Silver Creek High School
BY KAREY ROBINSON

Madrigal Feast Delights Community

Perhaps in honor of the Annual Royal Madrigal Feast, the lyrics to the traditional “12 Days of Christmas” should read: “Nineteen days before Christmas the Performing Arts Department gave to its audience: 100 singers singing, 40 fiddlers fiddling, 20 minstrels meandering, 15 actors acting, 11 guitarists strumming, six drummers drumming, five brass a blowing, four vendors vending, one dancer dancing, And a full house stuffed from the feast!”

Photo by Karey Robinson
Wandering minstrels entertain audience members waiting for the beginning of the Royal Madrigal Feast.

For the ninth year, the performing arts department prepared an evening full of entertainment which combined the choirs, orchestra and drama departments for a Renaissance inspired dinner theater.

As guests were seated in the cafeteria, which had been transformed into a medieval castle, they were entertained by strolling minstrels and bought handmade wares from wandering vendors. A catered feast featured pulled pork from A Grande Affair catering and a traditional wassail toast.

The four choirs, conducted by Jeremy Skelton, performed seasonal and traditional songs and led the audience in holiday sing-a-longs.
Orchestra conductor Paul Trapkus directed a wide variety of numbers including traditional Irish jigs, Hungarian dances and for the first time, a guitar ensemble.

Thespians performed an original short play written by Colin Dweir called “The Bat-Man and the Deus ex Tempus Machina,” directed by Les Dweir.
An annual audience favorite featured the choir men who this year performed the humorous number “He Is Not Dead Yet” from Spamalot.

The finale combined all choir members as well as choir alumni in attendance to sing “Betelehemu.”

The teachers and students of the performing arts department along with an army of parent volunteers invested hundreds of hours preparing for the highly successful event, which is growing in popularity with not only school patrons but also in the community at large. The three shows were filled almost to capacity with the matinee event being a sellout.

The performing arts department intends to continue the annual tradition for years to come.