Mark your calendars for 2010! There are many ways to participate this winter/spring in Revels community events. More information on the 2010 upcoming activities will be coming soon ... so check back often!

January 24, 2010PUB SING AT MCGINTY'S

We will once again gather at McGinty's Public House in Silver Spring, MD. Revels will have the entire second floor bar area - wheelchair accessible, with seats available for all! Good food, good drink, good company, and great singing! The only missing ingredient will be you, if you miss out on the event!

Food and drinks can be ordered beginning at 6pm. Singing will start at 7pm and formally end at 9pm, with a brief intermission. All songs will be SING-ALONGS, with songbooks and songleaders provided. Kids and teens are always welcome -– there will be a few songs that celebrate the virtue of drink (it is a pub sing, after all), but not many. If you would like to lead a song, email pubsing@revelsdc.org.

Given the strong response to last year’s inaugural mini- “Burns Supper,” honoring the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns, the Pub Sing will again include a shortened, 20-minute version of the traditional celebration held on January 25th, including a few songs, the entrance of (and "Address" to) the haggis, and bagpiper, ending with a rousing 'Auld Lang Syne' as written by Burns himself!

Tickets: Admission may be available at the door, but we strongly recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance because seating is limited to 150 people. Last year we sold out two days before the event! Ticket proceeds go to Washington Revels; food and beverage from McGinty’s regular menu at your expense.

Location: McGinty's Public House, 911 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring, MD, (301) 587-1270
     [view directions/map]  [closest metro stop: Silver Spring ... about a 4-block walk]
     Parking is available in the Wayne Avenue garage between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street,
     and also at the garage on the corner of Ellsworth and Fenton.
Date/Time: Sunday, January 24, 6:00 - 9:00pm

PAST EVENTS

December 5-6& 11-13, 2009THE CHRISTMAS REVELS

Washington Revels’ 27th annual celebration of the Winter Solstice transports us to Italy at the end of the 15th century. Maestro Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance man, has invited the Doge of Venice, nobles from the courts of Italy, craftsmen, townspeople, and all their children to celebrate the turning of the year. Enjoy Leonardo’s art and inventions, Italian holiday traditions, a Roman Saturnalia, and the magic of the season with glorious music, rousing dance—and an eclipse of the sun!

Join the acclaimed Revels company (over 75 performers, ages 8-80) on this colorful journey to seasons past with special guests Piffaro the Renaissance Band, Revels favorites Oran Sandel as Leonardo and Morgan Duncan as the Doge, as well as Emma Jaster—daughter of Revels’ beloved fool Mark Jaster—in the role of the Doge's comic servant, Smeraldina. You and your family are invited! The Maestro awaits…

8 Performances: See details below.
Location: Lisner Auditorium of The George Washington University
                  21st and H Streets NW, Washington, D.C (view location and parking information)

Washington Revels thanks NIAF, the National Italian American Foundation, for its support as a publicity sponsor for this production.

November 14, 2009SEA REVELS AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Join Washington Revels at the National Museum of Natural History!

Washington Revels will present sea chanteys and other sea-themed songs at the Sant Ocean Hall of the Smithsonian's National Museum for Natural History Museum. Come join us as we sing this lively music among the sea creatures on display, in honor of the one-year anniversary of this wonderful new exhibition hall.

Cost: Nothing!
Location: Sant Ocean Hall, Natural History Museum, 10th St., NW, Washington, DC.        <view directions>
Date/Time: Saturday, November 14; two performances at 1:00 and 2:15pm.

November 10, 2009SEA REVELS AT THE CORCORAN

Join Washington Revels in a new program of Songs of the Sea and Shore at the 200-seat Corcoran Gallery Theater!

In conjunction with the opening of the Corcoran’s new “Sargent and the Sea” exhibit, Washington Revels will present a celebration of the songs and traditions of the men who manned the great sailing ships and the women who sustained the life of the sea-faring communities ashore. This will be an expanded production with music, demonstrations of chantey singing aboard ship, and some sailors’ hijinks. Come join us for this evening of nautical tradition and fun.

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased via the Corcoran's Web site <purchase tickets now>
   * Please Note: Get the special members’ rate of $15 -- choose the “members” box on
    the checkout page and type in “revels” when prompted for your membership number.
Location: Corcoran Gallery Theater, 500 17th St., NW, Washington, DC.
    <view directions> - the theater is entered by the New York Avenue entrance.
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 10 from 7-8:30 pm.

November 1, 2009ITALIAN COUNTRY DANCE & DINNER

Anticipating this year’s Italian-themed Christmas Revels, our 4th annual Harvest Dance and Dinner celebrates with traditional Italian village dancing and a rustic Italian buffet dinner catered by Maggiano’s, Little Italy.

