Each November for the past 33 years, the choir department has transported audiences back in time where women wore elaborate gowns, men wore tights, and a capella music with beautiful harmonies filled the halls of England.
Juniors and seniors audition a year ahead time to be part of the head table. Underclassmen can audition for extra roles or participate as servers for the 4 course meal.
The 32 students cast at the head table work over the summer to write a script together and develop it throughout first trimester during their 5th hour Madrigal class. Along with the script, they prepare music from the 1500s and incorporate the songs into the performance.
“I’ve wanted to do Madrigals since 8th grade because it’s something that is so important, I think, in the community.” said the 2013 Queen of Madrigals, Amelia Tesdahl. “People just absolutely love it. And it’s so much fun to continue a tradition that people have been looking forward to every year.”
Madrigals has been an event for which people mark their calendars. In fact, it is a tradition. People of all ages look forward to it and when the time comes all of the seats are full. The community gathers for the song and performance of the Madrigal Choir.
“The music is really important,” said King of Madrigals, Mitchell Greene who helped write the script.
In fact, music is the main focus of the Madrigal Dinner. This year Choir Director Lukas Warren has Included songs from Eric Whitacre and songs in different languages such as Russian, Portuguese, and Latin. The choir’s main point is to challenge themselves musically and create an entertaining evening that is not too cliche.
“This group of students is special because these are students who started with me in my first year. It has been so fun watching them grow up (quite quickly might I add) and become the incredible young adults that they are today. It really is a special thing to be a part of,” said Warren.
The group decided to switch the Madrigal Dinner up a bit this year. They decided to go for a more modern feel, including pop culture icons like Justin Beiber, Rebel Wilson, and Lady Gaga. As opposed to using Renaissance language, they went for more current slang.
“I think we decided to change it up a bit because we’re tired of being in a box,” said Tesdahl.
Greene and Tesdahl as King and Queen seem like the perfect match. Off stage, they are best friends. As King and Queen they lead the group in song and have the highest position on the head table.
Greene found out before Tesdahl that they got their dream roles in Mads and he had a lot of fun breaking the news to her. Although he teased her at first, he later realized in the future, he should be more careful.
“She was in the dressing room getting ready for [homecoming] coronation and I walked in with my camera going…I thought she was going to get mad at me and she had a curling iron in her hand,” said Greene.
Although the show this year is called the “Renny Awards” and focuses on witty pop culture references, the true theme seems to be friendship.
“The friendships that we make in the final outcome of the group is what I really love,” said Victoria Snyder, another member of the head table. “We get to share the experience of performing it with our best friends.”