The Washington Revels has been dedicated to reviving and celebrating cultural traditions -- music, dance, stories, drama and ritual -- that have bound communities together over the ages and across the globe.

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS

An established cultural institution in the greater Washington area for nearly 25 years, the Washington Revels produces "The Christmas Revels" at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium. The eight performances over two weekends in early December draw over 10,000 people annually, and a dress rehearsal/outreach performance reaches another 1,400 people who could not otherwise attend. The Washington Revels also produces an annual May Festival, a Pub Sing, and workshops and classes throughout the year.

About the directors:
       - Executive Director, Greg Lewis
       - Artistic Director, Roberta Gasbarre
       - Music Director, Elizabeth Fulford Miller

REVELS in the COMMUNITY

The Washington Revels is an active participant in the broader community. Partnering with the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution's Discovery Theater, Revels adapted materials from three of its Christmas
productions into multi-media programs seen by over 8000 school children. Revels is currently partnering with the Washington Lawyers Committee and World Bank/IMF Community of Artists to present tradition-bearers from
different countries in over 25 D.C. public schools. In Fall 2005 Revels will help inaugurate a remarkable new community theater in Southeast Washington, using children and other performers from the local community.

For more information on these and other programs, visit our Education and Outreach page.

HISTORY of REVELS

The Revels began 30 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is now in eleven cities across the United States. Each city is an independent nonprofit institution with its own board and office and artistic staff. An umbrella organization, Revels, Inc., in Cambridge, maintains artistic standards for all cities, researches traditional materials from many cultures and provides scripts and music.

The Revels concept was developed by John Langstaff—noted concert baritone, music educator and prize-winning author. Originally based on traditional English material and set in the middle ages, the productions now explore traditions from many cultures— Celtic, Tudor and Victorian English, French, Russian, Scandinavian, American Appalachian, Italian Renaissance, African-American, Gypsy—and different time periods.

WHAT IS REVELS?

Using a colorful blend of traditional music, dance, drama and poetry, Revels creates participatory performance and educational programs centered around celebrations of important cultural events. The 'core' celebrations revolve around the cyclical renewal of life reflected in the circle of the seasons: the rebirth of Spring, and the return of light following the shortest day of the Winter Solstice. Many of the traditions and rituals surrounding these events are shared, in varying forms, by people across the world.

Exploring these themes through the prisms of different cultures, Revels uniquely illustrates -- at a time when such understanding is much needed -- the common responses to fundamental events that bind humanity together, connecting adults and children alike in a community of people that stretches across national boundaries and back through the ages of time.

The major event in a Revels organization is the Christmas Revels. Each production is professionally staged and directed, uniquely mixing professional actors and musicians with an volunteer chorus of adults, teens and children who also portray the members of the community. These bald facts, however, do little to explain the essence of Revels, the extraordinary devotion of its large cadre of volunteers, or why so many people and families view the Revels as central to their holiday celebration. The magic of Revels comes when the audience has a sense of being part of a community with deep rooted and recognizable traditions reflected in the onstage performing community. Whatever the reason, people invariably leave a Revels production with smiles on their faces and in their hearts.

• Find out about the origins of the Revels, by reading the Revels History.
• Revels productions take place all through the year around the country.
• Interested in starting a Revels in your city or town?
• Experience Revels music through Revels Recordings, Songbooks and Videos

Photo credits: Top and bottom photos by Ken Cobb; middle photo by Monica Mohindra