Since last semester, Northwestern’s Heritage Singers have been setting the stage for a 16th-century medieval feast accompanied by entertainment true to that era. Madrigal is an event held every four years, a night of singing and dining. This year, they promise their show about a murder mystery is sure to entertain. On Jan. 27 and 28 at 7:00 p.m., the Allen Theatre will be transformed into a sort of dinner theatre.
“The songs are a lot of fun, and the people in choir are all fantastic, so it’s going to be a good time,” Erica Kitchenmaster said.
Music instructor Jaeeun Kim will be directing the Heritage Singers, with lead roles including Kitchenmaster playing the queen, Clayton Ehlers as the king, Celsey Aswegen as Mertonsire, Charlie Hubbard as Gossage, Abigail Ver Mulm as Upson Downey and David Li as Fiddlepants.
“It’ll be fun and it’s not a very hard part, but it’s cool to be a part of it in that way,” Kitchenmaster said.
She has never done anything like this before but is very excited.
“If I had to describe it in my own words, it’s kind of like a mini play and a choir concert all in one, because while the story is going, we weave songs into it at the same time,” Kitchenmaster said.
Ehlers also said he is excited to be in the show, and that he is sure it is going to be a good time.
“I live for the performance,” Ehlers said. “All of our time spent together in rehearsal is really meaningful, but I would say that I am very excited for the performance. It’s always cool to see how people respond to things.”
Because the show is interactive, the audience decides how the play ends. Since it is a murder mystery, the people watching get to decide who the culprit is. The performers have been hard at work making different outcomes possible.
There are many more people involved in the success of the event. Lois Estell is directing the acting side of the performance and the NW costume shop is providing the costumes and props for the show. The whole community is invited to attend.
“I wish everyone would go,” Ehlers said. “There will be good food.”
In addition to the special food, students said people should go to the show because it is an event that does not come around very often. The Heritage Singers ensemble performs a bigger show every two years, switching between a madrigal and an opera. It will be another four years until the next madrigal, and by then there will be a whole new set of student performers.
Kitchenmaster realizes how special this event is and is very excited to see how the audience reacts.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to see what the audience does because it’s an interactive show and they get to decide how the show ends,” Kitchenmaster said.
With hard work and a dedicated ensemble of performers and supporters, Madrigal is sure to be a musical and entertaining evening for everyone.
