The kinetic junk theater in the land of Beveldom
Ned Schaper has delighted audiences for over 30 years with his one-man theater, called the Surrealistic Pop Science Theater, with content drawing upon 440 poetic tales contained in a narrative called The Three Days of Beveldom. The theater’s story takes place in the magical world of Beveldom under the guidance of a fictional leader named Mat Bevel.
Beveldom’s 52 characters, museum “staff members,” demonstrate the wonders of kinetic art using the sculptures in the Museum Of Kinetic Art choreographed to poetry, music and light. Each sculpture has a unique name: Americana Duck, Lover Boy, Sharka and The Thought Launcher. And, a unique role in Beveldom as a headdress, motorized vehicle, musical instrument or mechanical puppet.
Meet the Creative Forces
The theater’s cast—all played by Schaper—has colorful names like Walter Ego, Jester Physics, The New Non-Prophet and Dr. Paradox. These characters give people a whole new perspective on relationships, emotions, nature, math and physics, energy, recycling and much more. They help people see themselves and our culture in a brilliant new way using poetry, puns, physics, comedy and music.
In Beveldom there’s no disbelief. It’s a wonderland where ‘you can.’ Here, people can tap into the universal magic all around them and within.
Watch some of the theater in a new digital format.
At our new location we’re busy capturing the Surrealistic Pop Science Theater in a new digital artform so that you can enjoy all the moving sculptures no matter where you live. The show will be called Bevel Cafe: A Junk Reality Show. To learn more about the show, contact Paula Schaper at pschaper@matbevelcompany.org or by phone at 520-604-6273.