2021 Christmas Revels: Community Update

July 28, 2021

Greetings Revelers,

Happy summer to one and all! As we celebrate another “Jubilee July,” we are envisioning and planning for the 2021 Christmas Revels. We are laying the groundwork for an in-person event, as conditions allow, for this coming December. As we prepare once again to revel together, we will reflect on our resilience and celebrate the reunion of friends and families after more than a year of isolation.

While much is still in motion, we are excited to share with you a few details about what the Washington Revels Fall season will look like!


2021 Christmas Revels Theme

This year’s Christmas Revels is set in our nation’s capital and the surrounding countryside in the year 1870 — a time of hope after a period of struggle. As the nights grow longer and the air chills, neighbors gather to reflect on the past and to revel together once again.

Through traditional melodies, heartfelt spirituals, joyful carols, and toe-tapping rhythms, we will celebrate our shared American roots and the resilience of our community in the face of unprecedented challenge as we honor the past with a homegrown Christmas Revels, featuring local artists, the Washington Revels Brass, and our own Jubilee Voices.

Together, we will ring in this Christmas season, share the stories and rituals that bind us, and blend our voices in song. As our community reunites to reflect on this time in our history, we will move forward with resilience and hope. We will tell the familiar tale of the shortest day and the rebirth of the new year in a uniquely American way, affirming for ourselves the anthem from last year’s Winter Solstice Revels — we are one!


Audition Information

  • Adult Chorus auditions will be Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18.
  • Teen/Tween Chorus auditions will be Sunday, September 19.
  • All auditions will be held at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD. Exact audition times are available on our auditions page.

At this time we are still evaluating whether we will be able to have a Children’s Chorus and if so, how that will be managed. More information about opportunities for children will be forthcoming.

For more information about how to audition, including what we look for and what to prepare, please check out our audition website.


Vaccination Requirements for the Chorus

Per Washington Revels’ Vaccination Policy, ALL Washington Revels performers, including members of the Adult and Teen/Tween Chorus, are required to be vaccinated in order to participate in this year’s show, no exceptions. 

We ask that anyone who wishes to audition to please make sure they are fully vaccinated two weeks prior to the audition date. See the full vaccination policy here.


Rehearsal/Performance Schedule & Locations

At this time, we anticipate that we will be holding rehearsals on Wednesday nights starting September 22 through early December at a location that is still TBD.

The production schedule and all locations, including the dates and venue for this year’s show, will be confirmed by the time of auditions. We anticipate that most performances will occur over two weekends in mid-December.  

All 2021 Christmas Revels planning is subject to re-evaluation and possible alteration as we receive updated guidance from federal, state, and local authorities.    


Questions?

If you have any questions about what’s going on this season, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page. If your question is not answered there, or if you have any other thoughts, suggestions, or concerns, please share them with us at info@revelsdc.org.


In our ever-evolving world there are still many details and opportunities to be worked out for this year’s show. We are looking forward to sharing new information with you as we have it, so please keep an eye on your inboxes and on our website.

Thank you so much for your patience and support. We look forward to reveling with you this season.

Revel on!

Roberta, Andrea, Betsy and Colin

Frequently Asked Questions

Every year, we get asked many excellent questions about The Christmas Revels. And this year, as we emerge from pandemic lockdowns and move towards in-person events once more, we expect that you will have new questions. We’ve tried to anticipate and answer the ones we could think of here. If you have a question that isn’t answered below, or if you would like clarification on any of these FAQs, please send an email to info@revelsdc.org. We will continue to update this page as we finalize decisions, learn more, and receive new questions. [Updated August 17, 2021]

Watching the Show:

