NHS Singers Prepare For A Night Of Feasting,

The Madrigal Way

By Eliza Hallabeck

Newtown High School students may have noticed there is something “madrigal” in the air lately, as the NHS Singers prepare for their yearly fundraiser for the NHS Choral Parents Scholarship Fund and Program Development.

This year’s Madrigal Feaste is set to “rob from the rich and give to the poor” in a Robin Hood theme on January 22 from 7 to 10 pm at Stony Hill Inn in Bethel, 50 Stony Hill Road.

Tickets for adults cost $38 and for guests 2 to 10 years old tickets cost $17.

The night will include dinner, entertainment, a silent auction, and “whimsical nonsense,” as the flyer for the program promises.

“It’s a very entertaining show,” said NHS Singers parent Debbie Spanedda, whose daughter Michelle is a first year NHS Singer and a NHS sophomore.

Newtown High School Choral Director Jane Matson said the NHS Singers is a group of a cappella singers that students audition to be in.

“The students have been working hard on this,” said Ms Matson, “and for anyone who comes, I think it will be a lot of fun.”

The students have been rehearsing English madrigal songs, including Since Robin Hood written by Thomas Weelkes and Fair Phyllis written by John Farmer.

According to Ms Matson, the students also write the script for the evening, which is kept loose to interact with the audience.

“I think the fact that it is interactive with the audience is going to make it a wonderful experience,” said Ms Matson.

According to Ms Spanedda, students involved in the upcoming production are Brenna Calderara, Katie Cummings, Maddie Dorso, Kendall Euler, Jake Eventoff, Josh Goldman, Ishaar Gupta, Kamryn Harmeling, Chris House, Chris Hunter, Mikaela Kemsley, Alison Kron, Matt Madden, Katie McMorran, Dan O’Connor, Sarah Poarch, George Primavera, Michelle Spanedda, Ben Stoller, and Taylor Varga.

Reserved tickets are available by e-mailing MadrigalTix@aol.com or Christine Madden at 203-426-0678. The snow date for the event is January 28.