May 18-19, 2012ADULT AUDITIONS for THE CHRISTMAS REVELS

Be part a spectacular holiday tradition!

While Revels uses a number of professional performers in its productions, its volunteer choruses - adults, teens and children - are at its core. We value the presence of new faces in our choruses every year. We also look for a variety of ages, ancestries, sizes and personalities to create a realistic "village" on stage. People of diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to audition. The ability to read music is helpful but not required. For our 30th celebration of the Winter Solstice, we summon the memories of Christmas Revels past to celebrate the enduring spirit of joy that marks this time of the year. Joined by Revels favorites Piffaro: The Renaissance Band and our own Washington Revels Brass, this celebration of the "ghosts" of Britain's Haddon Hall will draw from early music and dance of England and Europe -- the same music, dance and drama that inspired the very first Christmas Revels in 1957.
» Learn More about auditions and how to make an appointment

May 19, 2012REVELS FESTIVAL DAY AT RACHEL CARSON MEADOW

Picnic and perform with Washington Revels!

We gather, rehearse, and perform a “mini-Revels” all in one day – no auditions or experience necessary! Come by yourself, with a friend, or bring the whole family – all ages welcome. You can register as late as Friday, May 18, to select your performance or production activity; but please register as soon as possible, to help us organize the activities. Everyone 13 and older can choose to sing in the chorus, dance English country-style, act in the Mummer’s play, play in the band, craft props and decorations, help with setup/sign-in/organization, serve as photographers/videographers, or lend a hand with schlepping/assembling large props, etc. Children ages 6-12 may either learn and perform their own set, or work on props and decorations. A parent must accompany children ages 6-7 during activities, and parents are responsible for supervising children ages 5 and under. We hope to be able to accommodate all who register, but space is limited, particularly for those who want to dance. Space may be limited for dancing and the mummer’s play, so register soon!

At 1:00pm, all learn 2-3 songs that everyone may sing. We then separate into activity groups to prepare. After a snack break, we review everything and put it all together. At 4:00pm, we have the Grand Procession and perform our mini-Revels. Can’t come for the full afternoon? Then join the audience at 4:00pm, when we share our performance with local residents at the Rachel Carson Meadow Festival.

Cost: Nothing! » Register online by May 18
Date: Saturday, May 19
Time: 1:00 - 5:00pm (informal picnic at noon; public performance at 4:00pm)
Event Web Site: Rachel Carson Meadow Festival
Location: North Four Corners Park, 211 Southwood Avenue, Silver Spring, MD <view map>

May 24, 2012HERITAGE VOICES at FORT WARD AMPHITHEATER

Discover the Civil War from a different historical perspective, in music and spoken word!

Heritage VoicesEnjoy an evening performance of song, old-time string band and spoken word from the Civil War era in the Fort Ward Park Amphitheater. Washington Revels Heritage Voices and Roustabout Band celebrate the history and cultural traditions of the Washington area and beyond through the revival and presentation of traditional musical and dramatic material, engaging participants of all ages. Be on the lookout for President Lincoln, who is rumored to be in attendance! Sponsored by the Office of Historic Alexandria. Rain date May 31.

Cost: Free and open to the public!
Date & Time: Thursday, May 24 , 7:00-8:30 pm
Event Web Site: http://apps.alexandriava.gov/Calendar/Detail.aspx?si=3319
Location: Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA <view directions>

May 26, 2012MARITIME VOICES at GREAT FALLS on the C&O CANAL

Ride along the historic C&O Canal and enjoy traditional songs before and after your trip!

The Washington Revels Maritime Voices will regale visitors at Great Falls Tavern on the C&O Canal, where the U.S. Park Service offers narrated trips on the canal on a replica of the old canal boats, pulled by a mule team. Stop by the Visitor Center to discover the history of the canal and its workers, and of the Tavern that started life as a hotel in 1831. Or simply enjoy the singing, the tavern, and the beautiful surroundings.

Maritime Voices will give a series of performances from the late morning to early afternoon, featuring songs about life on the canals and waterways of 19th-Century America as well as other songs from its repertoire.  This promises to be a colorful introduction to one of the vibrant parts of our local historic heritage.

Cost: The performances and admission to the Tavern/Visitor Center are free; boat rides cost $5-8.
Date & Time: Saturday, May 26, various times (check back for exact times). Rain date: Sunday, May 27.
National Park Service/C&O Canal: http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/greatfallstavernvisitorcenter.htm
Location: Great Falls Tavern, 11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, MD 20854 <view map>

June 10, 2012SUNFEST in DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING

Washington Revels SunFest is FREE and fun for all ages!

