WELLMAN

The Mid-Prairie Choir Department held its 30th annual Madrigal Dinner the weekend of December 8-10. After the success of previous Madrigal Dinners, there was no surprise when all three nights sold out early.

Guests stepped into the school and were taken to a different time. The halls were decorated with lights and greenery, the students were all dressed in Medieval gowns and attire, and fanfare music played on as noble lords and ladies were taken to their seats.

The night began with the Jester, played by senior Jacob Carillo, welcoming everyone and setting the tone for the dinner. The audience was then introduced to the Royal Court, King Jack Greiner and Queen Phoebe Shetler. As the court sang “Masters in This Hall,” the rest of the students gathered into the room.

Guests who have attended a Madrigal Dinner before certainly remember one of the most iconic parts of the night: the beggars. While every student was in-character, these stepped it up a notch, doing anything they could to get pennies, which would include diving for change.

Despite every year following the same formula-- welcome guests, have salad and soup, sing a little, main course, sing a little more, dessert and a play, then some more singing -- choir director Collette McClellen manages to keep each years’ music selection and entertainment fresh and exciting. Classics heard every year like “Wassail”, “Boar’s Head”, and “Farewell” never get old, but each year students show off their hard work with new pieces of impressive music.

Along with the music, a short play is performed by some of the students. This year, two Jesters, Carillo and Lincoln Wulf, fought for the love of a maiden. The maiden required items from the Christmas song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”: twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a “chicken in an oak tree”. The audience got to play a part in the show, cheering or boo-ing for the Jester on their side of the room.

The Royal Court, consisting of students Phoebe Shetler, Avery Slaughbaugh, River Gheling, Harlie Gheling, Jillian Clark, Madison Davidson, Isadora Goode, Grace Puttmann, Toby Olson, Jeremiah Rempel, Diego Sanchez, Madison Witthoft, Haydon Bailey, Logan McClellen, Jarrett TeBockhorst, and Jack Greiner, performed a selection of songs before guests parted for the night.

A lot of hard work goes into these shows, from months of practice, hours setting up, to finding music for the performances. Director McClellen and each new year of choir students have a knack for putting on a brilliant performance every year.

The show ends with a final goodbye and the reminder to “go in peace, go in joy, grow in love”.