The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice

Our 51^st annual Christmas Revels takes place in present-day England, at the George and Dragon, a 17th-century English pub famous for its annual Christmas carol party and saved from economic extinction by an American couple. Sadly for the carolers, last year’s celebration had to be canceled due to the pandemic. The regulars are looking forward to re-establishing the traditional sing-along but the hiccup in tradition has disturbed the space/time continuum and triggered an audit by a fussy Revels bureaucrat from the 17^th century. Along with his Elizabethan entourage, he will be making an official visit to the 21^st century to put things back in order.

Will the current managers of the George and Dragon be able to regain their license for revelry?  What will Elizabethans think of the modern song list? What happens when music and dance from the Renaissance collides with the horn section of a pub band and the street-wise locals from the 21^st century? In our telling of the story, old and new ways meet, and the world gets a little bigger. We think that there is something here for everyone to enjoy as we celebrate the season as only Revels can!

We can’t wait to see you all in-person and ‘revel’ with you again. There is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel – and as you know, “the return of the light” is what The Christmas Revels is all about!

Filled with music, dance, comedy and carols, The Christmas Revels is directed by Patrick Swanson. George Emlen is Music Director. Our all-star cast includes musician and longtime Christmas Revels song leader David Coffin, actors William Forchion and Regie Gibson, Happenstance Theater’s Mark Jaster and Sabrina Selma Mandell, Revels favorites Paula Plum and Richard Snee, vocalist extraordinaire Carolyn Saxon, the Revels Chorus of adults and children, a great band of musicians – and YOU! (Audience participation is greatly encouraged.)

Special News!  This year, The Christmas Revels is delighted to join forces with another beloved holiday tradition to celebrate music and dance throughout the ages – City Ballet of Boston’s “Urban Nutcracker”! As part of a new collaboration between the two organizations, Tony Tucker, a choreographer from “Urban Nutcracker,” and Revels choreographer Gillian Stewart, will stage new dances for this year’s Christmas Revels, merging street dance with traditional English dance with surprising results.

Tickets:

Tickets for December’s performances at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre can be purchased 24/7 though a link at www.revels.org. Live performance tickets are also available by phone at 617-496-2222 Tuesday – Saturday, Noon to 6:00pm.

Live Performance Tickets: Adults from $20 – $100; Children 11 and under: $12 – $60

Sanders Theatre is located in Memorial Hall, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA and is accessible by T (Harvard Square on the Red Line). NOTE: Free Parking is available at the nearby Broadway Garage. Just say you’re going to the Revels!

Due to COVID restrictions:

Orchestra Rows A and B will not be available for patrons this year. All patrons must be masked and will be required to present proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test before entering Memorial Hall. Regrettably, children under two will not be permitted to attend The Christmas Revels this year. Read our full COVID Policy here.

**Virtual Viewing Option** Join us Dec. 30, 2021 – January 9, 2022 for even more reveling (or to revel again!)

Enjoy The Christmas Revels from the comforts of home!  An enhanced, live video recording of the 2021 Christmas Revels will be available for anytime viewing from December 30 – January 9. Event Passes good for “anytime” multiple viewings will be priced at $35/household and will go on sale November 15 through a link at www.revels.org

We look forward to our return to Sanders Theatre and celebrating the holiday season in-person with you again. For those hesitant to return this year, please check out our virtual option.

THANKS to our generous 2021 Christmas Revels Sponsors: iHeart Media, OUTFRONT Media, TV38/WBZ-TV, Boston Globe Media, WBUR-FM, Boston Parents’ Paper, Wingate Wealth Advisors, and the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

*12/17 and 12/19 Performances are ASL Interpreted