The Boston Center for the Arts co-presents the Bread and Puppet Theater’s Sourdough Philosophy Spectacle & Circus as part of the BCA’s Cyclorama Residency Series. Events run from January 26 through February 1. Performances, Art Exhibit, and Cheap Art Sale all held in the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama, 539 Tremont St., South End, Boston. Wheelchair accessible. Tickets for the performances available for purchase [cash or check only] in the Cyclorama one hour before each show. For advance tickets, log onto www.theatermania.com or call 866-811-4111 (toll free). For detailed information regarding the week’s events, call the Boston Center for the Arts at 617-426-5000 (press option one) or log onto www.bcaonline.org.

Back by popular demand, the award-winning Bread and Puppet Theater, featuring Artistic Director Peter Schumann and his troupe of 8 Vermont puppeteers, returns for a third year to the Cyclorama bringing their signature powerful imagery, masked characters, and giant papier-mâché puppets. Their residency includes two different puppet shows (the “spectacle”, primarily for ages 12 & older, and the "family-friendly” circus) and a week-long political art exhibit.

Detailed listings information:

Evening Shows [recommended for ages 12 & older]:
Bread and Puppet Theater: Sourdough Philosophy Spectacle
Jan. 29-Feb. 1, Thurs.-Sun., 7 pm
$12 general admission [students, seniors, & groups of 10 or more $10]
Description: "The Sourdough Philosophy Spectacle" is about the need for human fermentation. It takes a lesson from how apple cider is made. Our republic teases us with the possibility of democracy, but citizens are raised like military apple orchards, pruned down to their predictable minimums, yielding controlled fruits that lack the ecstasy of nature.  However, human fermentation occurs in parts of the human body that are not governed by the government, like the guts and the gutsy parts of the brain. Fermented citizens are corrupted by the ecstasy of nature and from that corruption, derive strength to corrupt military-orchard citizens. The show is run by a bunch of cooks, specialists in cooking the various stews and pancakes of our everyday first world existence. Performed by Peter Schumann and the Bread & Puppet Company, along with a large number of local volunteer puppeteers and musicians. Informal talk back with the artists follows each performance.

Family-Friendly Matinees:
Bread and Puppet Theater: Sourdough Philosophy Circus
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Sat.-Sun., 3 pm [Take note that the Sunday matinee performance will be ASL interpreted by Jody Steiner.]
$10 / $5 students and seniors / children 2 and under free
Description: The family friendly "The Sourdough Philosophy Circus" is about the need for human fermentation, taking a lesson from how apple cider is made. The concept is applied to dancing zebras and turkeys and free range cows. The show is run by a bunch of cooks, specialists in cooking the various stews and pancakes of our everyday first world existence. Additional commentary is provided by the Rotten Idea Theater Company. Music is by the Sourdough Philosophy Brass Band, joined by local musicians. Performed by Peter Schumann and the Bread & Puppet Company, along with a large number of local volunteer puppeteers. Take note that some of the circus acts are politically puzzling to adults, but accompanying kids can usually explain them.

Visual Art Exhibit:
Bread and Puppet Theater: Auction Notice : visual art installation created by Peter Schumann
Mon.-Sun., Jan. 26-Feb. 1
Free and open to all.
Description:  Bread and Puppet Theater Artistic Director Peter Schumann’s most recent visual art exploration, consisting of  very large paintings depicting the real story of a Haitian-American woman who received notice about her house being foreclosed and then being told about the death of her eldest son who was serving in the U.S. military.
Exhibit details:
Mon., Jan. 26, 6-8 pm: opening reception, with an art talk given by Schumann and live music performed by Debo (www.myspace.com/deboband);
Tues.-Fri., Jan. 27-30: regular Cyclorama hours: 9am-5pm [Thursday & Friday hours extended up to and after the evening performance];
Sat.-Sun., Jan. 31-Feb. 1: one hour before and after each matinee and evening performance.

Although all Bread and Puppet events have a seriousness of purpose — a few laughs are always thrown in!