Schools

Albany High Singers to Recreate Renaissance Revels

A feast for the ears, eyes and stomach is promised for those attending the annual "Madrigal Delights" dinner theater frivolity produced by the Albany High School Choirs, taking place this year on Friday and Saturday.

Editor's note: the following article, offered to Patch by the writer, Albany High journalism student Cataleya Supawit, appeared Monday in the Albany High student publication, Cougar Online.

Albany Choirs Present Their Annual Madrigal Delights Performance


BY CAT SUPAWIT – DECEMBER 2, 2013

Get ready to travel back in time with the Albany High School Vocal Music program as they prepare for their annual Madrigal Delights: A Feast of Renaissance Frivolity. Held this year on December 6th and 7th, the Madrigal is a form of dinner theater that recreates Renaissance feasts and gatherings held in 16th century England with delicious food, delightful humorous skits, and wonderful madrigals, carols, and instrumental music. Also serving as an important fundraiser for the Albany Music Fund, the Madrigal helps pay for sheet music, costumes, registration fees, tour scholarships and more.

It has been over fifteen years since the annual Madrigals began showing during the holidays in Albany; becoming a tradition that brings together all members of the community.

“Around the holidays, it’s really nice to do something that brings families, students and friends together; an event like the Madrigal does that well,” said choral director Mary Stocker. It gives all groups of people a chance to bond – from girl scouts to far away family members.

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The Madrigal is also a chance to bring the entire music community together. Parent volunteers help every year alongside the students with the preparation and performance of the Madrigals; they are essential for the event to happen smoothly.

“All volunteering is a great way to meet other parents. The Madrigal in particular is a huge community builder,” remarked Laura Driussi, a parent volunteer who has two daughters in choir, “So many different tasks require vastly different skills – skills we parents wouldn’t see in each other if it weren’t for the Madrigal. Who knew we had a graphic designer, a costume designer, a carpenter, a food safety inspector, a chef, and plenty of roll-up-their-sleeves hard workers among our parent community?”

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Every year the Madrigal has been slightly different, the most notable being the addition of a Saturday matinee tailored specifically for children. This year, the change is a little more subtle. The choir students were given the opportunity to take the entertainment into their own hands and wrote the skits that go along with the songs they will perform this year.

Tiffany Huynh, a member of Women’s Chamber Ensemble, noted, “The actors are really great and its fun to see our scripts being used. Last year, I was new to choir and I didn’t feel like a complete ‘choir kid’, but contributing to the script makes me feel more a part of it.”

This beloved tradition is a great opportunity to bring together friends and family for a night of festivity and fun. The dinner performances will be held at 7:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, December 6 and 7.  The matinee luncheon this year will be on Saturday, December 7, at 11:00 am. These shows sell out every year, so order your tickets today! The evening performances are $15 for students and seniors and $20 for general admission. The Saturday matinee luncheon is $12 for students and seniors and $17 for general admission. Tickets are available from any high school choir student or athttp://ahsmadrigal.brownpapertickets.com.

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