Madrigal Dinner a Highlight for Johnston Seniors

Tonight's 33rd annual Old English Madrigal English Feaste has been four years in the making for several Johnston seniors.

The teens began their Madrigal Feaste journey as pre-dinner entertainment as freshmen, then servers as juniors, and now they're taking center stage as the royal court.

"I've been in the choir ever since I was able to," Jacob Gehrke, senior, said.

After taking a back seat in past performances, Jacob will lead the magical evening of yore as the Jester.

"I wavered between the Jester and the King," he said of his role. "But the Jester gets to be goofy and talk in a fun voice."

Jacob's previous stints for the Madrigal Dinner were equally as entertaining.

"I think it's cool to see a different aspect and point of view," he said. "It's not the same people you serve every time we do it."

Alex Kaptain, senior, was cast as the King in this year's performance.

"It's different being the King, different than the rest of the kids being down with the people," he said.

This year's program includes a little more than 160 students, said director of vocal music Eric Shepard said.

"Everything has gone smoothly," he said. "We have great help with organization by parents. It's a well-oiled machine."

The 300 guests will fill The Bridge campus, 10025 N.W. 62nd Ave., on both Thursday and Friday night for the dinner, which includes five courses and dedicated songs and acting from the 1500s to the 1700s.

Both evenings have already sold out.

"They went really fast," Shepard said of the tickets.

Asked whether another night of performance should be added, Shepard said it could be too taxing on the students, who already have dress rehearsal each day of the week and the church will soon be preparing for its own holiday performance.

Jacob suggests those who weren't able to secure tickets to this year's event should think ahead to next year.

"You should definitely get tickets next year," he said. "It's worth it. Be ready for some surprises."

The Madrigal Feaste begins with seating at 6:45 p.m. and the performance starting at 7:30 p.m.