The time honored tradition of the Madrigal Dinner at Blackburn reaches its 45th year this November. The dinners are a night of music, food and theatrics that feature Blackburn Voices and a group of student actors who put on a show to celebrate the Christmas season.
Guests are entertained with short skits while the Blackburn catering staff serves dinner. The entire cast as well as the vocal performers are clothed in garb of the Middle Ages and each course of the meal is announced with a different song.
Members of the Blackburn Voices act as if they are a royal court and the patrons of the dinner are their guests. In between many of the vocal performances are small skits performed in old English dialogue with a more modern twist. This year’s set of skits is titled “Rapunzel, Rapunzel Let Down Your Heir” and will be directed by Blackburn alum Owen Meredith (class of ’14).
Meredith is confident that the show will be entertaining. “The same script was used when I came to see my sister perform when I was 16. The show was really funny,” said Meredith.
According to Meredith the skit has more of an “Abbot and Costello” feel thanks to the two main characters, The Brothers Grimm. The script has an older 1920s style of comedy and entertainment. “Think like the 20s happened, but in the Middle Ages,” Meredith said. The cast is also joined by a jester, a witch and a prince in true fairytale fashion.
Meredith hopes to have the witch character come out like “Miracle Max from the ‘Princess Bride’ movie. She just has this cantankerous attitude.”
Meredith also believes that he has some great talent at his disposal for the skit. “My hope is that the show brings people to Blackburn and they see the talent we have. I want them to grab their sides and say ‘I think I pulled something,’” said Meredith.
The dinners are scheduled to take place on Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. The Madrigal Dinner tickets are $15 or two meal swipes for Blackburn students, $25 for Blackburn faculty and staff, $35 for general admission, $30 for groups of 10 or more and $15 for students in high school or younger.
Anyone wanting to purchase tickets can contact the Performing Arts department at Blackburn at performingarts@blackburn.edu.
The proceeds from this year’s dinners will support the Blackburn Voices tour over spring break, during which they will perform at high schools and churches across Illinois.