Revels North proudly presents
You are all invited to join us around the campfire for a special celebration of New England, Revels and Abenaki traditions. As one year ends, and another begins, you will be taken on a magical journey of stories, songs and dance that celebrate one of the most important things - community - as our fictional town celebrates their annual midwinter celebrations for the first time in two years.
Through the eyes of a new family in town you will be introduced to mysterious stories, exciting dances, loveable characters and glorious songs that regularly frequent this annual gathering. From the mystical Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers and delightful Lord of the Dance to the spellbinding Mummers Play and poignant poem, The Shortest Day, you will come away with that warm fuzzy festive feeling that only Midwinter Revels can bring. So join us for this very special celebration of new beginnings, old traditions and community which has been a family favorite of the Upper Valley since 1975.
A New England Midwinter Revels
Guest Artists
Jeff Warner
Jeff Warner is among the nation’s foremost performer/interpreters of traditional music. His songs from the lumber camps, fishing villages and mountain tops of America connect 21st century audiences with the everyday lives–and artistry–of 19th century Americans. “Providing more than just rich entertainment, Jeff will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the land you live in” (Caffé Lena, Saratoga, NY). His songs, rich in local history and a sense of place, bring us the latest news from the distant past.
The Vox Hunters
Hailing from the great state of Rhode Island, Armand Aromin and Benedict Gagliardi are seekers and singers of old songs, cultivators of local music, and chronic multi-instrumentalists. They are touted as strong tradition-bearers in their generation, and their genuine affinity for the music is evident in the emotion they draw from it. With a pair of oft-harmonizing voices tastefully garnished with fiddle, free-reeds, and tenor guitar, The Vox Hunters offer an all-natural connection to the living tradition of folk music.
James Bruchac
James Bruchac is an award winning author, storyteller, cultural educator, and Director of The Ndakinna Education Center in Greenfield Center NY. A citizen of the Nulhegan Abenaki Nation, for the last three decades, Mr. Bruchac, like other members of his well-known family, have been offering cultural and wilderness-based programs for people of all ages. Along with presenting at hundreds of schools, he has also performed at the Smithsonian Discover Theater, John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, as well as dozens of Folk and Storytelling festivals across the United States. Academically, Mr. Bruchac holds a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Skidmore College.
Jesse Bowman Bruchac
Jesse Bowman Bruchac is a Nulhegan Abenaki Citizen, language keeper, storyteller & musician. He has written several bilingual books in the language and teaches the Abenaki language at the Ndakinna Education Center, the University of Southern Maine, and is the director of the School of Abenaki at Middlebury College. As a musician he has worked in film & recorded several collections of traditional songs using drum, rattle and flute. He has opened for such notable acts as The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and at Woodstock ’94.
A New England Midwinter Revels
Cast & Crew
Music Director - Alex Cumming
Artistic and Stage Director - Sharon Groblicki
Dance Directors - Chris Levey and Alice Kaufman
Production and Volunteer Manager - Laura Craft
Stage Manager - Emma Behrens
Technical Director - Craig Mowery
Hoden Head Designer - Barbara Abraham Photographer - Evan Oxenham
Videographer - Junction Arts & Media
Graphic Designer - Echo Communications Video Edit & Credits - Alex Cumming
Revels Chamber Choir
Alex Cumming, Jennifer Curtin Steven Daigle, Nancy Ferguson Erica Holmes, William Schults Adam Weinstein, Michael Whitfield
Mummers Play
Rich Brown, Seamus Fleming, Debbie Grossman, Chris Levey, Angela Markert, Alan Peel, John Severinghaus, Amy Thacker
Rapper Team
Alice Craft, Seamus Fleming, Alice Kaufman Natalie Lewis, Twyla Weinstein
Lord of the Dance
Emma Behrens, Alice Kaufman
The Hartness Family
Glenna Giveans, Darcy Glenn, Twyla Weinstein Molly Cushman. Special mention to Sam Clifton
Children’s Chorus Managers -
Amie Thomasson and Katie Williams
Set and Lighting Designer - Craig Mowery
Sound Designer - Seth Stoddard
Costume Designer and Wardrobe Managers - Nancy Boyer and Regi Carr
Guest Artists
Jesse Bowman Bruchac
James Bruchac
Jeff Warner
The Vox Hunters
Childrens Chorus
