Two adaptations Of Dante's Divine Comedy by the Bread & Puppet Theater Company at the Theater For The New City

For the 36th year, Peter Schumann's Bread and Puppet Theater will return to Theater for the New City from 26 November to 17 Dec 2007 with two new works, one for adults and one for children, each adaptations of Dante's Divine Comedy.

For the Adults:

The Divine Reality Comedy: A brand new translation of Dante's Divina Commedia, which is divided into four parts. In 'Paradise,' the old human Born-to-Die gene is replaced by the brand new Born-to-Buy gene. In 'Post-Paradise Horsemanship' a herd of white equestrian cut-outs (of all sizes) is manipulated by a crowd of dancers in a picturesque, prancing dance. In 'Purgatory,' the shadows of the indefinitely detained speak to you. In 'Hell,' the Guantanamo interrogation process is staged with an eight inch papier mach� population, which recites actual interrogation transcripts and then witnesses three cases of torture as demonstrated on three over life size puppets.

For kids of all ages:

The Divine Reality Comedy Circus features the Grand Forgiveness Society of Glover, VT, the triumph of the small farmer, advice on where to get really cheap drinking water, a celebratory ballet by a flock of roosters, the Rotten Idea Theater Company's distillation of political issues and much more, all accompanied by the Bread & Puppet Circus Band.

Both shows will be performed by the Bread & Puppet Company and a large number of local volunteers, who will also be part of the shows' Brass and String Bands and their Choral Singers and Screamers.

The theater will be decorated with the unique Bread and Puppet collection of black-line posters, banners, masks, curtains, programs and set-props. This year, there will also be a new lobby exhibition of big paintings on cloth, entitled "University of Majd: The Story of A Palestinian Youth."

Once again, all pieces will be created by Schumann with input from the company. Both plays will be accompanied by a brass band, singing and miscellaneous gongs and horns. Schumann will sculpt and paint all of the major masks and puppets.