Massachusetts

Christmas Revels | Photographs

The Christmas Revels, a celebration of the beauty of folksong and dance on stage, has made its mark as a holiday tradition.

By Yankee Magazine|Oct 15 2010| Print icon

A large group of actors dressed in period costumes perform on stage under falling artificial snow, with colorful lights illuminating the scene.

Another image from the 2008 Thomas Hardy-inspired Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. Song leader David Coffin leads the audience and chorus in the Sussex Mummers' Carol, a traditional carol sung each year at the end of every Christmas Revels production around the country

Credit: Roger Ide
The Christmas Revels, a celebration of the beauty of folksong and dance on stage, has made its mark as a holiday tradition that is eagerly awaited each year. These captivating images, which span several years, are the next best thing to making the pilgrimage to see this live performance in person.

Details at: 617-972-8300; revels.org

Read the article: The Sounding of Joy
David Coffin leads the audience and ensemble in the "Sussex Mummers' Carol" at the close of the 2007 Christmas Revels, which featured a Balkan theme

David Coffin leads the audience and ensemble in the “Sussex Mummers’ Carol” at the close of the 2007 Christmas Revels, which featured a Balkan theme

Credit: Roger Ide
David Coffin leads the audience and ensemble in the “Sussex Mummers’ Carol” at the close of the 2007 Christmas Revels, which featured a Balkan theme
Credit: Roger Ide
Northlands, a celebration of the Winter Solstice in 2007 in Hanover, New Hampshire, at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. Pictured here is Water Mother at the birth of the universe. The story is taken from the Finnish folktale, The Kalevala. Narrator Elizabeth Durkee, at right

Northlands, a celebration of the Winter Solstice in 2007 in Hanover, New Hampshire, at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. Pictured here is Water Mother at the birth of the universe. The story is taken from the Finnish folktale, The Kalevala. Narrator Elizabeth Durkee, at right

Credit: Thomas Ames Jr
Northlands, a celebration of the Winter Solstice in 2007 in Hanover, New Hampshire, at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. Pictured here is Water Mother at the birth of the universe. The story is taken from the Finnish folktale, The Kalevala. Narrator Elizabeth Durkee, at right
Credit: Thomas Ames Jr
Company members Eden MacAdam-Somer (left) and Suzannah Park perform an Appalachian clog dance in the 2009 production at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge

Company members Eden MacAdam-Somer (left) and Suzannah Park perform an Appalachian clog dance in the 2009 production at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge

Credit: Roger Ide
Company members Eden MacAdam-Somer (left) and Suzannah Park perform an Appalachian clog dance in the 2009 production at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge
Credit: Roger Ide
The Ararat Chorus sings an ancient sharagan, or hymn (used as a processional during the Christmas season in the Armenian Church) in the 2002 Armenian-themed production at the Sanders Theatre

The Ararat Chorus sings an ancient sharagan, or hymn (used as a processional during the Christmas season in the Armenian Church) in the 2002 Armenian-themed production at the Sanders Theatre

Credit: Roger Ide
The Ararat Chorus sings an ancient sharagan, or hymn (used as a processional during the Christmas season in the Armenian Church) in the 2002 Armenian-themed production at the Sanders Theatre
Credit: Roger Ide
The Smoky Mountain Dancers perform a traditional English longsword dance that was adapted to the Appalachian tune "Sandy Boys" by Cambridge Revels choreographer Judy Erickson in the 2009 Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre

The Smoky Mountain Dancers perform a traditional English longsword dance that was adapted to the Appalachian tune “Sandy Boys” by Cambridge Revels choreographer Judy Erickson in the 2009 Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre

Credit: Roger Ide
The Smoky Mountain Dancers perform a traditional English longsword dance that was adapted to the Appalachian tune “Sandy Boys” by Cambridge Revels choreographer Judy Erickson in the 2009 Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre
Credit: Roger Ide
One highlight of the 2002 Christmas Revels, which featured an Armenian and Georgian theme, was the "Sebastia par," an Armenian folkdance that originated in the ancient Anatolian province of the same name.

One highlight of the 2002 Christmas Revels, which featured an Armenian and Georgian theme, was the “Sebastia par,” an Armenian folkdance that originated in the ancient Anatolian province of the same name.

