A Play about Clowns

The NY Times had a recent review about a play that features clowns. It's not a clown show-- it's not a clown show, it's a play, that is about a clown. Sounds really interesting. Wide-Eyed New Arrivals Falling in Love With the City By ANITA GATES Published: October 3, 2008 From Clownlink If you are a true New Yorker (something that can be measured by purity of passion as much as by length of residence), a play that begins with balloon animals talking to each other in squeaky voices may not sound like your style. That just shows how much you (and I) know. Saviana Stanescu’s “Aliens With Extraordinary Skills” is an enchanting piece of theater, a paean to New York that just happens to include balloon animals. It’s a simple two-boys-meet-two-girls story about a pretty clown from Moldova (between Romania and Ukraine), her wild-and-crazy-guy clowning partner, an aspiring Dominican actress and an all-American musician trying to find himself. As well as two immigration agents who, suspecting a green-card-motivated marriage, ask the bride questions like “What’s his mother’s bra size?” Natalia Payne is adorable as Nadia the clown. Her supporting cast (Seth Fisher, Jessica Pimentel, Kevin Isola, Shrine Babb and Gian Murray Gianino), directed with great zeal by Tea Alagic, couldn’t be sharper, and Ms. Stanescu’s dialogue is flawlessly observant. Nadia and Mr. Fisher’s Borat (yes, like the Sacha Baron Cohen character) want to perfect their English. She tries to remember the word for “when you are like really energetic and full of life.” Borat suggests “outrageous.” No, Nadia says, she thinks the word is “outgoing.” Borat says, no, “That’s when you go out a lot.” “Aliens” shows us the world of Albanian taxi drivers, the Hot Pink Pussycat club and Craigslist. But it’s Nadia’s love affair with New York that fuels the action. She wants to go to the restaurants she saw on “Sex and the City.” She plans new birthday party tricks because “the kids are smart there.” Borat’s take on New Yorkers is different. “They work like 14, 16 hours a day,” he says. “They are a bit like zombies, you know.” But Nadia is a true believer. She loves the city even when it turns out that sometimes cool guys at parties in SoHo can treat the hired help like prostitutes. I’ve always believed that the special energy people talk about as New York’s essence comes from all those newcomers’ hopes and dreams in the air. “Aliens” pays tribute to that energy and at the same time radiates tons of its own. “Aliens With Extraordinary Skills” continues through Oct. 26 at Julia Miles Theater, 424 West 55th Street, Clinton, (212) 239-6200, womensproject.org.

Kenny & Brenda Ahern

Kenny Ahern is a clown and performer based in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. A graduate of Ringling Clown College, Kenny has also studied with Bill Irwin, Chris Bayes, and Pavel Groditsky of the Soviet School for Circus and Variety Arts. Kenny has been performing for nearly 25 years. He does a number of shows aimed at the corporate, educational, and family markets. He has two shows aimed at school age audiences "Through the Eyes of a Fool" and "School Matters." His theatre show "A Slippery Universe" is designed for proscenium stages. Kenny also has his own Variety stage that he brings to fairs and festivals. His corporate work features original shows created specifically for a company, as well as a show titled "A Day In The Life" which features parodies of the life of an office worker. Kenny has also taught clowning at a number of places, including schools, clown camps, and Ringling Clown College. Kenny's wife Brenda is also a graduate of Ringling Clown College. Currently an elementary school teacher, she also presents shows to libraries and schools throughout the Wisconsin area. To find out more about Kenny and Brenda's work, please visit his website listed below: http://kennyahern.com/ They were also featured in a recent article in the Watertown Daily Times. Read the article (Please note, this article may go away after a few days of this post.)