Washington Revels is pleased to present the third annual SunFest, a vibrant, multicultural celebration of summer! This festival will feature traditional music and dance from around the world. Ellsworth Street will be closed to vehicular traffic and we’ll party in Silver Plaza.

Washington Revels will lead a parade and a “Raising the Sun” ceremony, joined by other performing arts groups on two stages. There will be artisan handicrafts, world cuisine, and activities for kids. We need volunteers to make this wonderful event a success. There are many jobs available throughout the day, and all volunteers get a free t-shirt! Can you help?

Sunday, June 10, 1:00-6:00pm in Downtown Silver Spring (Ellsworth Street, between Georgia and Fenton). For more details, visit sunfest.revelsdc.org

June 14, 2012MARITIME VOICES at “STAR-SPANGLED SAILABRATION”

Come join us at this extraordinary kickoff of Maryland’s two-year commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812!

The 7-day festival at the Baltimore Harbor features 17 tall sailing ships and over 25 international naval vessels (most open for public tours), air show aerobatics with military units including the Blue Angels, children’s activities, concerts and other cultural performances, international culinary delights provided by chefs from visiting vessels, fireworks and more. Maritime Voices will sing on The Pride of Baltimore II, a 157-foot full-scale replica of the Clipper ship that served as one of the privateers that preyed on British shipping out of Baltimore during the war. The ensemble will give several half-hour performances in the late afternoon at the dock where both the Pride and the USS Constellation (a reconstruction of the famous 19th-Century frigate) will be tied up. Photo credit: Pride of Baltimore II by Bill McAllen Photography.

Cost: Free and open to the public!
Date & Time: Thursday, June 14, at 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00pm
Event Web Site: www.starspangled200.com
Location: Baltimore Harbor<view map>

June 23-24, 2012WASHINGTON REVELS at HERITAGE DAYS

Heritage Montgomery hosts its annual Heritage Days celebration featuring Washington Revels!

Washington Revels Heritage Voices, Jubilee Voices, and Roustabout String Band perform at various historic sites over this two-day, free-of charge, county-wide festival. At many sites, you will even have a chance to "meet" many of the inspiring people of the Civil War era, including Abraham Lincoln. Heritage Days offers visitors an opportunity to sample numerous sites representing the history, culture, and natural beauty of Montgomery County. » View the full schedule of Washington Revels performances at Heritage Days Cost: Nothing! Date & Time: Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, 2011 Location: Various heritage sites in Montgomery County. Learn more at the Montgomery County Heritage Days Event Site.

PAST EVENTS

May 5, 2012MAY REVELS at the WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Celebrate May with Washington Revels at the 2012 Flower Mart, sponsored by the National Cathedral All Hallows Guild!

We will once again bring in the May as part of the annual All Hallows Guild Flower Mart -- a popular two-day festival since 1939. Recognized throughout the metropolitan area as Washington’s favorite spring outdoor family festival, the event features plants, herbs, food, puppet shows, carousel rides, boutiques and entertainment for the whole family. Washington Revels will present a one-hour show celebrating Spring with song, dance, and other traditional activities. And of course, both will have lots of opportunities for audience participation. We will crown the May Queen, present children’s singing games, perform a mummer’s play, and there will be Morris dancing, and an audience-participation May Pole dance!

Cost: Free and open to the public!
Date & Time: Saturday, May 5, Noon - 1:00pm (Fair hours: 10:00am - 5:00pm)
Event Web Site: 2012 All Hallows Guild Flower Mart
Location: Wisconsin & Massachusetts Aves., NW Washington, DC 20016-5098 <view directions>

April 28, 2012MADRIGALS, MORRIS and MAYPOLE

Celebrate Spring at the Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) Garden Fair and Plant Sale.

The Washington Revels Gallery Voices will entertain with madrigals and some traditional Revels songs, for a day of merriment. We will dance the Maypole several times throughout the day and invite fairgoers to come and join us in more Maypole dancing. The Arlington Northwest Morris will be on hard throughout the day to "dance in the Spring" with style. While you are there, pick up some wonderful green stuff for your garden. View some great photos from previous year's Garden Fairs!

Cost: Free and open to the public!
Date & Time: Saturday, April 28, various times throughout the day
Event Web Site: FONA Annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale 
Location: 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002 <view directions>

April 15, 2012JUBILEE VOICES AT FORTUNE'S BONES CLOSURE EVENT

This free, family-friendly event will close the 8-month "Fortune's Bones" project, curated by Dr. Ysaye Barnwell (of "Sweet Honey in the Rock").

