Students from the Florida Atlantic Department of Music will be hosting and performing an evening of Renaissance-themed food and acting at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church this Saturday.

The church will be transformed into a Renaissance-era castle dubbed “Owlslyshire Castle” with a performance that will feature 14 main characters, as well as an additional 10-15 students who will be serving stuffed Cornish hen, vegetables, salad, bread pudding, wine and hot apple cider throughout the evening.

According to the music department’s website, the event “reflects a Renaissance evening full of pageantry and entertainment, including a court jester, wandering minstrels and other characters, as well as delicious succulent food and extraordinary music.”

Director of Choral and Vocal Studies Patricia Fleitas is co-directing the event along with her Associate Director Stacie Rossow.

“The theme always changes. What we are going to feature this year is peace, love, hope and joy for the holidays,” said Fleitas. “The script varies and costumes vary – we always have to add/subtract and try to improve on an annual basis.”

Kaylene Dahl, a graduate teaching assistant to Fleitas, wrote a portion of the script and is looking forward to the upcoming performance.

“There’s a lot of camaraderie in it. All of our department puts this entire production on with our directors,” she said. “We all work hard, but it’s rewarding because everyone seems to enjoy it every year.”

Freshman vocal performance major Sophia Sandoval will be singing and acting in the show for the first time.

“I’ve always watched it so now I get to be a part of it and I actually get to sing the songs and act out things,” she said. “I like acting and I love singing so it’s going to be a great mix, especially since I’m going to be doing it with my friends.”

A reception prior to the banquet will begin outside the church at 6:30 p.m. and will feature hor d’oeuvres and wine. Attendees who have sponsored a table will become part of the Royal Procession at the beginning of the event.

Guests are welcome to wear period costumes to the dinner.

The event will take place at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd. Boca Raton 33432 on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Individual tickets are $100 — they each include a $55 tax-deductible gift and sponsored tables of eight are $1000. The tables includes a $640 tax-deductible gift.

The gifts will go toward FAU’s Choral and Vocal Studies program and will aid in recruiting students, funding events and hiring instrumentalists for concerts.

Reservations are required and should be made by Dec. 14. To reserve a seat, call Gail Vorsas at 561-297-2337 or email [email protected].

Click here to buy a ticket and for more information.

Michaela Garretson is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected].