Christmas Revels Logo

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary!

image
Roger Ide Photo

The Christmas Revels

:

In Celebration of the Winter Solstice

Sanders Theatre

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

See Scott Alarik's review in The Boston Globe

divider

Photos from the Dress Rehearsal!

Photos from the Show!

Christmas Revels 2000 Program Book Online!

Revels celebrated the solstice "American-style" with a special 30th Anniversary production of THE CHRISTMAS REVELS at Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge, December 15-17, 20-23 & 26-30

The Christmas Revels celebrated its 30th Anniversary by quilting a tapestry of rich American folk traditions ranging from Appalachian to Gospel, and expanding to 18 performances at historic Sanders Theater.

For thirty years, Revels has been celebrating the winter solstice at historic Sanders Theatre. Revels audiences have traveled to many unfamiliar lands and times through music, dance and drama. This year's production found Revels back home - in the mountains of Appalachia - as we celebrated the courage of the African Americans who traveled the "Gospel Train," and rejoiced in the simplicity and warmth of an Appalachian Christmas.

We hope you joined us on our big front porch and enjoyed the moving harmonies of The Silver Leaf Gospel Singers, a 6-voice a capella gospel choir that's been together for more than fifty years (and who've vowed to keep singing together "until the angels get happy"). And while you're there, stayed a while and listened to the quiet beauty of a Tennessee lullaby sung by 7th generation Appalachian singer and storyteller, Sheila Kay Adams, another of our many featured performers. Also appearing was a wonderful string band, the 40-member Revels Chorus, The Rocky River Children, The Smoky Mountain Dancers, The Cambridge Symphonic Brass Ensemble, and frequent Revels performers Janice Allen and David Coffin. We danced through the grand lobby of Memorial Hall as David led the audience in Revels' signiture piece, "Lord of the Dance," a true ritual of our own.

image
Roger Ide Photo

Staged by Revels artistic director Patrick Swanson with music direction by George Emlen, the 30th Anniversary production of The Christmas Revels was filled with rousing Gospel music and soulful Spirituals, Appalachian fiddling and clogging, Shape-Note hymns and Shaker tunes, a breathtaking sword dance and a Mountain Mummers' Play. And, as in every Revels production, audience participation was greatly encouraged!

Sanders Theatre is located on the corner of Quincy and Kirkland Streets, a five minute walk from the Harvard Square T stop on the Red Line.

Sanders Theatre45 Quincy St
Cambridge, MA 02138-3003
MapBlast Map!
click map for more details
Brought to you by MapBlast!
divider


New Release!
New release from Revels Records!
divider For more information on The Christmas Revels or to receive a free catalogue of Revels recordings and songbooks, please call 617-972-8300 or e-mail us at [email protected].

divider

Founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1971 by musician John Langstaff and his daughter Carol, The Revels has grown into a national non-profit arts organization, offering a wide Variety of recorded music and theatrical seasonal celebrations using traditional folk materials from around the world. In December 2000, The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice will be presented in eleven cities across the country: Cambridge, Massachusets; Chicago, Illinois; Hanover, New Hampshire; New York City; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, DC; Houston, Texas; Tacoma, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Oakland, California; and St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Boston Globe
Christmas Revels is supported, in part, by a generous grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Revels would also like to thank the following businesses for their support of the 2000 Christmas Revels:

divider

You can look at pictures of:

The 2005 Christmas Revels
The 2000 Christmas Revels
The 1999 Christmas Revels
The 1998 Christmas Revels
The 1997 Christmas Revels
The 1996 Christmas Revels
The 25th Anniversary 1995 Christmas Revels

Back Sheldon Brown's Unofficial Revels Index Page

Official Revels, Inc. Site
The 2005 Christmas Revels
The 2000 Christmas Revels 2001 Spring Revels
The 1999 Christmas Revels 2000 Spring Revels
The 1998 Christmas Revels 1999 Sea Revels
The 1997 Christmas Revels 1998 Sea Revels
The 1996 Christmas Revels 1997 Midsummer Revels
The 1995 Christmas Revels 1996 Midsummer Revels

christmas00 Since May 21

Web site by Backstage Revels volunteer Sheldon Brown

Updated Saturday, December 30, 2000
url https://www.sheldonbrown.com/org/revels/christmas00.html