The Christmas Revels celebrate the Winter Solstice

The Christmas Revels in celebration of the Winter Solstice with traditional dance, processionals, carols & commedia dell’ arte

Tacoma, WA – Set in the glorious Italian Renaissance, this year’s Christmas Revels combines gorgeous costumes, handsome set, heavenly music, hilarious commedia, a total eclipse of the sun (!) and Copernicus’s crazy idea that the earth is a planet spinning through the cosmos and circling the sun.  Chaos ensues when a troupe of commedia actors show up in the thriving city-state of Salerno.  The Prince disapproves of the entertainment they provide for his festa.  A young scholar’s knowledge of the movement of the heavenly spheres saves them from the Prince’s displeasure. 

Featured is Tony Curry, because Tony (like Copernicus) knows how to set things spinning!  He joins Mark Rabe, Jon Lutyens, Shulamit Kleinerman and her apprendisti musicali (early instrumentalists), The Seattle Brass Ensemble, I nostri cantanti - grandi e piccolo (our adult and children’s choruses) singing wild, wonderful and meltingly beautiful music, an Italian sword dance, magic and more.  It’s a festive headlong whirl into the holidays at Tacoma’s Rialto Theater to drive winter’s darkness away.   

B.J. Douglas once again directs the production with music director Megan Oberfield.  Set design by Martin Christoffel; Alex Lewington costumes.

The Christmas Revels® is a seasonal gift to the community of song, dance, and story.  It is a great concoction of folk tradition and high art unique in its intentional blending of adults and children, amateurs and professionals, high art and folk tradition, audience and players.   Full of spirit, humor and beauty, it plays to sell-out audiences of all ages from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond.  

What: The Christmas Revels

Where: Rialto Theatre, 310 S. 9th Tacoma, WA

Tickets: 253-591-5894 / www.broadwaycenter.org

Ticket prices: $12 - $32

Info: 253-756-1804 / www.pugetsoundrevels.org