Now that Thanksgiving has passed, the time for Christmas carols has officially come.
Many festivities will be taking place around the Gannon University campus this weekend to mark the beginning of the holiday season, including Light Up AJ’s Way and performances at The Knight Club.
Gannon’s theatre department will be doing its part to spread holiday cheer with “A Medieval Christmas Banquet,” opening Thursday night.
“A Medieval Christmas Banquet” is a fantastical dinner theater production featuring a small, intimate cast of eight students.
The show will be held in Yehl Ballroom, located on the second floor of the Waldron Campus Center.
The show was conceived by the Rev. Shawn Clerkin, director of the liberal studies program and associate professor in the School of Communication and the Arts.
He teaches courses in art appreciation, theatre performance, directing, theatre and communication criticism and musical theatre, and also serves as co-director of the School of Communication and the Arts.
In addition to teaching, he also enjoys directing shows at Schuster Theatre and accompanying students on both domestic and international performance trips.
Though Clerkin is a staple of the behind-the-scenes work in Schuster Theatre, “A Medieval Christmas Banquet” will be Gannon’s first foray into dinner theater in years.
As the name implies, “dinner theater” is a type of entertainment that combines a meal and a show.
It is an accessible and intriguing form of theater that may draw patrons who do not typically attend performing arts events.
The enticing dinner will consist of three courses, with a menu focused on medieval foods.
While patrons feast on a scrumptious meal, the rest of their senses will be delighted by the splendid show, which revolves around a family, their butler and two special guests.
Audience members will recognize plenty of classic Christmas carols, while also being surprised by twists and turns of the show.
The production will be running Thursday through Sunday.
Showings will be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Reservations were capped on Nov. 20 to facilitate food orders.
For more information about “A Medieval Christmas Banquet,” visit gannon.edu/Visitors-and-Community/Area-Attractions/Schuster-Theatre/.

ALEX STAUFF
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