuring lute, guitar, vielle, violin, flute, recorder, bass gamba and cello. The Paragon Brass Ensemble, led by Tom Tillotson, will also be on hand.

The Revels tradition of audience participation continues with such favorites as "Deck the Halls," and "Ding Dong Merrily on High." The Revels' shows always ends with everyone singing the rousing "Sussex Mummers' Carol."

"Once they tried a Revels show without the song and the audience wouldn't leave until they sang it," reports Sanford. "After that near-riot the song has never been left out again."

Performance Schedule Saturday, December 13, 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm Sunday, December 14, 6:30 pm Saturday, December 20, 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm Sunday, December 21, 2:30 pm Venue:

Lowe Theater in the Virginia Stuller Tatham Fine Arts Center, 2401 Claremont, Houston, TX 77019, on the campus of St. John's School.

Tickets:

$30 and $22 for adults; $15 for children 12 and under. Group discounts are available. To purchase tickets call 713-668-3303, 713-669-9528 or visit http://www.revelshouston.org/.

Media contact: Susan Love Fitts, 936-597-8825 susanlovefitts@consolidated.net

Revels Houston

CONTACT: Susan Love Fitts, +1-936-597-8825,susanlovefitts@consolidated.net, for Revels Houston

Web Site: http://www.revelshouston.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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