Notes from the artistic Director
My interest in seasonal singing and dancing was sparked when my mother, grandmother and I went to see the Cambridge Revels . At the end of the show, so the story goes, I pointed to a girl taking her bows on the stage and said, “I want to be that girl next year!” We didn’t live in Boston, though, so my mother looked around Franklin County to see what theater opportunities she could find for me. She stum- bled upon an annual show called Welcome Yule that was sort of Revels-like, but with more of a community feel. On learning that participation in the show during those early days was contingent upon showing up consistently at rehearsals, my mother and I enthusiastically joined the cast. My younger sister Blithe also joined the cast for several years. A fall commitment to re- hearsals that culminated in three performances every December became part of my family’s annual activity schedule. I’ve been part of the show for 18 of my 22 years. I started out in the chil- dren’s chorus belting out “Bright Shining Star”, transitioned into the teen group and now sing in the adult chorus. As many families return year after year to perform in Welcome Yule, the cast has come to feel like an ephemer- al community that recreates itself every year from September, when rehears- als begin, to December when final bows are taken and the set is struck. Although I sing in the chorus, I prefer the behind-the-scenes work of coordi- nating, directing and bringing a show to completion. This year, I decided I was ready to write and direct my own show. I spent hours researching songs and traditions. I knew I wanted to set the action in England, but with a twist. When I discovered that Robin Hood was a stock character in old mummer’s plays, I was inspired to build the show around this legendary figure. So this year, the action in our fictional village is set 11th century, with the mischievous yet righteous figure of Robin Hood watching over us as we celebrate the return of the light at the winter solstice. Wassail and Welcome Yule! December 12th, 13th and 14th, 2014 Ha ie ove Archbald Artistic Director, 2014 The Shea Theater Turners Falls, Massachusetts performers Words to the songs Adult Chorus Hattie Archbald Fred Momaney Montserrat Archbald Loril Moondream Margaret Christie Rita Reinke FURRY DAY CAROL ( Chorus ) Louise Doud Andrea Rogers With hal and toe, sing merry-o, Bob Drinkwater Geoff Rogers Becca Lipton Rachel Roy With hal and toe sing merry! Jolianna Lobrose Tom Shattuck With hal and toe sing merry-o, Saralinda Lobrose Liz Smith Jinny Mason Andrea Tarr With hal and toe sing merry! Alan McArdle Lorelle Wilson Eloise Michael Matt Wilson Gloucestershire wassail (C horus ) Drink to thee! Drink to thee! Children’s and Teen’s chorus With a wassailing bowl we’ll drink to thee!
Calla Jones Granger Smith-Massa This longest night Larkin Christie Fedya Michael This longest night your candles light, Clara Kohrman Fiona Rogers Solena Davidson Carroll Lana Vilcinskas Keep watch over all the earth. Morgan Lobrose Lizzie Wilson Welcome hope and cheer as dawn grows near.
And rejoice, rejoice at the sun’s rebirth.
musicians Lord of the dance Dance, dance, wherever you may be Montserrat Archbald Loril MoonDream Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy Michael Pattavina For I am the ord of the dance said he Becca Lipton Geoff Rogers And I lead you all, wherever you may be Jolianna Lobrose Lana Vilcinskas Morgan Lobrose Lizzie Wilson And I’ll lead you all in the dance said he.
ADDITIONAL performers Juggler Meadow Morris Men Act I Hail to Britannia: Children s Chorus Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening: Children’s Our young people sing a traditional English nursery rhyme. Chorus The children lead us into the forest with this much loved poem by Strike Up Your Instruments of Joy: Chorus Robert Frost, set to music by Bra leboro musician Peter Amidon. From the Revels Choral Series, wri en by ohn Emunds 1 1 -1 86). Medieval instruments, lords, dames, maids and boys are all exhorted to join in seasonal Travelers’ Prayer: Fred, Bob, orelle, Saralinda, Chorus festivities. A modern carol wri en and arranged by ohn Renbourne and based on songs from the Carmina adelica, a collection of material gathered by Al- The Holly and the Ivy: Chorus exander Carmichael at the turn of the twentieth century. A traditional Yule carol, sung here to an Old French Melody penned in 1861. Bright Shining Morning : eo , Chorus We’ve Been Awhile a-Wandering: Children’s Chorus eo leads the chorus on the Wild Hunt in this traditional English pub song . A wassail song from Yorkshire, sung by the street waits carolers) travleing from house to house on Christmas Eve. Arranged by Marshall Bar- Mummers Play: izzie, Eloise, Alan, inny, Margaret, Rachel, ron Tom, oril and Fedya Cu y Wren: Tom, Alan, Bob, Fred, eo , Ma Mumming is one of many midwinter customs wherein performers Wrenning is a widespread tradition in the British Isles centered on disguise themselves and go house to house, singing and spreading good the capture and sacrifice of the tiny wren, the King of all birds. cheer. They hope to be thanked for their e orts with food and drink.
