What’s Your Version of the Revels Elephant?
Blogs
04.13.2015
Last January at our winter pub sing at Doyle’s Café, I got talking with a handful of 30-somethings who lived nearby and were looking for a different kind of night out. “How did you find us?” I asked. “Oh, just read about it in the Globe,” they said. “Have you been to any other Revels events?” I pursued. “Nope. Never heard of it till now,” was the consensus.
Some of my favorite moments in the Revels year are hearing from people who are getting their first taste of Revels. It could be at a pub sing, or a harbor cruise, or RiverSing, or a salon, or a children’s workshop. And of course it could be at The Christmas Revels. It’s always exciting to watch as first-time attendees are caught off guard when Sanders Theatre is suddenly filled with the brilliant sound and color of an opening carol.
In each case, they are getting a first glimpse of what we do. It calls to mind the oft-told Indian parable of the blind men and the elephant, in which each man experiences the elephant differently depending on what part of it he is touching. The story is used to illustrate that we all have a partial grasp of the truth and that no one can see the entirety of it. Nowadays there are so many different Revels parts to grab ahold of that one can joyfully be engaged in one and be blissfully unaware of others. For some, the Revels FRINGE concerts may be the only thing they ever know about us. For others, a Revels week at Ogontz Camp in the White Mountains in August will define what Revels is.
I was reminded of this elephant at our high-spirited Spring Sing in March. We saw many familiar faces in the crowd. But we also met and heard from a few folks who were just discovering us. From their perspective Revels is an organization providing a well-timed, energetic shot of song and dance to lift us out of some very deep snow banks. So true, but such a small sampling of the amazing array of what Revels now offers!
Does anyone experience the whole Revels elephant? Highly unlikely. One would be hard pressed to attend every performance, event, gathering and workshop that we offer in the course of a year. Even for those who manage to take all the rides offered at Revels World, the emphasis is always a little different for each person. What you know about Revels is true, but it is probably not the whole truth. This year maybe you’d like to find out more.
The elephant story is resolved when the blind men, who start out by arguing over the true nature of the beast, begin listening to each other and realize how limited their personal concepts are. I’m not suggesting we need to argue about what Revels is! I’m just saying: this year surprise yourself by exploring Revels and discover something new about us.
Related Stories
See More
Boston Music Intelligencer REVIEW: Going Deeper Underground with “Secret Byrd”
Events Insider REVIEW: Revels Presents Immersive Musical Theatrical Experience SECRET BYRD at
Secret Byrd Spotlight: Owain Park
The Boston Musical Intelligencer PREVIEW: Don’t Tell Anyone About “Secret Byrd”
Revels Fringe Spotlight: Seven Times Salt
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Marina & Lena Nugent
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Jacob & Mira Whiting
Boston Globe REVIEW: Midwinter Revels Serves Up a Frolicsome ‘Feast of Fools’
Theater Mirror REVIEW: Revels Goes Medieval in Swanson’s Swan Song with ‘Feast
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: You’d Be a Fool to Miss this Feast
Broadway World REVIEW: Midwinter Revels – A Journey of Comfort and Joy
Boston Globe HOLIDAY ARTS PREVIEW: A medieval ‘Midwinter Revels’ will suffer these
RiverSing Spotlight: Good Trouble Brass Band
Debra Wise Appointed Associate Artistic Director of Revels, Inc.