  1. Will the 2021 Christmas Revels be live and in-person? Yes, there will be a live in-person production this year.
  2. Where will The Christmas Revels be staged this year? We are still exploring a number of venues and will announce a location prior to auditioning the chorus (see below), if not sooner.
  3. When are the 2021 performances? We anticipate that most performances will occur over two weekends in mid-December. However, the dates, times, and total number of this year’s performances are dependent on the venue decision and will be announced prior to chorus auditions, if not earlier.
  4. When will tickets go on sale? The start of ticket sales is still under consideration. Tickets will go on sale no later than November 1st, and possibly earlier.
  5. Will there be a virtual viewing option? Yes, the 2021 Christmas Revels will be filmed and released for viewing. Virtual tickets will go on sale at the same time as in-person tickets.
  6. What is the 2021 show theme? This year’s Christmas Revels is set in our nation’s capital and the surrounding countryside in the year 1870 – a time of hope after a period of struggle. As the nights grow longer and the air chills, neighbors gather to reflect on the past and to revel together once again. Together, we will ring in the holidays with traditional melodies, heartfelt spirituals, joyful carols and toe-tapping rhythms in a Christmas Revels featuring local artists, the Washington Revels Brass and our own Jubilee Voices. Sharing the stories and rituals that bind us together, our community will gather to hear the familiar tale of the shortest day and the rebirth of the new year in a uniquely American way!
  7. I am a Washington Revels donor. Will I get my usual “Early Priority” ticketing benefit? As in past years, donors who give $100 or more between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021 will receive Early Priority ticketing benefits. Exact benefits will be dependent on the final venue decision and will be announced to qualifying donors in advance of public ticket sales.
  8. Is there a vaccination policy for the audience? We are monitoring developments in the pandemic and changing health guidance as we evaluate audience safety measures. We currently follow Montgomery County and CDC guidelines. All policies to protect the health and safety of our performers, volunteers, audience, and staff are subject to modification as circumstances evolve.
  9. Will there be the usual audience singalongs and audience dancing during “Lord of the Dance”? We have not made decisions about audience singalongs or other forms of audience-cast interaction. We will make final determinations on these traditional Christmas Revels elements as more information on health and safety becomes available.

Participating in the Show:

  1. Who can participate in this year’s cast? As of now, we plan to have an Adult (18 & older) and Teen/Tween Chorus (age 12 or older and entering Grades 7-12).
  2. Will there be a Children’s Chorus? We are still evaluating whether we will be able to have a Children’s Chorus this Fall and will release more information as we learn more about vaccinations for children under the age of 12 (see more vaccination requirements below).
  3. When & where will Chorus Auditions be held? Auditions will be held at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD. Adult Chorus will be held on Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18. Auditions for the Teen/Tween Chorus will be held on Sunday, September 19. Exact audition times available our auditions page.
  4. When & where will rehearsals be held? We anticipate that we will be holding rehearsals on Wednesday nights beginning September 22 through early December. The rehearsal location is still TBD and will be announced prior to auditions, along with confirmed show dates.
  5. What is the vaccination policy for performers? Per Washington Revels’ Vaccination Policy: “Anyone performing, rehearsing, or otherwise gathering as a Washington Revels performer for a Washington Revels event must be fully vaccinated for Covid 19. This applies to any gatherings for singing together as organized by Washington Revels. Fully vaccinated means at least two weeks past the last required injection based on manufacturer’s recommendations.”
  6. What is the vaccination policy for non-performers? Per Washington Revels’ Vaccination Policy: “Non-performing volunteers who are not vaccinated will be permitted to participate in Washington Revels activities on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, these individuals will be required to be masked and distanced as appropriate.”
  7. When can I sign up for auditions? As of now we are still finalizing our audition sign-up process. Please check the audition website for any future updates. 
  8. When will I know if I am in the Chorus? Chorus members will be informed of their status by no later than Tuesday, September 21. 
  9. How large will this year’s chorus be? A variety of factors will determine the size of this year’s chorus, however, the chorus will be smaller this year than in previous years in order to meet budget requirements during the ongoing pandemic.
  10. Can I fill out the audition form in advance? Once audition scheduling is announced, audition forms will be available on the Washington Revels Audition Page for you to fill out in advance. 
  11. What opportunities will there be for non-chorus participants to volunteer? Volunteer opportunities will be announced after auditions are finished. There will likely be similar volunteer opportunities to previous years. More information about volunteer opportunities will be shared at the Dog and Pony rehearsal on Wednesday, September 22. 
  12. Will there be Wednesday Night Work Parties? No decision has been made about Wednesday Night Work Parties at this time. Please be on the lookout for future announcements about WNWP. If you are interested in being involved in WNWP or leading a WNWP please contact Grace VanderVeer at gvanderveer@revelsdc.org
  13. If I am not invited to join the chorus, will there be other performance related opportunities that I can participate in? The Washington Revels production team is exploring a variety of options for other performance possibilities. We will share those with you when we know more. 

Vaccination Policy for Performers and Volunteers

Adopted by the Washington Revels Board of Directors: July 19, 2021

  1. Anyone performing, rehearsing, or otherwise gathering as a Washington Revels performer for a Washington Revels event must be fully vaccinated* for Covid 19. This applies to any gatherings for singing together as organized by Washington Revels.
  2. Non-performing volunteers who are not vaccinated will be permitted to participate in Washington Revels activities on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, these individuals will be required to be masked and distanced as appropriate.
  3. In all cases, documented proof of vaccination will be required to participate in Revels activities unmasked.

* Fully vaccinated means at least two weeks past the last required injection based on manufacturer’s recommendations.

If you have questions about this vaccination policy or experience issues uploading proof of vaccination to our online audition form, please email Colin K. Bills at cbills@revelsdc.org.