The Shortest Day: iz Smith and oril MoonDream Gloucestershire Wassail: Chorus A poem was wri en by Susan Cooper, and used with permission of Revels, Another annual favorite in which we toast cows, horses, maids and Inc. Please join us in calling “Welcome, Yule!” at the end. butlers. oin us for the refrain. Words included!
Furry Day: Chorus A traditional English wassailing carol, and a long-time favorite of Intermission Welcome Yule. We invite you to join in the chorus—words included. Act II Wren Boys’ Song: Morgan & ranger, Children’s Chorus More winter activities involving wrens and youngsters. Story: Fred and children) The story of Robin Hood, retold. Stick Dance: Children’s Chorus This traditional English tune is called “The Black oke”. O Sight of Anguish: Montserrat, Becca, Tom Inspired by Tim Erikson s rendition of Occom s Carol , this arrangement was Gower Wassail: Chorus created by Pickering and Archbald. Another traditional wassail piece relating the superior qualities of our ale, and expressing best wishes for a bountiful apple crop next year. Until the Dark Time Ends: Calla, Clara, Chorus A contemporary song by Aloue e Iselin from elson, H. Abbots Bromley Horn Dance: An ancient ritual dance first chronicled in Sta ordshire, England over 600 years ago. It is performed This Longest Night: Chorus for us every year by uggler Meadow Morris Men. This lovely round by orraine ee celebrates the winter solstice. Words includ- ed! Musical Interlude: Loril, Lizzie, Lana
The Praise of Christmas: a ie ac el oli aralinda Alan Tom Bob Loril staff T is 18t century carol commends t is season as a time of merriment Producers: and conviviality as we sing “carols and songs to drive t e cold winter Artistic Director: Ha ie ove Archbald away”. Stage Director: Fred Momaney Here’s a Health to Company: Liz C orus Chorus Director: Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy Traditional Iris ong based in t e long istory of emigra- Children’s Chorus Director: Becca ipton tion from cotland to Ireland. Arranged by Becca Lipton Instrumental Director: eo Rogers Dance: Company Producers: Alan McArdle, inny Mason, Tom Sha uck An Englis country dance called Bat Carnival and set to Stage Manager: Devon Mason McArdle t e tune Keppel’s Delig t. T evdance dates to t e 1700’s w en Bat be- Vocal Arrangements: Bill Venman, Thomas W. Hutcheson, Becca ipton came a popular spa/resort. Mummer’s Play Authors: Montserrat Archbald, Margaret Christie Apple Tree Wassail: Louise Margaret Eloise Mummer’s Play Directors: Montserrat Archbald, Rachel Roy A song from t e omerset region of England toasting apple trees and Dance Captain: Andrea Rogers encouraging t em to bear well in t e coming year. Costumers: Marsha Smith, inny Mason
John Ball: C orus ighting Design: Mike Friedman T e women lead t is ydney Carter song onoring a 14t century vi- Set Design: Ha ie Archbald sionary w o organized an agricultural collective w ere all were equal in ighting, Set and Stage Crew: Mike Friedman, fellows ip and land owners ip. Phyllis Stone, Rachel Roy, Tom Sha uck, oan Deely, ed Proujansky
Hail Smiling Morn: C orus ight Board Operator: Phyllis Stone Composed in 1810 by eginald poffort t is rousing song comes from Poster Design and Illustration: Blithe Archbald t e Yorks ire pub caroling tradition Poster Technical Support: eannie Schermesser
Lord of the Dance: red a ie Alan Andrea C orus Program ayout: oan Deely et to t e tune of t e aker carol “ imple Gifts” we celebrate t e life House Manager/Concessions: ed Proujansky, oan Deely giving power of t e dance. oin us in t e c orus! Publicity: ouise Doud, oan Deely, inny Mason, Mik Muller, Bob Drinkwater The King: C orus
We cannot go a year wit out singing t is Wels ode to t e Wren t e King of all t e birds t at celebrates t e ancient custom of wrenning. Produced by Welcome Yule, Inc. Lord of the Dance: eprise & Please join t e cast in dancing in t e aisles as we repeat t e c orus of t is song. Words are in t e program. The Shea Theater
Much of the music in the show was arranged by, or adapted from Special thanks to arrangements by Bill Venman and Thomas W. Hutcheson brattleborotix.com Broadside books Jones Library St. James Church - Greenfield susan cooper All songs traditional except as noted above. Valley Light Opera world eye bookshop www.welcomeyule.org