Carol M. Highsmith
Eccentric figures from the Bread and Puppet Theater ready to take the stage. Known for their unique performances and homemade bread offerings, the theater troupe brings its captivating entertainment to the heart of the community.
Sunday, March 31 at 6 p.m.—RUTLAND—Get ready, Rutland. The acclaimed Bread & Puppet Theater is set to perform in Rutland, bringing their unique blend of protest, artistry, and community engagement to our doorstep. As they prepare to take the stage, Rutland residents can anticipate an experience that transcends traditional theater, inviting us all to join in the celebration of creativity and social change.
Founded in 1963 by Peter Schumann on New York City’s Lower East Side, Bread & Puppet has been based in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont since the early 1970s and is one of the oldest, nonprofit, self-supporting theatrical companies in the country. Well known for its visually rich, street-theater brand of performance art, Bread and Puppet revels in music, dance, and slapstick-filled celebratory protest.
Believing that theater is a basic necessity like bread, the company frequently brings its work to the streets for those who may not otherwise go to the theater. Its shows are political and spectacular, frequently featuring puppets on stilts, huge masks with expressive faces, singing, dancing, and a richly elaborated repertoire of iconic characters. Bread and Puppet is recognized throughout the world and has won distinction at international theater festivals in Italy, Poland, Colombia, and Yugoslavia, beginning with their break-out performances at the 1968 Nancy Festival in France.
Notable awards include the Erasmus Prize of Amsterdam, 4 Obies, the Puppeteers of America’s President’s Award, and the Vermont Governor’s Award. Bread and Puppet is constantly active, performing at its farm in Glover, and in local churches, schools, and parades. It regularly tours Europe, Canada, and the United States and has recently visited El Salvador, Haiti, Russia, Greece, and Korea.
Tickets are $20. Availability will be based on a first-come, first-served basis. Call the box office at 802-775-0903 or email boxoffice@paramountvt.org if you require ADA or accessible seating. For more information, visit paramountvt.org.
