Brian Dewhurst celebrates 70+ years of clowning

Brian Dewhurst is the elder statesmen of Cirque du Soleil’s Las Vegas performers.  Currently 85, he’s been performing all kinds of circus acts for the past 70+ years, and since 1993, he’s been working as a clown, performer, and director for Cirque du Soleil.  He’s currently starring as the usher in the Cirque performance of Mystere. Dewhurst is featured in […]

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ClownAlley is Back! : Interview with B & B’s Clown Alley from 1908

I’m happy to say that ClownAlley, the late Pat Cashin’s excellent blog about the history of clowns and circuses, is back.  (It’s not currently at clownalley.net, but at it’s original place clownalley.blogspot.com) I have always been a big supporter of that blog, which has had some amazing photos and articles about circus clowns past and present. Friend of Pat’s  Beth Grimes […]

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American Theatre Clowning Documentary

Just discovered (thanks to Jim Moore’s Vaudevisual site) this documentary about American theatre clowning from the American Theatre Wing. It Features Slava Polunin, David Shiner, Joel Jeske, and Brent McBeth talking about the clown, what works, what doesn’t and the work of being a theatrical clown. So what’s great about this video? Well, clearly, one of the things I love […]

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RIP Julie Goell

Sad news:  Julie Goell, the renowned musician, clown, and theatre teacher, passed away on Sunday. She was a teacher of mine (along with her husband Avner Eisenberg.)  She and Avner taught worldwide for a number of years, and I took at least two workshops with them at the Celebration Barn in Maine and at MotionFest.(If you read the obit below, […]

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PopWaits EXTENDED TO MARCH 19. (Chicago) Don’t Miss It!

Even clowns have heroes.  For Malic White and Molly Brennan, the two performers/partners/lovers who are the chief instigators of the highly personal, very adult clown/rock music cabaret PopWaits, those heroes are seminal punker Iggy Pop (hero of Malic) and protean gravel-throated ultra-cool cabaret singer/music creator Tom Waits (hero of Molly) Both performers suffer from depression and use their heroes as creative jumping […]

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Flea Circus in Chicago July 16-18

Flea Circus Customized Trailer

Tiny Performers To Entertain in Chicago Parks ============================== SUMMARY: WHAT: Acme Miniature Flea Circus in the Chicago Park District WHERE: July 16 6:30 pm Paschen Park (1932 W. Lunt Street) WHERE: July 18 2:00 pm Pulaski Park (1419 W. Blackhawk Street) COST: FREE! (seating limited, please arrive early) MORE INFO: http://www.palaceofwonders.com MORE INFO: http://www.trainedfleas.com PUBLICITY PHOTOS: Press Images of the […]

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A Flaming Idiot Needs Your Help…

Jon O’Connor, also known as Pyro, former member of the legendary juggling group the Flaming Idiots and a regular on the Renaissance Faire circuit. has hit some hard times.   He is currently without health insurance, and recently had to spend 11 days in the hospital battling acute pancreatitis. They were a truly innovative juggling ensemble from the late 80s, […]

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