No previous dancing experience is necessary. Celest DiPietropaolo and Marie DiCocco – featured dancers in this December’s Revels – will teach and call circle, line, contra, couple and other village dances from all four major dancing regions of Italy. Musical accompaniment will include renowned dance fiddler Mary Lea, from Vermont, and Emerson Hawley, a prominent tuba player from New York.

Come alone or bring a partner, friend or the entire family! Kids are welcome to join the dancing, but there will also be activities for the younger set for part of the evening. So grab your dancing shoes and join the party!

Tickets: Adults: $40; Kids (18 and under): $15
Location: Women’s Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Connecticut Ave, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Date/Time: Sunday, November 1, 2009 from 4:00 – 8:00pm

October 31, 2009 SEA CHANTEYS AT THE ARLINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY

Join Washington Revels and help celebrate the grand opening of the new Westover Branch of the Arlington Library System!

Washington Revels will sing sea chanteys and other sea-themed songs in honor of the occasion. Come join us and the Westover community in helping to inaugurate this new facility.

There will be a number of activities to entertain the younger set including a Moon Bounce, an Instrument Petting Zoo, and a Fire Truck. There will also be special discounts and trick-or-treating at select Westover merchants. Costumes optional!

Cost: Nothing!
Location: Westover Branch, 1644 N. McKinley St Arlington VA <view directions>
         - Revels will perform on the library's outdoor front plaza.
Date/Time: Saturday, October 31, 11-11:30 am.

October 11, 2009COMMUNITY SING IN SILVER SPRING

To celebrate our relocation to 531 Dale Drive in Silver Spring, Washington Revels will hold our first Community Sing in Silver Spring from 3-6pm on Sunday, October 11 at Dale Drive Neighborhood Park – less than a half-mile down Dale Drive from our wonderful new building!

Bring blankets, chairs, snacks and drinks (BYO everything!) and join us for singing in the group tradition with songbooks and leaders, plus a dance or two. Or, if you prefer, just listen, watch and enjoy!

Fun for the whole family – there is a playground and open field for younger children to romp around in. Please, no pets - you can teach them the songs when you get home!

Cost: Nothing! ... and no reservations required -- just come on down!
Location: Dale Drive Neighborhood Park, 125 Dale Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Date: Sunday, October 11, 2009 from 3:00 to 6:00pm

Please Note: The park is on the north side of Dale Drive at the juncture of Hartford Avenue and Dale, near the intersection of Dale and Piney Branch. <view a map>. There is a small parking lot, with additional parking available on Dale and nearby streets (if you can walk to the Park, all the better).

September 26, 2009SONGS OF SEA AND SHORE at MAGICAL MONTGOMERY

Washington Revels will perform as part of Magical Montgomery -- an outdoor festival held in downtown Silver Spring, MD showcasing the county's arts, humanities, and cultural organizations. Come cheer us on and enjoy the rest of the spectacle with mini-parades, three stages of live entertainment, an artist market with original artworks for sale, and rows of community booths with creative activities for children, families, and adults.

Cost: Nothing!
Date/Time: September 26, 2009, 12pm to 6pm (Revels performances below)
4:30pm: "Songs of Sea and Shore" (Roster Showcase Stage, Ellsworth St.
5:00pm: Revels will parade down Ellsworth St., ending at a mini-stage for more singing!
Location: Downtown Silver Spring, MD <view map & event schedule>
Event Web Site: http://www.creativemoco.com/node/82

Sept. 11-13, 2009TEEN & CHILDREN'S AUDITIONS for CHRISTMAS REVELS

The Washington Revels community reflects our larger community, therefore we are seeking to create a diverse chorus consisting of strong performers of all ancestries, sizes and ages.

Children's Audition Information: Seeking enthusiastic singers entering entering grades 3-5 in Fall 2009. Auditions take place on Friday, September 11 (5:00, 6:00, 7:00) and Saturday, September 12 (10:30, 11:30). Callbacks are Sunday, September 13 (afternoon).

Teen Audition Information: Seeking strong singers and dancers entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2009. Auditions take place on Saturday, September 12 (3:00, 4:15, 5:30, 6:45).

You must call the Revels office at 301-587-3835 to sign up for an audition slot! -- no walk-ins.

For more information, visit our General Audition Information page.

September 7 KENSINGTON LABOR DAY PARADE

Come join Washington Revels as we march (and sing, for those who wish) in the Kensington Labor Day Parade on September 7!

Our hardy band of Revelers -- adults, teens, and children -- will dress in white bedecked with multi-colored sashes, arm ribbons and flower garlands (supplied by Revels). We will be accompanied by accompanied by the Hobby Horse, Snap the Dragon, bright banners and ribbon sticks, and more! If you would like to march and sing with us – we also need adults to pass out flyers and children to help pass out candy – please send an email to parade@revelsdc.org with your name and the name(s) of anyone coming with you (plus the ages of anyone 18 and under), and we will email you the details.

Cost: Nothing!
Location: Kensington, MD
Date/Time: Monday, September 7 (parade starts at 10am)