Circus Amok Summer Schedule

Circus Amok, New York’s radical, community oriented, political free Summer in the Parks Circus is up and about again for summer 2008. This year's show is called "SUB-PRIME SUBLIME" and will feature the following: Acrobatic Economists, Fantastical Free-Falling Free Markets, Tenanacious Tenants, Querelous Quarks, Neurotic Neutrons, Vaulting Villains, Stupendous Stilters, Disco Dorothy, Lions and Tigers and Zebras Oh My! They will be performing throughout the five boroughs of New York, primarily in the parks from Sept 5-28. Here's the schedule: SAT, SEPT 6 – UPPER WEST SIDE – Riverside Park - 2pm & 5pm 79th Street & Riverside Drive SUN, SEPT 7– CONEY ISLAND, BROOKLYN – Coney Island - 2pm & 5pm West 10th Street & Surf Avenue MON, SEPT 8– EAST NEW YORK, BROOKLYN – MLK Park - 5pm Miller & Dumont Avenues WED, SEPT 10 – FT GREENE, BROOKLYN – Ft. Greene Park - 5:30pm Myrtle Avenue & St. Edward's Street FRI, SEPT 12 – SOUTH BRONX – St. Mary's Park - 5pm St. Ann’s Avenue & St. Mary’s Street SAT, SEPT 13 – LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS – Socrates Sculpture Park - 3pm Broadway & Vernon Boulevard SUN, SEPT 14 – PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN – Prospect Park - 2pm & 5pm Enter @ 9th Street & Prospect Park West Show is at the base of the grassy hill near the dog beach. WED, SEPT 17 – LOWER MANHATTAN – Columbus Park - 5:30pm Mulberry & Worth Streets FRI, SEPT 19 – SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN – Sunset Park - 5:30pm 6th Avenue & 41st Street SAT, SEPT 20 – GREENWICH VILLAGE – Washington Square - 2pm & 5pm University Place & Washington Square South SUN, SEPT 21 – HARLEM – Marcus Garvey - 2pm & 5pm Madison Avenue & 122nd Street WED, SEPT 24 – WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN – Bedford Playground - 5pm Bedford Avenue & South 9th Street FRI, SEPT 26 – LOWER MANHATTAN –Battery Park - 1pm & 5pm Castle Clinton Plaza SAT, SEPT 27 – LOWER EAST SIDE – Seward Park - 4pm Canal & Essex Streets SUN, SEPT 28 – EAST VILLAGE – Tompkins Square - 12pm & 3pm Avenue A & East 7th Street Visit WWW.CIRCUSAMOK.ORG for late-breaking news and weather updates They are also seeking volunteers for each and every show. You can run away and join the circus for the day. If you'd like to join them for the day, please send an email to circusamokinfo@gmail.com, or call 802-274-0502. SEE YOU AT THE SHOW!! ================================ CIRCUS AMOK is NYC's internationally-acclaimed one-ring FREE traveling circus. Since 1994 they've been bringing fabulous, political circus spectacle to more than 10,000 diverse audience members in the parks of NYC each season. From East New York to the East Village, Jamaica to Harlem, CIRCUS AMOK dazzles audiences with their mix of circus skills and variety arts, puppetry and music, glitter, grime and glamour as they tackle tough issues that touch New Yorkers: immigration, affordable housing, quality public education, police-community relations, healthcare for all. For more info, visit http://www.circusamok.org Here's a video from YouTube:

Get Your Bouffon On!: Drop In Bouffon Classes in NY Mondays.