Sophia Barrett, Gwyn Flemming, Lila Hoffman Molly Kelliher, Addy Kelliher, Coral Riegler,
May Thomasson, Talia Whittlesey
Farnham Hill Dancers
Laura Barrett, Rich Brown Jennifer Curtin, Jane Finlay Darcy Glenn, Erling Heistad Chris Levey, Alan Peel Kim Rheinlander, William Schults
Longsword Dance
Laura Barrett, Alice Craft, Alex Cumming, Jane Finlay, Alice Kaufman, Kim Rheinlander
Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
Laura Barrett, Rich Brown, Alice Craft, Jennifer Curtin, Jane Finlay, Darcy Glenn, Alan Grossman, Chris Levey, Natalie Lewis, Kim Rheinlander, William Schults, Amy Thacker
Mystical Characters
Fool - Jane Finlay
Wood Sprite - Alice Craft
Jack-In-The-Green - John Severinghaus
Hoden Heads - Natalie Lewis, Gwyneth & Seamus Fleming
Full Cast (alphabetical order)
Laura & Sophia Barrett Rich Brown, Lia Byrnes Sam Clifton, Jennifer Curtin Molly Cushman, Steven Daigle Nancy Ferguson Gwyneth & Seamus Fleming, Glenna Giveans, Darcy Glenn, Debbie Grossman, Erling Heistad, Chris & Lila Hoffman, Erica Holmes, Addy Kelliher, Chris Levey, Peter & Natalie Lewis, Angi Markert, Dylan Mroszczyk-McDonald, Alan Peel, Michael Ragusa, Kim Rheinlander, Vanessa & Coral Riegler, James Rushton, William Schults, Clare Swanson, Amy Thacker, May Thomasson, Adam & Twyla Weinstein, Michael Whitfield, Talia Whittlesey
Revels North is thrilled to introduce our new artistic team: Alex Cumming, Music Director, and Sharon Groblicki, Artistic/Stage Director. Both Alex and Sharon have been part of the Revels North community for some time, and we’re delighted with what we’re seeing from them in their new roles!
Alex hails from Somerset, England, and has training as a traditional vocalist, accordionist, pianist, session musician, dance caller, and educator. Alex has starred in prime time TV shows including BBC’s Edwardian Farm; performs with his bands Alex Cumming & Nicola Beazley, Bellwether, The Teacups and various dance bands; played live sessions for BBC Radio; and has been involved in various theatre productions, including Revels North’s 2019 and Cambridge Revels’ 2021 Christmas Revels productions.
Sharon’s accomplishments are too numerous to list. She is an actress, director and performing arts educator based in Vermont. She has performed off-Broadway, toured in shows across the US, taught courses in Theater and World Music as college faculty and has directed, staged and performed in many shows and musicals in our region. Sharon has a long history with Revels North; she enjoyed working with David Gay staging and choreographing musical pieces and served as his Children's Director, and has also participated as a performer. She is very excited to use her experience to bring the same joy to Revels that Revels has always brought to her!
We are pleased to welcome this accomplished team to the Revels North stage this year. Be prepared for a fresh take on a beloved Upper Valley holiday tradition!
Business Supporters
Thank you to Mascoma Bank and The River 93.9 for underwriting
A New England Midwinter Revels
Revels North thanks the following businesses for supporting A New England Midwinter Revels
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Aloha Foundation
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Tell Me More!
We will continue to update our website with information about The Midwinter Revels throughout the remainder of the year, including information about auditions.
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About The Midwinter (Christmas) Revels
The Revels, a beloved Upper Valley tradition for the whole family since 1975, is presented annually by Revels North. We celebrate the holiday season and the turning of the year with singing, dancing, and traditions that span the centuries and the globe. Recent performances have featured the stories, music and traditions of the Northlands, Québec, Ireland, Appalachia, England, and Venice. After over forty years of performances at the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College, in 2019 Revels North brought The Christmas Revels to historic Lebanon Opera House; in 2020 created the animated short film The Christmas Revels: All Shall Be Well Again as the season's alternative to a live production due to COVID-19; and in 2021 brought our traditions outdoors for The Christmas Revels Festival. 2022 sees the show return once more to Lebanon Opera House, under the new title Midwinter Revels.
The Christmas Revels would not be possible without the participation of dozens of children, teens, and adults who take on acting roles, join the chorus, and volunteer with costuming, makeup and hair styling. In typical years, auditions for The Midwinter Revels will take place in September, with rehearsals beginning in October.