The Madrigal Dinner, presented by the AHHS Choral Department, boasting multiple state choir members, will feature a delicious traditional medieval meal accompanied by customary carols of the time sung by the AHHS choirs and a short concert as the finale.

Now in its sixth year, the Madrigal Dinner begins in the auditorium where the audience will feel they have been transported back in time. To help create this feeling the auditorium stage will be decorated as a castle banquet hall with fresh pine boughs, cones, berries, candles and other seasonal decorations. Additionally, each banquet table will bear the name of specific castles, such as Cambridge, Kenilworth, Robinhood and Wiltshire – all of which coincidentally share the names of many streets in the Alamo Heights neighborhood.

The audience is then led to the “banquet hall” by candlelight and announced by the town crier as they enter.  All participating students dress the part in traditional Renaissance-style costumes, including lords, ladies’ commoners and peasants.  This year AHHS choir seniors will serve as the “Royal Court” sitting at an elaborate banquet table in a place of honor.  Those students not in the Royal Court sing carols while serving guests their meals.

The medieval menu includes a cheese course with rustic bread, soup, roasted meat, vegetables and dessert.  No Madrigal Dinner worth its salt would be complete without figgy pudding and wassail (sans alcohol, of course).