Chesterton Show Choir gets into Christmas spirit with Madrigal Dinner with five shows tonight through Sunday

Patrick Mochen
Onwardtrojans.com

The Chesterton Show Choir performs its Madrigal Dinner with five shows, today through Sunday.
Today’s show is at 7 p.m. and there will be shows at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Set in medieval times, the performance is in the CHS cafeteria, transformed into a decorative hall by the choirs, and the Lord and Lady of the House welcome their guests (other show choir members) to their home. Traditional Christmas carols are sung as the outside guests are served dinner.
Junior Sam Smith and senior Ava Cunningham play lord and lady of the house for this year’s performance.
“It’s not common to see and it’s an interesting thing that we do as a show choir,” Cunningham said. “We transform the whole cafeteria, and it’s such a good way to get into the Christmas spirit and doing it with all my friends is fun.”
Modern corporate America has transformed Christmas into a commercial holiday, devoid of any sense of true celebration, but the Chesterton Show Choir puts value back into the Christmas season.
“It’s very nostalgic,” senior Mia Larimer said. “We’re just celebrating Christmas. We don’t talk about giving gifts to each other or Santa, we're just talking about coming together and celebrating a Madrigal holiday.”
The team puts in countless hours to work on the costumes and set in order for the performance to be as authentic as possible.
“My favorite part is right at the end when we put out the candles so it’s super dark in the cafeteria and we sing ‘O Holy Night,’” Smith said. “It’s a powerful moment.”
Smith also cited “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Masters in This Hall” as favorite songs of his.
Along with the songs, Smith added, “My favorite part of the set is the little entrance to get into the cafeteria and there is stained glass and it is super cool.”
Nearly all of the tickets were sold in the first few days they were available. For anyone unable to make it to the performance, the show choir will be working on its winter performance, along with other pieces of the music department, after the conclusion of the Madrigal Dinner.