Revels: Santa Barbara's New Seasonal Tradition

Santa Barbara Revels launches an exciting holiday tradition this year with "The Christmas Revels: in Celebration of the Winter Solstice." Santa Barbara Revels is the newest of ten Revels companies nation-wide, the first having started in Cambridge, MA, 37 years ago, and each presents fully staged and costumed productions that incorporate traditional music, dance, drama and ritual and commemorate the changing seasons.

This inaugural production of Santa Barbara Revels focuses on the traditions of Medieval and Renaissance England, with vocal performances from SBCC’s Quire of Voyces, conducted by music director Nathan Kreitzer, and from the Revels Children's Chorus, led by Pam McLendon. The newly-formed Revels Morris Men will present a variety of traditional dances, the James Michael Consort will perform musical selections on 15th and 16th Century instruments, and the Revels Brass Ensemble, composed of musicians from the Santa Barbara Symphony, will provide musical accompaniment.

All Revels companies incorporate volunteer and professional performers and are inter-generational, multi-ethnic and non-denominational. All productions contain the hallmark Revels characteristics of audience participation and community celebration.

Susan Keller is Founder/Producer of Santa Barbara Revels and Maggie Mixsell the Stage Director for performances on Thursday, December 6, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. (as part of First Thursday) and Sunday, December 9, at 12:30 p.m. Both performances are in the Courtyard of the historic Casa de la Guerra, 15 E. De la Guerra Street. Thursday is a preview performance open to the public; tickets for Sunday’s performance can be purchased at the door, $10 for adults and $5 for children over three. For additional information: www.santabarbararevels.org or call 565-9357.