'The Grand Parade' marches through 20th century history at the Redfern

Double Edge Theatre will perform The Grand Parade (of the 20th Century), a spectacular journey through the last century using trapeze, circus, dance and projection, on Wednesday, February 18, at 7 p.m. in the Main Theatre of the Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College.

Tickets range from $35 to $15 depending on seating and $5 for KSC students. For tickets, contact the Redfern Box Office, which is open Monday to Friday, from noon to 6 p.m., call 603-358-2168 or order online at www.keene.edu/racbp. This performance is recommended for children ages 10 and older. See a video clip and more information about The Grand Parade (of the 20th Century) and the free activities surrounding this performance at www.keene.edu/racbp.

The Grand Parade depicts major events of the 20th century in a theatrical style inspired by artist Marc Chagall’s kaleidoscopic vision of humanity at play, at war, and at rest. Trapeze, circus, dance, projections, and popular culture fill the height and breadth of the stage in a spectacle of history populated by people in acts of grace and destruction. History is recounted with a variety of iconic images from film, television, and photography. Time both shrinks and expands as the 20th century unfolds in a dream-like rush of juxtapositions that include the ecstasy of landing on the moon, the frenzy of war, the skilled escapes of Houdini, the atomic bomb, Kennedy’s assassination, and Hitler’s brutalization of Europe among others. The Grand Parade is about individual and collective experience of a period of history in which people developed knowledge that produced both great development and massive destruction. It is a work of memory, memorial, and celebration that shows us to ourselves and makes us consider where we are now by examining where we have come from.

The Washington Post called The Grand Parade “A phantasmagoric wonderland enriched by the colors, aerial figures, images and animals that were staples for Chagall.”

There are many free activities surrounding The Grand Parade (of the 20th Century) performance at the Redfern Arts Center.

• Art Exhibit: The Making of The Grand Parade with masks, photographs and archival materials by photographer Maria Baranova, from February 13 to 20 in the Main Lobby of the Redfern Arts Center.

• Technical Design and Rigging Workshop with Adam Bright, actor and associate director of Double Edge Theatre, at noon, Thursday, February 12, in the Main Theatre.

• Artist Panel: Exploring Art Making through the Lens of Humanity focuses on art created during times of change and conflict with KSC Theatre Professor Douglas Wilcox, KSC Art Professor Marin Sullivan, and Double Edge Theatre’s Co-Artistic Directors Carlos Uriona and Matthew Glassman at noon, Monday, February 16, in the Wright Theatre.

• Open Training with Double Edge Theatre at 1 p.m., Sunday, February 15, location to be determined.

• Pre-show Artists Talk about The Grand Parade and the Work of Marc Chagall with Double Edge Theatre’s Artistic Director and Founder Stacy Klein and Associate Producer Amrita Ramanan at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 18, in the Redfern’s Harry Davis Room.

• Post-show Discussion with Double Edge Theatre following the performance with refreshments in the Redfern lobby.

This performance of The Grand Parade is a collaboration with the Colonial Theatre in Keene and was made possible with funding by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Theater Project, with lead funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

About Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College

The Arts Center is named in honor of Dr. Leo F. Redfern, Keene State College President from 1969 to 1979 for his vision, commitment, and eloquence on behalf of the arts that made funding and construction of the facility a reality. In 1981, KSC inaugurated this new performing arts center, with the goal of providing unforgettable artistic encounters for the campus and community. Now in its 33rd year, the Redfern Arts Center presents and fosters dynamic, multifaceted arts experiences through performances, residencies, and related programs that deepen the connection between the arts and audiences, both from the campus and the greater Monadnock region.