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Plant Chorus Goes Medieval

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

SOUTH TAMPA - The commotion in the auditorium of St. Mary's Episcopal Church resembled a medieval market.

Minstrels, thieves, knights and ladies wandered around, past the stockade, talking about the imaginary shops and assumed goings-on of the night. The only thing missing was a slaughtered animal for sale.

But wait, there was even that: a boar's head was used to signal the main course and incite a celebratory song.

Plant High School's choral department hosted its 13th annual Madrigal Dinners last week. This year, the choir hit a high note with its more than 250 members participating, the largest number yet.

Bruce Yost started the Madrigal Dinner shows the year he became Plant's choral director after seeing the medieval-themed dinner theater performed at the University of South Florida, where he was earning his master's degree.

Plant's first performance had 14 students in the royal court (closer to the traditional number of 16, junior Jordan Hathaway said) and has grown to include 80. Students volunteer for the cast and don't earn grade or service-hour recognition.

"They do it because they love it," Yost said.

Dinner proceeds cover production costs.

"It's more fun than it's a fundraiser," senior Amanda Brel Lillard said. "It's a giant, medieval Christmas party."

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 835-2114 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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