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Rosalba Solis
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Carolyn Saxon
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: Let the Revels’ Sun Shine into Your Home
The Arts Fuse REVIEW: “Midwinter Revels” — Unity, “Behold How Good”
New England Theater Mirror REVIEW: ‘Midwinter Revels’ Brings Together Multiple Cultures for
WBUR REVIEW: Revels is back with a more inclusive, rebranded holiday spectacular
Boston Globe REVIEW: A ‘Solstice Celebration’ for everyone
Midwinter Revels Chorus Spotlight – Heather Koerber Nunes and Jake Nunes
Chorus Auditions for The Midwinter Revels: A Celebration of the Solstice
Midwinter Revels – A Celebration of the Solstice
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Dr. Kathy Bullock
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Claire Dickson
In Memory of Ashley Bryan
Common Pursuits in Different Suits
The Sleepless Critic: ‘Christmas Revels In Celebration of Winter Solstice’ a clever
The Arts Fuse: “The Christmas Revels 2021” — As Usual, Rising in
Joyce’s Choices: The Christmas Revels
New England Theater Mirror: Christmas Revels Returns to Sanders Theater
Revels, Inc. Names Elijah Botkin as New Music Director
Boston Globe Review: The ‘Christmas Revels’ celebrates a new direction
Behind the Scenes at Revels
Thanks Giving
Meet Arkansas Light, Christmas Revels Production Stage Manager
Artist Spotlight: Ken Field
Volunteer Spotlight: Haley Fisher
The Sleepless Critic Review: Christmas Revels 50th virtual anniversary delivers mirth, merriment,
Review: Christmas Classics – Virtual Editions and Good as New!!
Boston Globe Review: This virtual Christmas Revels is a virtual triumph
Volunteer Spotlight: Rachel Grygorcewicz
Volunteer Spotlight: Nick Browse
Volunteer Spotlight: Ross Hall
Volunteer Spotlight: Harvey Cohen
Volunteer Spotlight: Cathie Ghorbani
Volunteer Spotlight: Mari Young
Volunteer Spotlight: Julie Smith
David Zooms to Perkins
Volunteer Spotlight: John Recroft
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!
Review: Christmas Revels Brings Its Special Cheer to Depression Era America
BWW Review: THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: A Long Tradition of Community Forged Through
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – American Version
REVIEW: Nearly 50, Christmas Revels is better than ever
REVIEW: This Christmas Revels goes to the American heartland
Thanksgiving
Solstice Duality
Happy Spring!
REVIEW: Christmas Revels Celebrates the ‘Other’ Great White North
REVIEW: ‘The Christmas Revels’ points north
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – A Wonderful Nordic Celebration
Just Add Audience
The Longest Day
A Magical Experience: The Making of a CD
Malibu 2018
REVIEW: Revels’ ‘Venetian Celebration’ glitters
REVIEW: Old World Music, Comedy from Renaissance Era Lights Up Christmas Revels
St. Nicholas in Bohemia: Mikulas Eve
REVIEW: A handsome ‘Christmas Revels’ brings the party to Venice
A liberating holiday performance
The Master of the Revels
The Solstice Stands Revealed
Revels is here! Revels is here!
Striding Arches
Moonlighting with Shakespeare
What Blizzard?
Christmas Revels Enchants with Celebration of Acadian, Cajun Cultures
The Holy and the Broken Hallelujah Or How I learned to stop
This Acadian-Cajun Christmas Revels lets the good times roll
Annual Christmas Revels’ production fills the stage with delight
A Music Director Reflects
Fenway’s Ritual Earth
Welcome to Our New Music Director
Reflections on Malibu
‘Christmas Revels’ finally makes it to Wales
Christmas Revels – Looking Back and Looking Forward
Dylan Thomas: the intersection where poetry and drama meet
Revels Music Director George Emlen Announces His Retirement
Giving Voice
A Revels Director in Wales
Summer solstice: the year’s circus act
The Boston Globe profiles harpist Maeve Gilchrist and Revels FRINGE
Reporting on Education at Revels
The Great Flying Machine Race
The Wheel of the World
What’s Your Version of the Revels Elephant?
Farewell from Steve
Summer Camp
Fuse Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – Charming English Music Hall Edition
The Boston Globe Review: For Christmas Revels, a welcome return to Victorian
Events Insider Review: Christmas Revels Brings Victorian Dance Hall Celebration to Sanders
TAB Newspapers Theater Review: Revels transports audiences to Victorian England
The Crystal Palace
Don’t Blame Persephone
From the FRINGE: Who’s Maeve Listening to?
Solstice Fires
Patriot’s Day – My Favorite Holiday
A Forum on Arts Funding
Spring Forward
The Itinerant Musician
Welcome to the Revels blog
Stay up to date
with Revels.
with Revels.
Sign up to receive email updates on performances, events, and news coming from Revels.