Innkeeper's Feast

A MADRIGAL FEAST CHRISTMAS PAGAENT

by Sondra Edwards

A fun and creative alternative to a traditional Christmas pageant. It combines the idea of a madrigal feast with the drama and intrigue of experiencing the first Christmas as a guest of the Innkeeper. A Madrigal Feast is an American form of dinner theater often held by schools and church groups during the Christmas season. Meant to recreate the feeling of a Renaissance feast, it is set in the Middle Ages and often comedic in nature. 

This event is generally held in the evening. The meal is divided into courses, each of which is heralded with a traditional song. A play is performed between the courses or after the main course has been served and a concert of choral music concludes the festivities. 

You may choose to adapt the directions provided to fit your own situation and inclinations. While the traditional Madrigal feast would serve a boar's head and all the trimmings, the meal suggested in these pages has a more Middle Eastern feel, comprised of foods that might have been eaten at the time of the birth of Jesus. You can, of course, adjust the menu to your own tastes. You may also choose to add entertainment mini-events such as juggling, etc. depending on the gifts and skills of your congregation.