Credit: Roger Ide
One highlight of the 2002 Christmas Revels, which featured an Armenian and Georgian theme, was the “Sebastia par,” an Armenian folkdance that originated in the ancient Anatolian province of the same name.
Credit: Roger Ide
Scene from the comic mummers play, "Siegfried and the Dragon" with Donald A. Duncan as Brunhilda (left), Martin Tullock as the Dragon, and Linnea Coffin as the Dragon's tail as performed in the 2006 German Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge

Scene from the comic mummers play, “Siegfried and the Dragon” with Donald A. Duncan as Brunhilda (left), Martin Tullock as the Dragon, and Linnea Coffin as the Dragon’s tail as performed in the 2006 German Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge

Credit: Roger Ide
Scene from the comic mummers play, “Siegfried and the Dragon” with Donald A. Duncan as Brunhilda (left), Martin Tullock as the Dragon, and Linnea Coffin as the Dragon’s tail as performed in the 2006 German Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge
Credit: Roger Ide
A Scottish celebration of the Winter Solstice in 2009 in Hanover, New Hampshire at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. Lindsey Warren (in red) is singing about her highland laddie who stole her heart. From left to right is Sharon Groblicki, Lindsey Warren, Amy Trage, Ashley Milliken, Anne Johnson and Sheila Moran

A Scottish celebration of the Winter Solstice in 2009 in Hanover, New Hampshire at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. Lindsey Warren (in red) is singing about her highland laddie who stole her heart. From left to right is Sharon Groblicki, Lindsey Warren, Amy Trage, Ashley Milliken, Anne Johnson and Sheila Moran

Credit: Ray Perez
A Scottish celebration of the Winter Solstice in 2009 in Hanover, New Hampshire at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. Lindsey Warren (in red) is singing about her highland laddie who stole her heart. From left to right is Sharon Groblicki, Lindsey Warren, Amy Trage, Ashley Milliken, Anne Johnson and Sheila Moran
Credit: Ray Perez
The Revels Children's Chorus is seen here performing "The Friendly Beasts", a children's carol echoing the melody of the medieval song "Orientis Partibus" in the 2005 English-themed Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge

The Revels Children’s Chorus is seen here performing “The Friendly Beasts”, a children’s carol echoing the melody of the medieval song “Orientis Partibus” in the 2005 English-themed Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge

Credit: Roger Ide
The Revels Children’s Chorus is seen here performing “The Friendly Beasts”, a children’s carol echoing the melody of the medieval song “Orientis Partibus” in the 2005 English-themed Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge
Credit: Roger Ide
The Pinewoods Morris Men, who have performed in every Christmas Revels in Cambridge since 1971, perform "The Lass of Richmond Hill", a morris dance in Fieldtown tradition at the 2008 Thomas Hardy-inspired Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre

The Pinewoods Morris Men, who have performed in every Christmas Revels in Cambridge since 1971, perform “The Lass of Richmond Hill”, a morris dance in Fieldtown tradition at the 2008 Thomas Hardy-inspired Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre

Credit: Roger Ide
The Pinewoods Morris Men, who have performed in every Christmas Revels in Cambridge since 1971, perform “The Lass of Richmond Hill”, a morris dance in Fieldtown tradition at the 2008 Thomas Hardy-inspired Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre
Credit: Roger Ide
Another image from the 2008 Thomas Hardy-inspired Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. Song leader David Coffin leads the audience and chorus in the Sussex Mummers' Carol, a traditional carol sung each year at the end of every Christmas Revels production around the country

Another image from the 2008 Thomas Hardy-inspired Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. Song leader David Coffin leads the audience and chorus in the Sussex Mummers’ Carol, a traditional carol sung each year at the end of every Christmas Revels production around the country

Credit: Roger Ide
Another image from the 2008 Thomas Hardy-inspired Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. Song leader David Coffin leads the audience and chorus in the Sussex Mummers’ Carol, a traditional carol sung each year at the end of every Christmas Revels production around the country
Credit: Roger Ide
Sam Johnson performs on the Larakhagh (slack rope) in the manner of the yalanchi clowns of Armenia at the end of his "act". Sanders Theatre in Cambridge

Sam Johnson performs on the Larakhagh (slack rope) in the manner of the yalanchi clowns of Armenia at the end of his “act”. Sanders Theatre in Cambridge

Credit: Roger Ide
Sam Johnson performs on the Larakhagh (slack rope) in the manner of the yalanchi clowns of Armenia at the end of his “act”. Sanders Theatre in Cambridge
Credit: Roger Ide

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