Peter Schumann 2018, Concordia Honorary Doctorate

Peter Schumann was born in 1934 in Silesia. He studied and practiced sculpture and dance in Germany, moved to the United States in 1961, and founded Bread and Puppet Theater in New York City in 1963. From hand and rod puppet shows in the streets to giant puppet parades, Schumann addressed local injustices as well as the Vietnam War. In 1970 Schumann and the company moved to Vermont. There he continues to build puppets, create shows and giant outdoor spectacles and perform locally and internationally, and to bake bread, grow garlic and split firewood. Schumann is married to Elka Leigh Scott and they live in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. They have five children and five grandchildren.