From September 2011 to April 2012, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center has presented a series of events inspired by the compelling story of Fortune, an enslaved African whose life--and death--is the center of a project sponsored by the University of Maryland and several community partners. A repast, a celebration, a resolution, a sending forth... the Fortune's Bones Closure Event will include performances by Nolan Williams, Jr. and Voices of Inspiration; Dr. Ysaye Barnwell; Washington Revels Jubilee Voices (who will perform spirituals and lead community singing); and others.

Fortune's life did not end when he died in 1798. In life, he served a doctor in post-Colonial Waterbury, Connecticut. After death, he was dissected by the physician who owned him, and his bones were preserved, studied and, later, displayed as an anatomical specimen at the Mattatuck Museum, a skeleton known only as “Larry," until researchers discovered the bones' identity and removed them from display. Debate continues about the future of Fortune's bones, but the stories behind his skeleton are very much alive. Come be part of this special community event that honors a life, and celebrates our shared humanity. Learn more about the Fortune's Bones project, including blog posts and a complete event list.

Cost: Free and open to the public, but reservations are required!

How to reserve a fee ticket:
1. Reserve a ticket: Starting Wednesday, April 4, 11AM, attendees may reserve up to two free tickets in-person at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center or over the phone: 301.405.ARTS (2787). There are no online reservations.
2. Picking up tickets: You must pick up your reserved ticket from the Clarice Smith Center Ticket Office before 2:30PM on the day of the event. At 2:30PM, we will release any remaining tickets to the standby line. No exceptions.
Timing Note: Although the Clarice Smith Center will start accepting reservations at on April 4, No tickets will be distributed until April 15. You must have a ticket to enter the event.
Location Note: The Clarice Smith Center will accept reservations and distribute tickets. The event will be held across the street in the Riggs Alumni Center.

Location: The Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, located across the street from the Clarice Smith Center
Event Web Site: Fortune's Bones Web site | View event flyer [PDF]
Date: Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 3:00pm

April 14, 2012MARITIME VOICES at the NAVY MEMORIAL

Honor maritime heritage at the 21st “Blessing of the Fleets! ”

The U.S. Navy Memorial hosts its annual “Blessing of the Fleets” each spring at the beautiful and majestic Memorial Plaza. Passed down through generations of sailors, fishermen, merchant mariners and navies around the world, this centuries-old ceremony is intended to safeguard fishing crews and ships from the danger of the seas through a traditional blessing given at the water's edge. In this version of the ceremony, waters brought in from the world’s seven seas and Great Lakes are poured into and mingled with the waters of the fountains on the Plaza. During the event, ceremonial music will be provided by the U.S. Navy Band, and Washington Revels Maritime Voices will perform a couple of traditional songs of the sea at the close of the ceremony.

Attendees will then be invited into the adjacent Navy Memorial Center for a sampling of navy bean soup – what else! – followed at 2:30 by a full performance of our ever-evolving program of “Songs of the Sea and Shore” by the Washington Revels Maritime Voices in the Center’s Burke Theater. This hour-long presentation portrays life at sea and back home, including sailors' use of sea chanteys and the joys and hardships of the women ashore.

Come and make a day of it! The annual Cherry Blossom Paradestarts one block away at 10am. The Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team and the Navy Band will perform on the Plaza shortly after noon. Stay on for the “Blessing of the Fleets” and “Songs of Sea and Shore.”

Cost: Free and open to the public!
Date: Saturday, April 14, ceremony at 1:00pm (outdoors)
           Martime Voices performance at 2:30pm (indoors)
Event Web Site: 21st Annual Blessing of the Fleets
Location: United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC [view map]

March 9, 2012MARCUS-COLLINSON BENEFIT CONCERT

An evening of rockin’ 21st Century British Roots Music, with all proceeds to Washington Revels!

Come join the newly celebrated British folk duo, Andrew Marcus and Glyn Collinson, for an energetic evening of folk music with attitude. Lively songs! Stompin’ tunes! You may know Andrew from his many appearances on the Christmas Revels stage in the “Lord of the Dance,” at May Revels, and with the Foggy Bottom Morris Men. Glyn is a recent arrival from Britain who brings with him a rich tradition of songs and tunes stretching back to his great-great-great grandfather, Joseph Taylor; some of Taylor’s songs will appear for the first time this evening in brand-new arrangements.

