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homerhorizon.com LIFE & ARTS
the Homer Horizon | December 15, 2016 | 17
Madrigal dinner entertains attendees at LTHS
Ryan Esguerra, Freelance Reporter
“Christmas beckons with its old
patent magic.”
This excerpt from the opening
wassail toast of Lockport Township
High School’s 16th annual Madrigal
Feaste set the stage perfectly for the
magic that would occur throughout
the weekend. Beginning Dec. 2, and
running through Dec, 4, the LTHS
Drama Club would take its guests
on a trip back in time to help kick
off the holiday season.
“It was beautiful,” said Stacey
Mladic, LTHS Choir Booster Club
president. “We sold out all three
shows and packed the house three
days in a row, serving nearly 480
people.
“The show was absolutely amazing,
and the crowd seemed to love
it.”
Cheerful students in 16th century
character and English accents greeted
adults and their families as they
entered the dimly lit medieval style
auditorium. Guests were treated to a
catered meal as well as the chance
to interact with the cast as they were
performing, a feature unique to live
theatre.
“Every night is completely different
when doing live theatre,”
said LTHS Director of Choirs Chad
Goetz, who is in his 12th consecutive
year directing the Madrigal
dinner. “When you eliminate that
fourth wall between you and the audience,
and allow them to be a part
of the action, it completely changes
each performance.
“The kids worked really hard this
year, and I couldn’t be more pleased
with what they have done.”
About 60 students participated,
with a cast led by seniors Abigail
Mladic and Jake Parsons as King
and Queen of England, along with
about 20 members of their court.
Nearly three dozen trouvéres served
catered food and wassail, a mulled
cider commonly consumed during
Medieval English rituals that intends
good tiding and good cheer
for those who consume it.
“Watching many of these students
grow as their career in the
Madrigals progressed is absolutely
amazing,” Mladic said. “The King
and Queen for example, started as
a trouvére and a page in the men’s
choir. To watch them work their
way up into what they are today has
been a pleasure.”
Parsons and Mladic were the only
four-year members of the Madrigal
dinner. Both said while it is bittersweet
to finish their careers with the
choir, they could not have done it
with a better group of people.
“It is a relief, but at the same time,
I am so sad that it is ending,” Mladic
said. “We really have become an
intertwined family. Making music
like this, we all have to get along
and appreciate each other. It’s been
a pleasure working with everyone.”
Parsons echoed his Queen’s comments.
“We have rehearsed for this since
June, so we usually end up spending
more time with each other than our
actual families at certain points,” he
said. “So, it’s great to say that we
are all so tight knit.”
Despite its humble beginnings
upon his arrival 12 years ago, Goetz
said that the event has grown each
year, and he salutes the community
for all of its support.
“When I got here, we were serving
about 80 people per night,”
Goetz said. “Now, we are sitting at
about 170 a night and completely
sold out shows.”
“You can attribute that to how
far the program has come,” Parsons
added. “The cast does an amazing
job; our trouvéres work so hard for
us, and the parents are huge in all of
this, as well. Without everyone, this
would not be possible.”
While placing emphasis on paying
homage to its traditions on an
annual basis, Goetz said that the
goal is for the performance to adapt.
He said that he hopes each year the
performance will give attendees
something new to experience.
“Every year, we are able to keep
things that work and add new things
that may work a bit better,” Goetz
said. “We are constantly evolving
in order to give people a reason to
come back next year.”
The Town Crier, played by Michael Jostes, holds a chicken Dec. 3 during the 16th annual Lockport Township
High School Madrigal Feaste. Photos by Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media
Madelyn Alvarado (Jester Wit) (left) and Megan Staley (Jester Jinkin) perform during the dinner.