Here Ye! Here Ye! You are Invited to Carmelot: A Madrigal Feast
October 2019
The lords, ladies and velleins of Carmel are all invited to an evening of medieval merriment in support of Coxhall Gardens. Join us at the Ritz Charles in Carmel on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, for Carmelot: A Madrigal Feast, presented by Coxhall Gardens Guild and Hamilton County Parks, featuring music and entertainment by VOCE.
VOCE’s members will fill the “great hall” at “Carmelot Castle”—aka Ritz Charles—with court-related activities and entertainment throughout the feast under the narrative of the Lord of Misrule. VOCE board president, Brenda Iacocca, has been organizing madrigal dinners for more than 30 years and is thrilled to be partnering with Coxhall Gardens Guild for this exciting fundraiser.
“The first madrigal I started was 30 years ago with my sister,” Iacocca shared. “My sister went to a college that put on a madrigal [dinner], and she decided that our family should help put one on at our church. I think I was the lady of the manor that year. My husband, [Dr. Ronald Iacocca], has been the ‘Lord of Misrule,’ which is like the host for the evening, and he has generally done all the cooking for the madrigals. The Ritz Charles is doing the meal [for this madrigal], but my daughter is donating the bread [for each table].”
Iacocca added, “My daughter [Meredith] specializes in gluten-free and dairy-free foods, and her website is abundantplatewellness.com.”
The madrigal feast will begin with a wassail toast at 6 p.m. sharp! Wassail is a traditional mulled cider that dates back to medieval times.
The main course, prepared by the staff at Ritz Charles, will include squash soup, applejack chicken, smashed red orbs (potatoes) and smoky vert legumes (green beans). Dessert will be a traditional bread pudding with whiskey sauce and whipped cream. Wine is included in the meal, and a cash bar will be available.
Guests are encouraged to come dressed in medieval attire or in modern-day dinner attire should they choose not to don their finest sayons and gowns.
The event co-chairs, Sharon Terry and Jody McFarland, are excited for the upcoming event and see it as another way to introduce Coxhall Gardens and Mansion as one of Carmel’s most extraordinary amenities.
“I think [Carmelot] is going to be wonderful because of all the people who are involved,” McFarland said. “We [Coxhall Guild] want to introduce the whole Carmel community to Cox Hall and all the wonderful things it has to offer. We will have a raffle and one major prize. Tickets for the raffle will be $5 each or three for $10. As mentioned, each table will have a loaf of rustic bread—donated by Meredith Iacocca—and cubes of cheese for guests to nibble on as they wait for the wassail.”
McFarland continued. “The decorations are incredible, and each table will be adorned with runners, lanterns and other medieval accessories. We are going to have a large gold frame for people to capture selfies in. Throughout the meal, there will be singing, jokes and entertainment as well as sprites who will be passing over guests with mistletoe.”
The evening will include traditional music and dance after dinner has concluded.
Tables of eight are available for $650 and individual tickets are $100 and are available for purchase or online at coxhallguild.org. Reservations are a must! Limited seating available. Dinner, drinks, music, entertainment and holiday cheer are included in your ticket price. Proceeds will benefit Coxhall Gardens.
The RITZ CHARLES
12145 Meridian Street
Carmel, IN 46032
Saturday, November 23, 2019 @ 6:00–9:00 pm
Writer:
Janelle Morrison
Photography:
Courtesy of Voce and Coxhall Guild