Department of Music presents annual Madrigal Feaste Dec. 2-4

November 12, 2010 -- In the style of Merrie Olde England with costumes, decorations, comedy, and fanfare, the Arkansas State University Choirs will present the eleventh Madrigal Feaste in the Grand Hall of ASU’s Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro, on Thursday, Dec. 2; Friday, Dec. 3; and Saturday, Dec. 4, at 6:30 p.m.



The Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, led by Dr. Dale Miller, director of choral activities, and choral music education professor, Kyle Chandler, will host the evening’s entertainment. They will serve as the court of “King Henry the Eighth of England, Jonesboro, and Craighead County.” Guests will enjoy the Wassail Bowl beginning at 6:15 p.m., and seating will begin with the first fanfare at 6:30 p.m.. Tickets for Thursday’s and Saturday’s performances will be available through Monday, Nov. 29, at the ASU Central Box Office, 972-ASU1, or 888-ASU-FANS.            

The Friday evening performance will be hosted by the ASU Faculty Women’s Club, and tickets may be obtained by contacting any FWC member or Madrigal Feaste chair Libby James (ljames@astate.edu) at 870-972-3055.

Seats for the Thursday and Saturday performances are reserved and are limited by space available. Ticket prices are $35 for the general public, and $30 for ASU faculty, staff, and students, as well as senior citizens. Proceeds will benefit the ASU Choir concert tour fund to Carnegie Hall in March 2012.

The music for the feaste will include traditional carols by the servers and audience, brass fanfares and harpsichord solos, as well as madrigals and chansons by the royal court. The menu for the royal feaste will include Cornish game hen, vegetable medley, sugar-kissed yams, greene salat, and rolls. A flaming pudding will be served with the royal fanfare.

King Henry the Eighth and Queen Anne Boleynn will be played by Christopher Orr and Becky Morrison, both of Jonesboro. The lords and ladies of the Royal Court, played by the members of the Chamber Singers, are: Jessica Baldwin of Paragould, Katie Fischer of Jacksonville, Hannah McQuay of Bono, and Becky Morrison and Kari Rickman of Jonesboro, sopranos; Kate Smith of Wynne, Katherine Richards of Osceola, and Crystal Haralson of Paragould, mezzo-sopranos; Jeremy Carter and Jacob Bushong of Paragould, Nick Robbins of Dell, Nathan Shelby of Bryant, and Christopher Orr of Jonesboro, tenors, and Cameron Hepler of Dexter, Mo., Kale McDaniel and Jarvis Brodie of Jonesboro, basses.

Reid Shelton will be the Steward and John Yerger will be the Jester, both of Jonesboro. The knaves and wenches will be played by other members of the ASU Concert Choir. Mr. Brian Henkelmann, music department staff accompanist, will play harpsichord; Jay Shepherd of Paragould will play guitar, and the student brass ensemble will also play.

For more information, call the Choral Office at 870-972-3841.

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