Massachusetts College of Art and Design is proud to present Bread & Puppet Theatre, in residence at the college from February 11-21, 2016...

In keeping with their long standing tradition of "sublime arsekicking puppetry," the award-winning socio-political Vermont-based Bread & Puppet Theater, featuring Artistic Director Peter Schumann and his merry troupe of puppeteers, returns to Boston as Artists-in-Residence at MassArt, bringing their signature powerful imagery, masked characters, and giant papier-mâché puppets.

Their eleven day residency, with events open to the public, includes The Overtakelessness Circus which takes its title and some of its themes from Emily Dickinson’s poems. Appropriate for all ages, the Circus features a team of Corporate Overlords, Pinky the Elephant, The Lizard People, a Ship of Fools, and the ever popular Bread & Puppet Brass Band, all combined to create a hectic, hilarious, and beautiful monument to "the shipwreck" of our current situation. If some of the circus acts are politically puzzling to adults, accompanying kids can usually explain them. After each performance, sourdough rye bread will be served and the audience is welcome to stay and check out all the masks and puppets and to peruse the Cheap Art, posters, and banners for sale.

Bread and Puppet is participatory theater!! All are welcome to engage as citizen puppeteers! In order to perform you must attend a volunteer rehearsal/s. Please see FAQ section below for more detailed information.

Bread & Puppet Theater is an internationally recognized company that champions a visually rich, street-theater brand of performance art filled with music, dance and slapstick. Its shows are political and spectacular, with huge puppets made of paper maché and cardboard. Founded in 1963 by Peter Schumann on New York City's Lower East Side, the theater has been based in Northeastern Vermont since the early 1970s. The company’s performances have been described by The New York Times as "a spectacle for the heart and soul."

To Purchase Tickets select date by clicking on the "Select Date" button on upper right hand side of this page.

All Events in Series:

Fiddle Sermon
Thursday, February 11, 5:30-7pm
Pozen Center
Q&A, parade, and reception to follow

The Overtakelessness Circus
Saturday and Sunday, February 13-14, 3pm
UPDATED LOCATION: Design and Media Center Atrium
Recommended for all ages

The Seditious Conspiracy Theater Presents: A Monument to the Political Prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera
Wednesday-Saturday, February 17-20, 7:30pm
Sunday, February 21, 3pm
Tower Auditorium
Recommended for ages 10 and up

North East Kingdom Weapons and Tools for Decapitalization Political Art Installation
On view February 12-21
Tower Building Lobby

For further information on Bread & Puppet Theater, including further details on the eleven day residency at MassArt, please visit: www.breadandpuppet.org.

FAQs

What are my transport / parking options?
MassArt's Pozen Center, Design and Media Center Atrium, and Tower Auditorium are a few steps from the Longwood stop on the "E" Green Line. More information about travel here.

There is some street parking. Parking is also available at a number of commercial public parking facilities near campus; hourly rates vary. MassArt does not validate parking.

• Evans Way and Palace Roads, Metered street parking near the MassArt Tower Building.
• Standard Garage, 333 Longwood Avenue, 617-632-2765. On east side of Longwood Avenue, between Blackfan Street and Binney Street.
• The Galleria, 350 Longwood Avenue, 617-723-1488. Garage on the west side of Longwood Avenue between Binney Street and Brookline Avenue.
• MASCO Parking Garage, 375 Longwood Avenue, 617-632-2860. Garage on east side of Longwood Avenue on Plymouth Street, behind Brueggers' Bagels.
• Stanhope Garage, 690 Huntington Avenue, 617-734-9915. Above ground open lot on the corner of Huntington Avenue and Wigglesworth Street near Brigham Circle.
• Museum of Fine Arts, 20-26 Museum Road, 617-369-3657. On Museum Road off of Huntington Avenue, between Louis Prang Street and Forsyth Way.

How can I volunteer to perform with Bread and Puppet?
Bread and Puppet is participatory theater!! All are welcome to engage as citizen puppeteers! In order to perform you must attend a volunteer rehearsal/s (schedule below). Please read below for more information and reach out to us to let us know that you plan to attend rehearsal/s. In your email please share:
Which rehearsal/s can you commit to and which show/s do you plan to perform in (please include date/s).

For MassArt students, faculty and staff: to be a volunteer puppeteer please email breadandpuppet@massart.edu
For the general public: to be a volunteer puppeteer please email breadpuppetlinda@gmail.com

When are the public rehearsals scheduled for?
Circus rehearsals: Friday, February 12th, 6:00pm;
Saturday & Sunday, February 13th & 14th: adults 10 am + kids 12:00pm.

Seditious Conspiracy / Oscar Show rehearsals: Monday & Tuesday, February 15th & 16th, 6:00 - 10:00pm;
Pre-performance volunteer call: Wednesday-Saturday, February 17-20, 5:00pm & Sunday, February 21, 12:30pm.

How many rehearsals do I need to attend in order to perform?
For the Circus show: Please come to (at a minimum) the rehearsal taking place directly before the circus performance you wish to participate in.

For the Seditious Conspiracy / Oscar Show: We ask that volunteer puppeteers attend either of the first rehearsals (on Monday & Tuesday, February 15th & 16th, 6:00 - 10:00pm) before we open the show or we ask that you see the show first and then attend a rehearsal/s in order to be part of future shows.

Please note: It is not necessary to commit to the entire run (of either show) - coming when you are available is ok. That said, we ask that you communicate your availability ahead of time. Of course, it's great if you can commit to every Circus or every Seditious Conspiracy / Oscar Show (or both) and if that is the case, you will have the opportunity to be more heavily involved in the shows. A general rule of thumb is that the more rehearsals you can attend the larger your part in the performances can be.

Can I be a volunteer puppeteer in both the Circus and the Seditious Conspiracy / Oscar Show?
Yes!

I play an instrument. Can I play music instead of (or as well as) puppeteering?
The Circus show has ample musical opportunities.
The Seditious Conspiracy show has fewer opportunities, but bring your instrument and we'll make an attempt to incorporate it!

I am planning to perform. What do I wear?
The dress code for the Circus is long sleeve whites and white pants.
The dress code for the Seditious Conspiracy show is long sleeved shirts and pants in dark colors.

Can kids perform?
Children are welcome to perform in the Circus shows. Please note the special rehearsal time for kids listed above.

Are the performances kid-friendly?
The Circus show is family friendly and meant for all ages.
The Seditious Conspiracy / Oscar show is recommended for ages 10 and up.

I made a donation when I got my ticket. Where will the donation go?
Thank you for your donation! All donations will go to the MassArt Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, so your contribution is tax deductible. Your donation will help defray the cost of bringing Bread & Puppet to MassArt as Artists-in-Residence. As a public college for art and design, MassArt is proud to be hosting Bread & Puppet and making performances accessible and open to all.

For all other questions...
Please email: breadandpuppet@massart.edu or call Elena White at MassArt's Center for Art and Community Partnerships: 617-879-7527