Chorus Auditions for The Midwinter Revels: A Celebration of the Solstice

(May 19, 2022 – Watertown, MA) — Revels Inc., a national cultural performing arts nonprofit, announced today

Audition for The Midwinter Revels, one of the region’s most popular holiday entertainments!

THREE DATES – TWO LOCATIONS:

WHEN:  Monday, June 13 & Tuesday, June 14, 2022
(4-6 pm children ages 7-12; 7-10 pm adults)
WHERE:  Belmont-Watertown UMC, 80 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA

WHEN:  SATURDAY, June 18, 2022
(4-6 pm children ages 7-12; 7-10 pm adults)
WHERE:  Tony Williams Dance Center, 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA

Revels seeks a diverse and talented volunteer chorus of adults and children to join us onstage for 15 performances of The Midwinter Revels at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, MA. While Revels uses a number of professional performers in its productions, its volunteer choruses of adults and children are at its core. There is no “standing” Revels production chorus; We audition each cast anew and encourage adults and children of diverse backgrounds to try out for the production. BIPOC singers are highly encouraged to audition. 

About the show:

The Midwinter Revels: A Celebration of the Solstice

Directed by Patrick Swanson with music direction by Elijah Botkin, our 52^nd annual solstice celebration highlights Mexican, Irish and Jewish cultures and will enjoy a 15 performance run December 16-29, 2022 at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre.

“Long before there was a Christmas, man celebrated at this time of the year upon noticing the return of the sun to higher elevations in the sky. Pagan rituals sprang up around this event, later to become tangled with Christian lore, which called for a celebration at a nearly identical date. Folk dances, songs, and plays often blended and blurred the pagan and Christian traditions. The result was a unique type of expression that was both wild and holy.”

                              –  Revels founder John Langstaff  (from the first Christmas Revels program note, 1971)

This year we are using the title “Midwinter Revels” to more accurately describe our seasonal celebration which will feature Irish, Mexican and Jewish cultures. Although in the past we have invited and included performers and material of all faith backgrounds under the banner of The Christmas Revels, we are taking the opportunity this year to be more inclusive in emphasizing the secular aspects of our popular seasonal event. We hope that you will join with us in joyfully widening our circle of friends and community. Read more about this year’s name change at https://revels.org/midwinter-revels-a-celebration-of-the-solstice/  Great joy to the new! 

Please Note: Chorus Auditions are by appointment only. Check out our rehearsal and performance schedule and sign up today at www.revels.org/auditions.

Special Note re: Revels Opportunity Fund:

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 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. For more details on the Revels Opportunity Fund please write info@revels.org

For more information on all things Revels please visit www.revels.org.

Thank you!

ABOUT REVELS
Revels engages audiences across nine U.S. cities in theatrical and musical experiences that bring the world’s cultural traditions and celebrations to life. Since its founding in 1971, nearly two million people nationwide have joined in the song and dance of Revels’ seasonal celebrations. In-person programs include the flagship production The Christmas Revels, Revels RiverSing, Spring Sing, salons, harbor cruises, and pub sings, as well as a collaborative program with the Perkins School for the Blind and innovative educational programs for children and adults. Reels offers hybrid and online programs throughout the year as part of its #RevelsConnects series, including Musical Connections, produced with the Mass Cultural Council’s Folk Arts and Tradition Program. Revels’ cast and backstage crew are a mix of professional and auditioned non-professional singers, dancers, and storytellers ranging from young children to adults.