Just outside of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, the smiles of volunteers greet the incoming masses as they enter the Great Hall – and with it, another era.  

Inside, medieval flags grace each wall and Christmas decorations trail down the center of each table. Food and drink are provided, the lights turned low and students in Renaissance-dress direct guests to their seats.  

A court of nobles awaits at center stage with a banner, modeled after stained glass, strung up behind them. Three costumed students with bugles stand at attention to the left. To the right, a castle set can be made out. Madrigals, a performing tradition 23 years in the making, is about to begin.  

“It’s a type of performance that is completely unique,” chorus instructor Bruce Yost said. “We do music, we do theatre and we serve food – and of course the costumes and the sets and the decorations all just make it really special.”  

The term “madrigal” itself refers to an English musical form; popular in the Renaissance era, it was typically sung acapella and done in harmony parts. This combination of theme and music type are apparent throughout the student production.  

“I think my favorite part is how everyone came together to put on a show – and of this scale,” freshman Parker Shaw said.  

Junior Cheyanne Brubaker played the female lead, Lady Guinevere, in the Monty-Python-inspired satirical drama component of the show, with senior Curry Guyton as King Arthur. Following the play, a series of carols were sung by groups including the Pink Panthers, PAWCapella and of course, the chorus.  

“During the performance itself, you see everyone in the audience smiling and laughing and having a grand time, and during the concerts you see a lot of them, just being touched by our songs,” junior Ryan Yaksh said.  

Yaksh was the Master of the Hall, Sir Lancelot, and introduced the proceedings at the beginning. Those who were not part of the play acted as servers, pouring drinks for guests at tables and entertaining them with snippets of medieval jokes, as well as singing in group numbers. 

“It’s a good experience to have, working with a bunch of people like that, all trying to come together and put on a great show,” sophomore Natalie Ulm said. “Even if you don’t have a big part, it’s fun to be involved in something.”  

With all the food having been served, the theatrics concluded and the last formal songs sung (not to mention the classic “Men in Tights” rendition), the performers had one final surprise for their audience.  

“I really love how at the end we all circle around the entire audience, and just are able to sing a song where people can hear it from every direction – and that’s a moment that really unifies us as a group, and as a family,” Brubaker said.  

Inviting the guests to join in, the entire choral group held hands and sang “Silent Night.” The last note still hanging in the air, the lights slowly came on as those attending gradually shuffled out the doors.  

“I’ve been in [Madrigals] all four years, and looking back on it – I don’t regret doing anything.” senior Sophia Chapdelaine said. 

While this year’s Madrigals has come to a close, next year’s theme has already been picked: “Frozen”, adapted from film to stage.