Archive for the Blog Posts Category

Dear Washington Revels Community, Our friends and neighbors cry out for change. Our institutions need to change. Washington Revels must change. As a majority White organization, we know that racism is inherent within our systems and structures. We may not always see it, we may never have

For Immediate Release Washington Revels Continues Building Community for DC in the Face of COVID-19 Free Daily Sing-Alongs and Service Projects Connect across Social Distancing Silver Spring, MD, April 30, 2020 – To ease the burden of self-isolation restrictions, Washington Revels is carrying out its mission to

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Spring is usually a time of excitement as our community prepares for May Revels, our annual celebration of the “greening of the year.” Sadly, both of this year’s May Revels performances have been canceled. In spite of this, our May Choruses (Adults/Teens, Tweens, and Kids), as well as members of our year-round performing ensembles, have been gathering via Zoom to share music together and to keep our community strong.

A post by Ross Wixon, Marketing & Development Director

What would it be like to go to a concert and feel like you truly belonged? Like the performers on stage weren’t singing to you, weren’t selling you some experience — but instead to realize that they were singing and dancing along with you? That this show, this experience, couldn’t be happening if you weren’t there?I like to think that The Christmas Revels is such an experience.

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Born in Hiroshima and raised in Osaka Japan, Shizumi Shigeto Manale’s numerous artistic endeavors are dedicated to promoting multicultural understanding and acceptance. She is a world-renowned and highly awarded dancer, choreographer, author, director, and film producer. In 1985 she founded Shizumi Dance Theatre and, from 2000-2015, she directed the children’s dance company Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe, which performed for President Clinton at the White House’s Millennium Celebrations. Shizumi also served as the artistic director of the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s opening ceremonies for seven years

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With so many artistic and cultural traditions on stage at once in this year’s Christmas Revels, music director Elizabeth Fulford knew “Celestial Fools” needed guest musicians who were masters of many styles and who could move flexibly from one to another in quick succession. It was a tall order, but of course she found them — and Washington Revels is so glad to feature Klezmer and world music specialists Seth Kibel, Vladimir Fridman, and Bob Abbott as the onstage band in our 2019 production!

A post by Roberta Gasbarre, Artistic Director
Many beloved sagas come with layers of meaning that can deepen and broaden our excitement and enjoyment. The plot surprises and thrills; the characters are funny or charismatic figures that we identify with or find intriguing in their differences from the folks in our everyday lives. As books, plays, and live musical events, these sagas become visceral feasts with beauty and awe-inspiring sights and sounds that transport and inspire — or moments that startle, confront, and make us think.

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Washington Revels will present the 37th annual production of The Christmas Revels in eight performances from December 7-15 at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium in downtown Washington, DC.The Christmas Revels: “Celestial Fools” will transport audiences to a rustic European village nestled somewhere in the mists of time. As the winter days grow short, three wandering performers arrive from far-off lands, weaving music, dances, and stories from their cultures into an enchanting and dramatic tale of the Winter Solstice. But when the sun finally sets on the longest night — and darkness seems to stretch on without end — these “Celestial Fools” embark on a journey into the heavens to reclaim the light and restore its warmth to the world.

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Mark Novak is a rabbi, storyteller, musician, writer, composer, father, and avid Washington Nationals fanatic (World Series Bound!). He is founder and spiritual guide of Minyan Oneg Shabbat, Washington DC’s Jewish Renewal gathering, and co-founder of The MultiFaith Storytelling Institute, whose mission is to change the world one story at a time. Mark and Washington Revels Artistic Director Roberta Gasbarre first connected through Arena Stage’s outreach company Living Stage, where Mark was music director and Roberta was a member of the company. Both are thrilled to be working together again, and Washington Revels is excited that Mark’s talents will be on display at Lisner Auditorium this December!

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Image you live in a rustic European village, nestled somewhere in the mists of time… Life revolves around agriculture and the seasons, and the Winter Solstice is fast approaching. You and your neighbors hope the harvest will carry you through the shortest, darkest days, and as always, your village prepares to keep the year alive with brightly burning Yule logs, hearty songs, lively dances, and cherished stories.But this year, something different happens! Three wandering performers arrive, and they are unlike any people who have ever visited before — dressed in bright, strange clothing, atop a colorful wagon, sharing their cultural riches in the form of tales, music and dance that you’ve never seen or heard. Who are these traveling Fools that call themselves the Sun, Moon, and Stars? Meet our Sun Fool!