GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — The opulence and pageantry of the Court of Queen Elizabeth I comes to the Lodge and Conference Center at Geneva-on-the-Lake , Dec. 3 through Dec. 6 with its Elizabethan Yuletide Feaste.
Visitors become the guests of Queen Elizabeth I and her Royal Court.
The event is co-sponsored by the Ashtabula County Choral Music Society, the lodge and the Madison Chorale, an affiliate of Rabbit Run Community Arts Association.
More than 60 performers donning period garments will welcome guests to enjoy table appetizers preceding the Grand Procession. The procession will be followed by the traditional hot wassail to toast the evening and the guests.
Fanfares will announce each course of the meal. The full menu for the Dec. 4, 5, and 6 performances will include “dressed greenes” or salad, an entrée of “garnished plated pork”, and “bred pudding” for dessert.
The meal will be prepared and presented by the lodge staff under the supervision of executive chef Steven Sterritt and Robert Muller, food and beverage manager. Each course will be “accompanied” by holiday music of the period and “table entertainments” by the singers and actors. The Feaste will conclude with the traditional “Lessons and Carols” reciting of the Christmas story.
Performers include ACCMS Chorale and Youth; The Madison Chorale, Lacus Venti and the Madison Brass Quintet. Lacus Venti will perform as a consort, a Renaissance instrumental ensemble of recorders, strings, handbells, and percussion. Also featured is Renaissance Dance Ensemble and local actor/director Doug Anderson as the Jester.
The event is led by Kathleen Milford, ACCMS artistic director, and Betty Jean Green, director of The Madison Chorale. Natalie Huya is the technical and costume director with Doug Anderson serving as the drama adviser.
Morgan Yoak directs the Renaissance Dance Ensemble, and the director of The Madison Brass is Christopher Green.
Performances on Dec. 3, 4 and 5 begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. The feaste on Dec. 6 begins at 2 p.m. with doors opening at 1:30. Tickets for Dec. 4, 5 and 6 are $45 per person
The Dec. 3, performance is an open dress rehearsal and includes the entertainment with a reduced menu. Tickets are 20.
Tickets for all performances may be reserved by calling the lodge at 415-1597.
Volunteer actors ages 17 and up are needed to serve in the Queen’s Court. Rehearsals are Nov. 23, 29, 30 and Dec. 1. Call Rabbit Run at 428-5913.
The lodge is also offering a Yuletide Feaste overnight package for two that includes one night accommodation, tickets to the feaste, and breakfast which may be booked online at www.thelodgeatgeneva.com/Packages/Events.aspx. Additional information may be found at www.accms.org or by calling 224-2681.
