Staged or informal, large or small, Revels celebrations involve adults and children of all ages, mixing professionals and nonprofessionals. Audience participation is a hallmark: singing, dancing or becoming part of the drama, Revels audiences are always an integral part of the productions. Whether participating in a Revels celebration from the audience or stage, people invariably leave with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts.
Annual events include the professionally staged and directed Christmas Revels at Lisner Auditorium (drawing over 2,500 attendees each December), Spring Revels, plus community sings, pub sings, parades and more. Venues for these and many other productions range from outdoor parks to a 500-seat theater.
Our Mission
We create community through celebration! Washington Revels connects people of all generations and backgrounds, celebrating our diverse cultural traditions and shared humanity through educational and interactive performing arts.
Our Signature Characteristics
- Musical, theatrical, educational
- Exploring folk traditions and cultures
- Participatory and engaging
- Diverse and inclusive
- Multi-generational
- Marking and celebrating the seasons and the cycle of life
- Volunteer-based, professionally led
Our annual report is a celebration of our accomplishments and a testament to how far we’ve come. Thank you for being part of the journey!
View FY24 Washington Revels Annual Report [PDF]
View FY24 Washington Revels Annual Report [Flipbook Version]
View FY23 Washington Revels Annual Report [PDF]
View FY23 Washington Revels Annual Report [Flipbook Version]
Artistic Staff
Roberta Gasbarre, Artistic Director
Andrea Jones Blackford, Associate Artistic Director
Elizabeth Anne Fulford, Music Director
Toni Goldberg, Production Manager
Office Staff
Curtis Scott Dunn, Executive Director
Kristen Murray, Development Coordinator
Jasmine Rose, Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator
Michael Lewallen, Office Manager (volunteer)
Susan Hall Lewis, Company Manager (volunteer)
Will Wurzel, Director of Information Technology (volunteer)
Board of Directors
William B. Conway, chair
Meredith Cabe, vice-chair
Jane Bloodworth, treasurer
Jessica DePrest, secretary
Jessica Estepa
Aryn Geier
Lisa Grosh
Cynthia Keith
Kayla Knapp
Emilie Moore
John Michael Platt
Karen Schofield-Leca
Margaret Walker
Curtis Scott Dunn, ex officio
Washington Revels in the Community
Washington Revels is an active participant in the broader community. In the past, we have partnered with the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution’s Discovery Theater, adapting materials from three of its Christmas Revels productions into multi-media programs seen by over 7000 school children.
Our annual Outreach Performance reaches more than 500 students, seniors, and others who would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the joy of a Christmas Revels.
Under our Community Initiative, Washington Revels partnered with school, church and neighborhood groups to produce Revels-style community theater, providing production and directorial support while engaging the people of the partner communities as performers and as part of the production team.
Revels History
Revels was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1971 and is now active in nine cities across the United States. Each city is an independent nonprofit institution with its own board, office and artistic staff, and separate finances. An umbrella organization, Revels, Inc., maintains artistic standards for all cities, researches traditional materials from many cultures, and assists with scripts and music.
- Find out about the origins of the Revels.
- Learn more about Revels founder John Meredith Langstaff.
- Revels productions take place all through the year around the country.
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