Through August 28, Audrey Crabtree (co-organizer of the NY Clown Theatre Festival at the Brick and who plays Laura in the Hilarious Bouffon Glass Menageree) , is hosting a drop in class in Bouffon. Mondays, 8-10 pm, Classes are $10 each, 521 West 26th Street, 2nd floor (between 10th and 11th) (More info below) For those not in the know, Bouffon is a clown style that is perhaps best described as what happens when birthday clowns are hit with a dose of gamma ray radiation, and turn evil, misanthropic, and MORE than a little sinister. And yet somehow, they still manage to be very funny. The form was re-captured from a French Renaissance tradition, and re-created by renowned clown teacher Philippe Gaulier in the 1970's-80's. Since then a lot of people have come to study and create bouffon characters and plays, and create theories about the Bouffon. Eric Davis (The Red Bastard, who directed above mentioned Bouffon Glass Menageree) writes in a description of one of his classes: While the clown is completely vulnerable, the bouffon shows no vulnerability. He exists to mock the society which has cast him out for being deformed. (this could be physically, spiritually, socially?) The Bouffon is the manipulator. Deformed, yet charming. Grotesque, yet beautiful. He is smart, entertaining and like the most brilliant idea, or deadly of viruses — utterly infectious. A bouffon's perfect day? While making a mockery of the mayor to a huge laughing crowd, the mayor wanders by to see what all the fuss is about. When the mayor sees that the crowd knows who he really is, the mayor has a heart attack and dies. Hip Hip Hooray! And Trav S.D., vaudeville historian and theatre critic, describes it this way in an article about aforementioned show: The novice is immediately misled by the similarity of the form’s name to “buffoon.” But that is a blind alley. “Bouffon” is to “buffoon” as a wet gremlin is to a dry one. To complicate matters, many bouffon practitioners are also clowns, and similarities exist between the two forms. The get-ups and behavior are grotesque; laughter is produced. But if these are clowns, they are cousins to Stephen King’s “Pennywise”, or the real-life John Wayne Gasey, that inveterate serial killer and sometime children’s birthday party entertainer. No one is jolly in bouffon. The carnation squirts acid; the joy buzzer releases a thousand volts. One laughs uproariously throughout, but one is constantly checking oneself: “Was that okay? No, that wasn’t okay. It goes against everything I’m supposed to think and feel as a civilized human being. If I laugh, it must be because I am possessed by devils”. Actually, one only starts to think those thoughts before being cut off by the next appalling remark or action onstage. All this by way of saying that if you are interested in bouffon, the drop in class that Audrey is running is definitely the place to be. Here's the class info. Enjoy. Or spread your infection (whichever is more appropriate to you!) Bouffon Workout Lab Drop-in “So I have studied bouffon…now WTF do I do with it?” Come to this weekly drop-in Lab! In this playful and supportive environment, we will begin with warm-ups, bouffon basics, and we will focus on the creation and showing of new material, development of character, and group work, led by Audrey Crabtree. Looking for people who have a bouffon base and want to expand on it. Get your Bouffon On! Monday nights July 28th-August 25th 8-10pm $10 Week202! Last week we had a lot of fun, and found out 2 hours is a very short time. Please bring a costume to play in. I will be there early to stretch outside-the closer everyone is to a little before 8pm the better. This week we will warm up, play together and spend the last 30 minutes showing some material that people would like feedback on. Here is the location: The FAR Space 521 West 26th Street, 2nd Floor Between 10th and 11th Avenues Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan Cell phone for more info: 917653-1547 Important do NOT the use elevator walk up to 2nd floor and ring buzzer.

Historic & Triumphant Return of the Flea Circus to Coney Island

A little bit of a shameless plug, but truthfully, I've done most of my best work by being shameless. It's when I get shameful that I have to worry! Anyway, it's probably the last flea circus gig before the baby is born (unless something happens in the next week!) so come check it out if you can! Click the image for a larger poster. The Flea Circus Returns To Coney Island! ============================== WHAT: Acme Miniature Flea Circus at the Coney Island Museum WHERE: Coney Island Museum, 1208 Surf Ave. Brooklyn NY 11224-2816 WHEN: Sunday July 27, 2008 at 4pm. COST: $5 MORE INFO: http://www.coneyisland.com MORE INFO: http://www.trainedfleas.com/coneyisland.html CALL: 718 372 5159 ELECTRONIC PRESS RELEASE: Press Release PDF (707K: must have Adobe Reader) PUBLICITY PHOTOS: Press Images of the show ============================

