The department of music at Hope College is again sponsoring a Christmas season Madrigal Feast, on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 9-10, at 7 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium.
As in the time of Shakespeare, guests gather at the royal court for an evening of singing, dancing, feasting and general merry-making. The feast features fine food, a wassail toast, figgy pudding and a boar's head procession.
The auditorium will be decorated in the manner of a castle's grand feasting hall, complete with tapestries and suits of armor to help lend atmosphere. The wait staff will be garbed in period attire.
Wassail begins at 6:30 p.m. and the feast, served family-style, begins at 7 p.m. Music will be provided by Hope College's Collegium Musicum vocal ensemble with dance from the Renaissance Dancers. Music faculty member Brian Coyle and his wife, Debbie, will serve as the king and queen. The royal family also includes Princess Molly and Prince Mackenzie.
Tickets for the full slate of activities are $20 for adults, $15 for children under 12, and $10 for Hope College students. Costumes are encouraged, but not required.
Tickets may be purchased during weekday business hours at the college's department of music, which is located in Nykerk Hall of Music and may be called at (616) 395-7650. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24-25.
The Maas Center is located on Columbia Avenue at 11th Street. Nykerk Hall of Music is located along the former 12th Street between College and Columbia avenues.