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{{Short description|American seasonal stage performances}}
{{other uses|Revels (disambiguation)|Revel (disambiguation)}}
{{italic title}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2019}}
[[File:Cambridge Revels performance 2022.jpg|thumb|A 2022 ''Revels'' performance at [[Sanders Theatre]] at Harvard University]]
'''''Revels''''' is a contemporary series of American seasonal stage performances, incorporating singing, dancing, recitals, and theatrics loosely organized around a central theme or narrative. The folk-tradition-based performances started in 1957, were restarted in 1971, and now occur in multiple cities around the US.
==History==
Performances were initially given at [[Christmas]] time as the ''Christmas Revels'' at [[The Town Hall (New York City)|Town Hall]] in [[New York City]] in 1957, which involved singing, dancing, recitals, theatrics (usually as brief skits, often humorous), and usually some audience participation, all appropriate to the holiday season. Performers were usually local, often non-professional, and frequently young.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
The events were founded by [[John Langstaff]] as Christmas entertainments; he and his daughter Carol later started producing ''The Christmas Revels'' in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]] in 1971, at Harvard University's [[Sanders Theater]], where it has frequently played to sold-out houses.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
Until his death in 2005, Langstaff, assisted by members of his family, led or fostered several similar Revels organizations in various American cities. His ability to "get it done" as well as his teaching and performing style, was admired by children's television producer [[Jonathan Meath]], who was a tenor on two of their CD albums entitled ''Welcome Yule'' and ''Victorian Revels''.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
The present organization, Revels Inc, produces events in ten cities across the United States, including four in the northeast region of the country. Additional seasonal celebratory events mark spring and summer in some cities.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
==Format==
The productions echo English theatrical precedents of the 16th century and earlier.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} Professional singers, actors and musicians are mixed with talented amateurs and tradition-bearers, often brought in to share a featured culture's music, dance, or ritual in an authentic manner. There is almost always a children's chorus, which performs songs, dances, and games from the themed period or location. Traditional English [[Morris dancing]] is often incorporated, adapted somewhat to the cultural theme of any particular year.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
Reviewers have especially mentioned the dance and the upbeat nature of the performance.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DD123DF935A25751C1A966958260 | title =  Review/Dance; 'The Christmas Revels' Are a Mirthsome Affair | work = The New York Times | author = Anna Kisselgoff | date = December 16, 1990 }}; {{cite news | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DB163EF936A25751C1A967958260 | title =  Review/Dance; 'The Christmas Revels,' Now With a Gaelic Accent | work = The New York Times | author = Anna Kisselgoff | date = December 15, 1991 }}; {{cite web |url=http://www.greenmanreview.com/live/live_bostonrevels_12_18.html | title = Christmas Revels | date = December 2004 | author = Vonnie Carts-Powell | work = Green Man Review | url-status = dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120073437/http://www.greenmanreview.com/live/live_bostonrevels_12_18.html | archivedate = 2008-11-20 }}</ref>
Each year's Christmas Revels draws upon a different era or culture's Christmas and winter solstice traditions. For example, the 2008 ''Christmas Revels'' in Cambridge were based on music, songs, and dance inspired by writer [[Thomas Hardy|Thomas Hardy's]] beloved [[Wessex]]. The earliest performances drew from medieval English traditions; the [[Mummers Play|Mummers' Play]] is retained (albeit sometimes altered) no matter what time period or culture is being featured.
There usually is audience singing encouraged during several parts of the performance. Other traditions include ending every first half of the production with [[Sydney Carter]]'s "[[Lord of the Dance (hymn)|Lord of the Dance]]" hymn.  After the last verse, the audience is encouraged to dance along with the cast, out into the lobby of [[Memorial Hall (Harvard University)|Memorial Hall]] at the Cambridge Revels performances.<ref>{{cite AV media |people= Tom Ashbrook (host)) |title= The Christmas Revels |url= http://www.onpointradio.org/2008/12/the-christmas-revels |format= Audio |medium= Radio |publisher= WBUR |location   = Boston |accessdate = July 5, 2009}}</ref> Author [[Susan Cooper]] wrote a poem for the Christmas Revels production that is recited near the end of the second half of each performance.<ref>"The Shortest Day" https://www.thelostland.com/images/graphics/gr_poem_shortest_day.jpg</ref>
The annual celebrations have been expanded to several other American cities, and there exist songbooks, production guides, and commercial recordings to assist those unfamiliar with ancient folk music and dancing.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} The recordings have sometimes included noted performers in the particular folk tradition featured in a given year, such as [[Appalachian dulcimer]] player and singer [[Jean Ritchie]], who appeared on 1982's ''Wassail! Wassail! An Early American Christmas Revels''.
The events combine professional paid performers with unpaid volunteers, who often participate in choruses, dances, and crowd scenes. Both adults and children spanning a wide range of ages are present on stage and in the audience. In addition, a large number of volunteers help with behind-the-scenes work, such as costumes, set building, promotion, and fund-raising.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}<!-- Does Revels or its subsidiaries have nonprofit charitable tax status?? --><!-- Need to explain relationship of local Revels organizations to any central Revels organization -->
==Locations==
{{As of|2019}}, at least ten independent ''Revels'' organizations are active in the US:
*[[Cambridge Revels]]: [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]]
*[[Revels North]]: [[Hanover, New Hampshire]]
*[[New York Revels]]: [[New York, New York]]
*[[Washington Revels]]: [[Washington, DC]]
*[[Revels Houston]]: [[Houston, Texas]]
*[[Rocky Mountain Revels]]: [[Boulder, Colorado]]
*[[Santa Barbara Revels]]: [[Santa Barbara, California]]
*[[California Revels]]: [[Oakland, California]]
*[[Portland Revels]]: [[Portland, Oregon]]
*[[Puget Sound Revels]]: [[Tacoma, Washington]]
==See also==
*[[Dickens fair]]
*[[Master of the Revels]]
*[[Renaissance Fair#History of the fairs in America|Renaissance Fair]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.revels.org Official Website]
[[Category:Christmas in the United States]]
[[Category:Theatre festivals in the United States]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1957]]