Washington Revels Home » Christmas Revels 2013

Join us for the show that The Washington Post says "... should be part of every family's holiday festivities. ... one of those rare events that delight people of all ages!"

A festive, fully-staged holiday celebration rich with color and pageantry, by the acclaimed Washington Revels company of over 100 performers, ages 8-85. Eight performances, December 7-8 & 13-15 (matinees and evenings), at the George Washington Lisner Auditorium, 21st and H Streets NW, Washington DC. View the full schedule of performances (including ticket-buying options), or Buy Tickets online now!

NEW - Hear what the audience is saying, and see some "insider" photos »

2013 Handbill
NEW - Read this year's Christmas Revels program notes [PDF]

Our 2013 Christmas Revels harkens back to ancient Thrace – legendary home of Orpheus, Bringer of Music, whose evocative notes open our story. His melodies scatter to the regions of Bulgaria, Greece, Thracian Turkey, and beyond, where each culture shapes them into traditions of its own. Revel with families of an imagined village where these colorful folk traditions weave together. Gather in the village square to celebrate the turning of the year! 

Amid a swirl of beautiful costumes, meet iconic folk characters including giant Bulgarian masked kukeri; the Thracian "Christmas camel"; and the kallikantzaroi, goblins who make trouble during the 12 days of Christmas and are vanquished on Epiphany. Delight in children caroling door-to-door playing on silvery triangles and offering blessings with survachka sticks, participate in holiday customs old and new.

Celebrate with familiar Revels songs and sing-alongs, seasonal carols from Thrace and beyond, thrilling choral arrangements of ancient folk melodies, haunting Slavonic harmonies, fiery instrumentals and traditional dances, and a rollicking mummers’ play featuring folk characters from the region.

Our cast of over 100 singers, dancers, instrumentalists and actors, ages 8-85, includes the Washington Revels Brass and an extraordinary array of folk artists from our featured cultures: acclaimed Greek musician, Spyros Koliavasilis and his Karpouzi Trio (with Margaret Loomis and Len Newman); the exciting traditional Bulgarian folk band, Lyuti Chushki (Valeri Georgiev, director and Tzvety Weiner, lead singer, with Varol Saatcioglu, Larry Weiner, and Len Newman); Tzvety's husband, dancer/percussionist Bryndyn Weiner, and her parents (traveling from Bulgaria), celebrated Thracian singer Tanya Dosseva and master kaval player Lyuben Dossev; and the spirited folk-dance ensembles Byzantio (Greek, Aris Yortzidis, Director) and Zharava (Bulgarian, Desi Jordanoff, Director).

Come join our villagers and receive the gifts of their cultures. This high-energy Christmas Revels is not to be missed!

Help us spread the word! Download copies of our Handbill and Poster as PDF files suitable for emailing to your friends!