Children’s Chorus auditions will be held on Friday, September 8, and on Saturday, September 9, at 80 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

Auditions will be held in half-hour slots. Available time slots are listed below. If none of the available time slots work for you and your child, please contact Emilie Moore at emoore@revels.org as we may be able to make alternate arrangements.

Six children will audition in each slot. Children will play a name game and a movement game with the other auditioners and our artistic staff. Auditioners will also sing solo and with the larger group.

Auditioners will be asked to sing three songs:

• “Happy Birthday”
• A song of the auditioner’s choice – please prepare a verse and chorus of a folk song, carol, or lullaby. This should be something simple that is comfortable and enjoyable to sing. We are not looking for a pop song or showtune. If you are unsure about what to choose, please feel free to email or call Production Manager Emilie Moore at emoore@revels.org or 202-480-1711.
• All children will learn “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in the audition room and be asked to sing it in small groups as a round.

Parents/guardians will be asked to stay on the premises during the entire half-hour slot. Parents will have the opportunity to meet with Mari Young, Revels’ Children’s Chorus coordinator, and ask any questions they may have about the Midwinter Revels experience.

Please fill out this audition form prior to the audition. Either print out and bring your completed form or email your completed form to Emilie Moore at emoore@revels.org. The audition form asks for potential rehearsal/performance conflicts, so please check our schedule prior to your audition as well.

Performing in Revels is a big commitment. Throughout October and November, we generally hold 1-2 weeknight rehearsals a week, with three “all-day” Saturday rehearsals. This year’s rehearsal schedule for the children’s chorus is as follows:

CHILDREN’S WEEKDAY REHEARSALS:  4 – 5:30 PM

Monday, September 18 (Parent Orientation 4:30-5:30 PM)
Tuesday, September 26
Monday, October 2
Tuesday, October 10
Monday, October 16
Monday, October 23
Monday, October 30
Monday, November 6
Monday, November 13
Monday, November 20
Monday, November 27
Monday, December 4

SATURDAY REHEARSALS: 9 – 5 PM

Saturday, October 21
Saturday, November 11
Saturday, December 9

View full rehearsal schedule here.

TECH WEEK:
December 11, 5 – 9:30 PM
December 12, 5 – 9:30 PM
December 13, 5 – 10:30 PM

DRESS REHEARSAL: December 14, 5:30 PM call

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (Subject to Change – final decisions will be made by August 2023):

Dec 15 – 28: 13 performances

Friday, December 15 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 16 – 3:00 PM
Sunday, December 17 – 1:00 PM, 5:30 PM
Thursday, December 21 – 7:30 PM
Friday, December 22  – 3:00 PM, 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 23 – 3:00 PM, 7:30 PM
Tuesday, December 26 – 3:00 PM, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, December 27 – 7:30 PM
Thursday, December 28 – 1:00 PM

View full performance schedule here.

Midwinter Revels: The Feast of Fools – A Medieval Celebration of the Winter Solstice
Directed by Patrick Swanson and Debra Wise; Elijah Botkin, Music Director

Our Midwinter Revels this year drops us into the colorful medieval Feast of Fools, where everything is topsy-turvy by design. The status quo quickly becomes the status disruptus as the body politic officially lets off steam. Rulers are temporarily deposed by servants, wit triumphs over power, and a fool finds himself steering the ship of state. On this shortest day of the year, what could possibly go wrong?  

Highlighting brass and early instruments, this musical feast will feature vibrant processionals, lively caroles, delicate choral harmonies, vigorous dances, and a full ritual serving of the wild and the holy. Of course, the familiar may come with a twist – we live in our own age of folly, and by some accounts, time is a fiction.  

Come sing favorites old and new and dance your way with us into the lobby of Sanders Theatre and out into the brand new year!   

Diversity is a fundamental element in Revels’ musical and theatrical productions. Through music, dance, and storytelling, we celebrate the seasonal and cultural traditions of our world, honoring and upholding the differences that make individuals and cultures truly unique and reminding us of the universal values that connect us all. This principle guides our organizational approach with events, educational programs, performers, audience, volunteers, partners, and staff. We offer an open, creative space that welcomes every person to help shape and take part in our distinctive community experiences.

Revels commits to diversifying all aspects of our productions. To achieve this, we have created the Revels Opportunity Fund to make it possible for any interested person to participate in our volunteer auditioned chorus for The Midwinter Revels. The Opportunity Fund will help to cover the costs of transportation, childcare, and other expenses that might make it difficult to participate in our annual flagship production. We welcome every person to help shape and take part in our distinctive community experiences. More details on the Revels Opportunity Fund will be available later this summer.

The Revels Youth Protection Policy was adopted by the board in June 2016. All Midwinter Revels cast members eighteen and older will be required to pass a CORI check in order to be a member of the cast. If you have any questions contact Administrative Service Manager Jen Sur at jsur@revels.org.

Review Revels Youth Protection Policies here.

Review CORI Procedures here.

COVID Policy for Auditions

• All child auditionees must be fully vaccinated with at least one booster if it has been at least 5 months since they had their second dose of covid vaccine.
• We will require everyone to take an antigen test the day of their audition. If you take it at home, please take a photo of it to bring in (you will show this picture at the check in table). If you are not able to acquire a test, please show up 20 minutes early to your audition slot and we will provide one for you to take on-site.
• Masking will be encouraged in the shared spaces of the audition, but optional. If you would like to speak to someone further about health and safety concerns, please email auditions@revels.org.

These policies are subject to change given the current COVID environment. All auditionees will be made aware of updated COVID policies prior to their auditions.