During Joliet’s 4th Madrigal Dinner held December 18, 19 and 20, a merry ol’ time was had by all! 
New faces on stage joined those from previous years to ring in the holidays with a European festive flair for dining audiences. A fun experience for the entire family downtown Joliet. If you missed it this year, mark you 2016 calendars for the 5th Madrigal Dinner December 16, 17 and 18.
Joliet Drama Guild President, Marty Kaspar, once again coordinated the 2015 Madrigal Dinner to be a delightful experience for the senses, and produced by Jan Novotny, Joliet Drama Guild Treasurer. The Joliet Drama Guild greatly appreciates all who helped behind the scenes and the many performers on stage, as all are listed in the program below. Here audiences could also read why madrigal dinners were all the rage during the Renaissance, some fun tounge-in-cheek dinner ettiquite (“Gueysts must not tell unseemly tales at the table”) and what in the world is wassail.
Audience members relaxed at candle lit tables dressed in red and green linens as they ate a turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings, served by the pages and “wenches.” Audiences dined while watching the endearing and sometimes-hilarious story unfolding at the head table, singing Christmas carols with the actors and listening to the harmonizing chorus directed by the talented Willard Thomen, who has served on the University of St Francis music faculty for the past fifteen years (more of his impressive background can be found under “Our Vocal Director” in the program below). Audiences also enjoyed hearing the brass ensemble and the “royal winds”, laughing with jester Annais Gangolf, marveling at young magician Anthony Stockton and watching the grace and strength of the Generation Dance Company, directed by the admirable Roxiana Fuqua (more about her dedicated teaching philosophy can be read in the program’s concluding page).
For more on Joliet Drama Guild’s 4th Madrigal Dinner and their upcoming show, BELL BOOK AND CANDLE (February 19-21 & 26028), please visit:
