About Revels
What is Revels?
About Revels North?
Who Participates in Revels? About Our Staff.
Widening Our Circle
Revels History & Other Revels Locations
Contact Information
What is Revels?
Revels was founded in 1971 by musician, educator and author John Langstaff and his daughter Carol to celebrate the seasons in performance through the power of traditional song, dance, storytelling and ritual. Revels companies across the country create opportunities for communal celebration and participatory theater.
To learn more about the Revels family, visit the link for Revels, Inc.
Revels Companies include:
Revels, Inc. in Cambridge
Revels North
"The great success of the Revels is that while it refers to ancient tradition, the program itself has become a living tradition." -- The New York Times
What is Revels North?
Carol Langstaff brought the Revels from Cambridge to Hanover, New Hampshire 35 years ago. Incorporated in 1985, Revels North has its own rich traditions and events, including the Summer Solstice Festival, The Revels Kids "World of Song," program, community singing and pub sings, outreach events, and of course, the annual Christmas Revels at Dartmouth College's Hopkins Center.
Revels North has produced two wonderful ten-minute promotional videos (on DVD) that convey the very essence of the Solstice Festival and Christmas Revels. The Solstice Festival video was filmed by Daniel Crowe and edited by David Millstone. It features excerpts from the festival and interviews with David Gay.
These promotional videos are available for showing to organizations, neighborhood gatherings, schools, church groups, etc.-just about any group who would like to learn more about Revels. They are short, they are informative, they are entertaining and they are highly professional. You can show the videos yourself or you can arrange to have a Reveler come to present a program for your group. Call 866-556-3083 for more information.
Videos for sale: Both the Solstice Festival and Christmas Revels promotional videos are available on one DVD for $10.00. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (1-866-556-3083 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to place an order.
"As an upper valley resident I had never actually been to the Christmas Revels. I will never miss it again - I had no idea! The sets alone were worth the admission, and the performance was simply beautiful - that floating owl! I will always attend the Sunday pm performance."--E.L., Strafford resident
Who participates in Revels?
Performers: The performers in Revels are amateurs and professionals of all ages, drawn both from the upper Connecticut River valley, from across the United States, and from overseas. Tradition bearers from England, Karelia, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Canada and Appalachia have recently shared our stage or performed at our summer festival.
Auditions for the Christmas Show are held every June, and our non--auditioned Summer Solstice Choruses begin in April. From January through March we offer Revels Kids "World of Song" programing in Bradford, Windsor and Pomfret, VT, and in West Lebanon, NH.
Community events such as Pub Sings, community sings and dances, and other outreach performances are held throughout the year. Revels performers visit schools each winter with their instruments, stories and dances.
Backstage Revels: Behind-the-scenes work by talented volunteers is essential for a successful production. Backstage Revels offers a great opportunity for anyone who would like to be involved with the energetic and fun community of Revels but doesn't know how to get started. Your help, whether once or many times during the year, is very important. We invite you to join Backstage Revels! Opportunities for Backstage Revelers include: set construction, painting, strike; costume, wardrobe, sewing; children's chorus support; makeup; moving, trucking; mailings and publicity; cast refreshments and party, and ushering. Help for a few hours or more - whatever your schedule permits.
Board of Directors: Bill Schults, president; Rick Barrows, Treasurer; Rick Hoffman, secretary; Bernie Waugh, John Bartholomew, George Grabe, Sheila Moran, Mindy Wallace, and Faye Keat.
Staff:
- Maureen Burford, Artistic, Music & Stage Director
- Lindsey Warren, Assistant Choral Director Christmas Revels;
- Director Roving Revelers
- Sherry Merrick, Producer Christmas Revels
- Effie Cummings, Production Manager Christmas Revels,
- Assistant Stage Director, Christmas Revels
- Ron & Priscilla Carr, General Administrators
- Bonna Wieler, Producer & Production Manager, Summer Revels
- Katie Kitchel, Production Manager, Revels Kids
- Rebecca Bailey, Children's Director and Co-Direcotr, staff Revels Kids
- Sharon Groblicki, Summer Co-Director, Staff Revels Kids, Author of
- Revels "Gifts of the Season" articles
- Julieann Barney, Leslie Dustin, Marcia Bender, Kevin Quigley, Melinda Ricker, Katie Kitchel, Revels Kids staff.
Widening Our Circle
Through our World of Song program and other outreach events, Revels North is committed to providing opportunities for communty celebration and singing. Grants from the Vermont Arts Council, made possible with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Vermont State Legislature, as well as Byrne Foundation funding, have made our outreach programs possible. If you are interested in bringing Revels to your community or school, please contact Sherry Merrick, our General Administrator, to learn what we can offer.
We hope you'll tell friends and acquaintances about the many ways they can join the Revels experience -- having fun backstage, in the chorus, in our audience, or at our teacher workshops and community appearances. Look for the Revels booth or the Revels Troupe at a community event near you.
Revels Teens & Kids
Children and teenagers are a significant part of most Revels events, and often our best spokespeople. The Christmas show includes both a children's and teen chorus, and other children's choruses are offered through the year. We also offer opportunities for dance through Green Mountain and Maple Leaf Morris teams, who appear annually in the Christmas show and summer Revels, as well as at many of our outreach events. One of the great joys of Revels is our inter-generational community.
"Revels was the perfect introduction to stage performance for my daughter. She is already asking me to sign her up for the next program!" --A.T., parent of 7 yr. old
Contact Information
General Manager phone number: 1-866-556-3083
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mailing Address: PO Box 415, Hanover, NH 03755