Circus, Mass and Pageant--All free, Oct. 26 - 28

Dr. Pamela Arkin (center) paints a "sail" with Emily Wells (left) and Strawberry Catubo of Bread and Puppet.

Bread and Puppet Theatre has presented pageants, parades and shows with social and political import around the world since the 1960s. Longwood and surrounding communities can see them for free this weekend, Oct. 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 28 at 3 p.m., in Jarman Auditorium.

Peter Schumann, a native of Germany, leads the theatre in its summer productions on a farm in Vermont and on tour. This week, Longwood theatre students and staff join the troupe in making costumes and in creating the third piece which is Sunday's pageant. Students and staff also will perform in each piece.

Friday's piece is called "The Cardboard Celebration Circus"; Saturday's, "Insurrection Mass: Funeral March for a Rotten Idea"; and Sunday's pageant and parade--created with a lot of local input--is "Pursuit of Happiness Demonology."

From left, theatre major Annie Hewitt and assistant professor of theatre Patt Ness join Vasilios Glatsos of Bread and Puppet Theatre in making masks for the Cardboard Celebration.

Schumann says the first piece makes a statement about the economy; the second, a statement against war; and the third, about demons encountered when the pursuit of happiness is a lifestyle. He recommends the Circus for all ages; the Mass for an older, more intellectual crowd; and the pageant for ages two to 102. As he does at each stop on tour, Schumann will construct a brick kiln and bake bread for performances.

Dr. Gene Muto, Longwood theatre department chair, sees the active involvement of theatre students as a lesson for them in the "social responsiblility that comes with art. Artists have always been in the vanguard of political ideas. That's what the arts are--and especially theatre."

Friday, Saturday and Sunday--your chance to see artists give form and life to social and political ideas.

Peter Schumann, rather than rest upon an international reputation as the creative force behind Bread and Puppet Theatre, paints a costume.