Abingdon Theatre Company Continues New Family Series with THE HUDSON RIVER MUMMERS Today

The Hudson River Mummers, led by Henry Chapin (New York Revels at Symphony Space), will take to the June Havoc Stage at Abingdon Theatre Company (312 West 22nd Street) today, December 15 at 2pm. Admission is free.

This 25-year old troupe performs all over the tri-state area, celebrating the shortest day of the year at the Winter Solstice and the rebirth of the New Year. On Saturday, December 15, The Hudson River Mummers will be singing carols of the season, dancing a few reels (country line dances), and performing the traditional, time-honored, and uproarious play, St. George and the Dragon. (The story behind St. George and the Dragon is actually a metaphor for the death of the old year and the birth of the new.)

The Hudson River Mummers, a part of Abingdon Theatre Company's newest programming, Pop Up Playhouse - Theatre for Young Audiences, thrives on audience participation and is a treat for the entire family!

This kind of mid-winter Revels is usually associated with pagan ritual and pageantry from Medieval England. People would gather together in the winter's cold for comfort and warmth. Mummers, a traveling troupe of entertainers, would go from house to house performing short plays, pertinent to the season.

Director Henry Chapin is a musician with degrees in Music Composition and Arts Administration from Columbia. He spent much time performing with Jack Langstaff in the Washington, Boston and New York Revels, and has maintained that vision of community celebration in New York with the Hudson River Mummers. He currently spends much time calling Family Dances, performing at private events and parties, and teaching music.

THE HUDSON RIVER MUMMERS runs today, December 15 at 2pm at the Abingdon Theatre Complex's June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Admission is free, but reservations are required. For reservations, please RSVP to ajoshi@abingdontheatre.org. For more information, visit www.abingdontheatre.org.

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