Revels

Revels is a contemporary series of American seasonal stage performances, incorporating singing, dancing, recitals, and theatrics loosely organized around a central theme or narrative. The folk-tradition-based performances started in 1957, were restarted in 1971, and now occur in multiple cities around the US. History Performances were initially given at Christmas time as the Christmas Revels at Town Hall in New York City in 1957, which involved singing, dancing, recitals, theatrics (usually as brief skits, often humorous), and usually some audience participation, all appropriate to the holiday season. Performers were usually local, often non-professional, and frequently young. The events were founded by John Langstaff as Christmas entertainments; he and his daughter Carol later started producing The Christmas Revels in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1971, at Harvard University's Sanders Theater, where it has frequently played to sold-out houses. Until his death in 2005, Langstaff, assisted by members of his family, led or fostered several similar Revels organizations in various American cities. His ability to "get it done" as well as his teaching and performing style, was admired by children's television producer Jonathan Meath, who was a tenor on two of their CD albums entitled Welcome Yule and Victorian Revels.