The Bruegel Triptych (Fall 2001)

The sumptuous imagery of 16th Century Flemish painter and draftsman Pieter Bruegel came alive in this original work of collaboratively developed physical theater. Audiences entered Bruegel's surreal world via acrobatic sculptures, clown storytelling, and a pantheon of eccentric characters. The piece was presented at the Loewe Theater at Hunter College in September 2001 to coincide with a major exhibit of Bruegel’s drawings and prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Why Bruegel?
Bruegel’s work provokes an exploration between the worlds of the theatrical and visual arts. His prints, drawings and paintings contain many images of performance, from tight-rope walkers and acrobats to rederijkers and travelling actors. Like the theatre, Bruegel’s work captures an infinite variety of unique characters as they go about the business of life. Whether surreal creatures representing vice incarnate, ordinary people trapped in absurd proverbs, or peasants cavorting at a wedding, the people in Bruegel’s paintings, drawings and prints seem to beg to be brought to life outside the confines of their frames.

Conception, Direction, and Dramaturgy
Claudia Orenstein and Ruth Juliet Wikler

Original Music: Vince Ricci

Lighting Designer: Henry Sanchez

Stage Manager: Christina Ott

THE ENSEMBLE
Fatima Bazzy
Lauren Jacobs
Andro Kim
Maria Litvan
Vince Ricci
Randi Rosenholtz
Sonia Werner

THE BRUEGELS
Benjamin Nathan-Serio
Javier Sanchez
Claudia Terry
Shiro Watanabe

Technical Director: David Bean
House Manager: Kelly Saxon
Production Assistant: George Lugo

Photos (c) Dave Goshfeld 2001.