Madrigal Feaste

Every other year in December, the SouthArk music department transforms the South Arkansas Arts Center into a medieval dining hall for the Madrigal Feaste to raise money for choral scholarships. This festival of eating, drinking, singing, and acting features a masque drama presented in full costume.

The merriment begins with the herald trumpet’s announcing the incoming guests, strolling musicians, and a lively jester. Faculty and staff of SouthArk dressed as serving wenches, nuns and monks serve the courses of the meal. The SouthArk singers assume their princely roles and sit at the royal table surrounding the new king and queen chosen for the Feaste. Thespians from the local community enact some amusing adventures, members of the audience are sentenced to the pillory and the SouthArk singers present a short concert of madrigals.

THIS YEAR'S FEASTE

King Mike and Princess Margaret invite you to a Madrigal Feaste:

Time: 7:00 (seating begins at 6:30)

Place: Merkle Gallery - South Arkansas Arts Center

Tickets: $50 at the SouthArk Bookstore or 864-7176 (Victoria Harden)

Seating limited to 100 of the King’s guests

Feaste features roast pig, root vegetables, wassail, wine, sumptuous starters, figgy pudding, herbed salad

Served by medieval wenches and bar maidens, guarded by monks and knights.

Entertainment by SouthArk Singers, early instruments, local thespians

“A full night of entertainment and feasting”