The Northwestern College Heritage Singers will present madrigal dinners Jan. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Allen Black Box Theatre.
The dinners, representing a 16th-century medieval feast, will feature a traditional English masque, “The Sorry Tellers or Once Upon a Whine.” The king has decreed that a contest is to be held to determine the best storyteller in the kingdom. Many people arrive for the contest, including four from the far-away Shire of Sorry. The jester, upset that he is not already considered the kingdom’s best storyteller, decides to enter incognito.
“It’s a clever story,” says Dr. Thomas Holm, who directs the Heritage Singers and chairs the music department. “The audience will enjoy the storytelling and a night of fun entertainment. There will be great choral singing and outstanding food. We present this every four years, and it’s always a highlight for the students and the audience.”
The masque will be followed by a concert of madrigal pieces presented by the 28-member chamber choir. The dinner will include Italian cranberry porchetta, rosemary roasted red potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, tossed salad and Black Forest torte. Dinner and dessert entertainment will include a magic show and small-ensemble performances by members of the Heritage Singers.
Recently retired theatre professor Karen Barker will direct the drama.
Reservations are required; tickets are $30 per person. Seating capacity is limited due to physical distancing guidelines. The audience will wear masks when not eating. Tickets may be reserved by emailing Nora Verburg at nverburg@nwciowa.edu by Jan. 13. They can also be purchased at nwciowa.edu/music/tickets or in person in DeWitt Music Hall between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Jan. 11–13. If you wish to buy group tickets (up to five members will be seated together), please make one purchase for the entire group.
