Theater Group Breaks Bread at Saint Mary’s

The circus is coming to Saint Mary’s College! The bold Bread and Puppet Theater is making its way down The Avenue on Saturday, September 24 with a free show titled “The Apocalypse Defiance Circus.” The College welcomes the political theater group through the Margaret Hill Endowed Visiting Artist Series as a way to offer new performing art experiences for students, faculty, and staff.

Bread and Puppet Theater is an internationally recognized company that champions a visually rich, street-theater style performance filled with music, dance and slapstick. Its shows are political and spectacular, with puppets often on stilts, wearing huge masks with expressive faces, singing, dancing, and playing music. The touring show travels the country, inspiring new artists along the way. 

The performance is a visual feast for the audience. The spectacle includes puppetry, music, dance, and opportunities for audience participation. Company artist, Josh Krugman, described how their puppets are created using unconventional materials. For example, “the trees that may fall down in a storm are collected and used to create props, sets, or puppets,” said Krugman. Additionally, recycled cardboard can be great material for paper mache or painted flat puppets. Krugman expressed that the group wants to utilize unusual materials that have recycled potential for Bread and Puppet Theater shows. 

During the show, bread will be baked to share with the audience, which puts the “bread” in Bread and Puppet Theater. Other opportunities for education, involvement, and connection between Bread and Puppet Theater and students will be shared over the weekend. As part of the Margaret Hill Endowed Visiting Artist Series, the visiting artist always offers a presentation to the general public and private guidance to theatre students, in the form of master classes, tutorials, and Q & A’s. This time, Saint Mary’s students have been invited to join the fun by taking part as performers in the show on Saturday. The interaction between the performers and students is an important part of guest artists sharing their talent and knowledge with our students. This performance allows for the Saint Mary’s community to learn, be entertained, and be fed with fresh bread!