Christmas Revels Goes to Bavaria & Switzerland 12/10-12

For Season #31, The Christmas Revels pays homage to the frosty season and roots of American Christmas traditions with a trip through Bavaria and Switzerland, celebrating the music, dance, stories and traditions of old Bavaria. A journey with the Revels cast of 70+ players to Bavaria and the surrounding regions at Yuletide will reveal the roots of modern Christmas with song, dance, storytelling and the blessings of children and laughter. Producer is Nancy Petaja, director Jonathan Fluck, music director Matt Rupcich.

Audience and cast lines blur at Revels when viewers are sometimes invited to sing carols and rounds with the Company. And, a Revels ritual always ends Act I - "The Lord of the Dance" - which ends with performers and audience members literally dancing in the aisles. Along the way, there will be high and low art, including a hilarious mummers play - German style - Schuhplattler dancing, music, stories of Sankt Nikolaus, (yes, Sankt) and more.

Despite the word "Christmas" in the title, Revels is not a religious pageant, but rather a unique community event in celebration of the winter solstice, where people gather to dance, sing, tell stories, and "to drive the dark away." This darkest time of the year casts a powerful spell over nearly every culture in the northern hemisphere and has given birth to countless ways of celebrating the winter solstice. Many of our present-day holiday rituals in this country originate in the Nordic/German traditions and come flavored with the spices of Europe.

For additional information about the New York Revels, please visit www.nyrevels.org

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS is produced by THE NEW YORK REVELS, a performing arts organization that celebrates the Winter Solstice and other seasonal events through theatrical productions of music, dance, ritual and drama. Other Revels companies perform in Boulder, Co; Boston, Ma; Hanover, NH; Houston, Tx; Oakland, Ca; Portland, Or; Puget Sound, Wa; Santa Barbara, Ca; and Washington DC.

FOR THEIR 31ST YEAR, CHRISTMAS REVELS TAKES A TOUR OF BAVARIA AND SWITZERLAND

Cast of 80 players includes:
** Schuhplattler Dancers
** Alphorns
** Weihnachts Chorus
** Die Frohlichen Kinderlein
** Sankt Nikolaus
** The Modern Brass Quintet
** Lord of the Dance
** the resident company of Revelers

December 10-12 (Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 & 8 PM; Sunday at 2 PM)
Teatro at Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue (at 104th Street)
(Revelers fans - please note the new location this year)
Tickets: $50; $40; $30 for adults; $45; $35; $25 for children 17 and under
Reservations: 718/399-9282 or www.nyrevels.org
(group rates available)

(Matinee performances are ASL interpreted for the hearing impaired.