Come join the fun – kids welcome, too – and benefit Revels at the same time!
Order tickets online through TIX.COM (NO FEES for online orders)

Date/Time: Friday, March 9, 8:00-9:30pm (doors open at 7:30pm)
Where: Washington Revels Performance Space, 531 Dale Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910. <view map/directions>
Tickets: Minimum donation (more gratefully appreciated!): $15

February 26, 2012JUBILEE VOICES AT SAINT MARTIN OF TOURS

Celebrate Black History Month with the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices at this special free concert.

As part of St. Martin of Tours' Black History Month celebration, Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will share an interactive concert filled with stories, speeches and music from the Civil War era. Enjoy a wide variety of songs and spirituals, as well as readings and poetry by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, and more.

Cost: Nothing!
Location: St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, 1908 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC <view map>
Date: Sunday, February 26 at 2:00pm

February 12, 2012HERITAGE VOICES AT FORD'S THEATRE

As part of its Lincoln’s Birthday Open House, Ford's Theatre has invited the Washington Revels Heritage Voices to perform two 30-minute sets of Civil War-era music and spoken word on the Theatre stage.

The Heritage Voices appearances are part of a day-long celebration not only of Lincoln’s birthday but the grand opening of the new Center for Education & Leadership, scheduled for February 21.

The opening of the Center marks the completion of a multi-year expansion that has included the restoration and renovation of the Theatre (unveiled February 2009), a renovated Museum (July 2009), and the Lincoln Legacy Project, a five-year effort to create a dialogue around the issues of tolerance, equality and acceptance. The new Center focuses on the lasting effect of Lincoln’s presidency in many dimensions.

During the Open House, in addition to the Heritage Voices programs, the Theatre will offer ranger talks and One Destiny, a two-person play. You can also tour the Theatre Museum, preview the exhibits at the new Center, and participate in workshops and scavenger hunts!

Date/Time: Sunday, February 12 from 8:45am to approximately 5:00pm (Heritage Voices at 1:30pm and 2:30pm) Where: Ford's Theatre, 511 Tenth St, NW, Washington, DC
Events Web Site: http://fords.org/event/lincolns-birthday-open-house-2012
Tickets: Tickets are FREE and available at the box office beginning at 8:30 a.m. on February 12.
          Groups of 20 or more may reserve in advance by contacting Group Sales via email or at (202) 638-2367.

February 11, 2012JUBILEE VOICES CELEBRATE FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Join Washington Revels Jubilee Voices at the Frederick Douglass 193rd Birthday Celebration.

Celebrate Frederick Douglass’ birthday through ceremony and song with Washington Revels Jubilee Voices as they perform music popular during Douglass’ life. Jubilee Voices will perform three different sets throughout the Opening Ceremonies, from 10am-11:30am. This year’s celebration is focused on Abolition: Historic and Present, with guest speaker, Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador-at-Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. There will also be presentations, tours of the home, programs on the history of Anacostia, kids’ activities, and more.

Date/Time: Saturday, February 11 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
                     (Jubilee Voices will perform at various times from 10 am-11:30 am).
Where: Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W Street SE, Washington, D.C. <view map & directions>
Event Web Site: http://www.nps.gov/frdo/
Tickets: This is a FREE event.

February 4, 2012MARITIME VOICES "SING-ALONG" at FSGW MINI-FEST

Washington Revels Maritime Voices will present a sing-along version of "Songs of Sea and Shore"  at this year's FSGW Midwinter Festival.

Maritime Voices audiences are always invited to join in singing some of the refrains during a performance. This Saturday, however, they will be featured throughout the entire program of this sing-along version of the Maritime Voices’ ever-evolving program of nautical song, dance, and ritual. As an added bonus, both before and after their hour-long performance, the Maritime Voices will wander through the hallways singing to one and all. The annual FSGW Mini-Fest features Morris dancers dancing through the hallways (hopefully not colliding with our Maritime Voices), banjo pickers, contra dancers and fiddlers, balladeers and blues singers -- two all-day dance tracks, and seven workshop and performance sites, plus unscheduled hallway shenanigans. Even if it's cold outside, Mini-Fest'll be hot!!

Date/Time: Saturday, February 4, Noon-10:30pm (Maritime Voices perform 2-3 pm, in the Jams room, #184)
Cost: Tickets are available for half and full-day pricing (special pricing for families); discounts for FSGW members.
Location: Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Road, Takoma Park, MD <view map>.
Event website: http://fsgw.org/myorgnet/public.php (complete ticket information and schedule here).