Seattle Clown Classes with Arne Zaslove

Arne Zaslove is teaching a class on clowning and physical theater in Seattle on 7 consecutive Mondays starting July 7. Classes will be held from 7 pm- 8:30 pm. Classes will be held at [SANCA] The School for Acrobatics and New Circus Arts – 674 S. Orcas, Seattle. The class is a very reasonable $133. Arne Zaslove is a director, teacher, mask specialist and physical theater consultant. As a Fulbright scholar, Arne was the first American to study at Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris. There he absorbed a deep understanding of masks and of physical theater. He later apprenticed with commedia dell' arte master Carlo Mazzone-Clementi (who went on to found the Dell' Arte School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake). Arne's method of training actors was synthesized through years as Artistic Director of the National Theatre School in Canada, co-founder of the University of Washington PATP program, and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia. His approach focuses on freeing the individual's body and imagination through a carefully devised sequence of physical exercises, mask work and improvisation. His students have gone on to varied and successful careers, from the circus to Stratford and Hollywood. Arne has directed and taught in many regional theaters and universities across the U.S. and Canada. During his 20-year tenure as Artistic Director of the Bathhouse Theatre in Seattle, his updated Shakespeare productions and 17 versions of The Big Broadcast (a tribute to the golden age of radio) were especially popular with audiences for their sensitive interpretations and inventive flair. Arne has also worked extensively with David Shiner, and directed the cabaret/theatre/dinner show Pomp, Duck, and Circumstance, which has been featured in Berlin, Seattle, and San Francisco. To find out more about the class, contact Tara Jensen at SANCA 206-652-4433 or visit the website listed below: http://www.sancaseattle.org To find out more about Arne Zaslove, follow the link below: http://www.zaslove.com

FUNAMBOLIKA 2008 (Italy July 5-8)

Funambolika 2008 is the 2nd edition of the summer circus arts festival particularly focused on clowns, and conceived by Italian clown and director Raffaele De Ritis. It takes places in Pescara, in the Abruzzo region of Italy, in the open-air Teatro D’Annunzio on the Adriatic beach. This is the same 2000-seats arena where Pescara Jazz, one of the oldest and most prestigious jazz festivals in the world takes place (www.pescarajazz.com). Funambolika is organized by the same company Last year's festival featured Jango Edwards and David Larible. This year's festival will have three evenings of entertainment: July 5 DUEL (Paul Staicu, piano – Laurent Cirade, cello) The comedy musical revelation of last year’s Edimburgh and Avignon Festival July 7 PETER SHUB The legendary clown with his solo theatre show “Nice Night for an Evening” July 8 GRAN GALA DU CIRQUE Guest star: Andrei Jigalov An evening of international circus acts (from Monte Carlo Festival, Kiev School, Moscow Circus, Cirque du Soleil appearances) including among others juggler Boul, acrobat Maxim Popazov, contorsionist-swimmer Aqua and others, around a special guest star: clown ANDREI JIGALOV, the king of contemporary russian laughmakers. Pescara is a ten minute drive from Aereoporto d’Abruzzo (www.abruzzo-airport.it ), and is easily connected to via many major cities. For all other destinations, the Rome Fiumicino airport is 2 hours drive. For more information visit the following websites: Funambolika blog: www.funambolika.blogspot.com General program: www.entemanifestazionipescaresi.it Myspace: www.myspace.com/funambolika Tickets: (39) 085-6920057 – (39) 085-4221463 Organization: (39) 085-693093 • (39) 085-4503036 Email: info@entemanifestazionipescaresi.it Artistic direction: rderitis@hotmail.com

Bill Irwin/ Aaron Cromie podcast

Fascinating hour of conversation about clowning and clowns with Bill Irwin and Aaron Cromie regarding the Happiness Lectures. http://www.whyy.org/podcast/052208_110630.mp3 Definitely listen to it!

Bill Irwin in Philadelphia

Thanks to Aaron Cromie for the tip! (He's in the show too!) THE HAPPINESS LECTURE WORLD PREMIERE By Bill Irwin May 16 - June 15, 2008 Bill Irwin – a two-time Tony Award-winner, film/television star, physical comedian, playwright, director and choreographer – leads a brilliant ensemble on an adventure in the pursuit of happiness. Irwin has created a unique and imaginative evening of delightful vignettes and physical comedy. This world premiere is a wild and entertaining ride that spoofs theatrical pretensions while exploring the sheer joy of laughter. Featuring some of Philadelphia's finest actors and dancers including: Nichole Canuso, Jennifer Childs, Melanie Cotton, Aaron Cromie, Lee Ann Etzold, and Makoto Hirano, along with New York-based Ephrat "Bounce" Asherie and Cori Olinghouse. http://www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org There are ticket deals and discounts if you contact the box office, especially for the previews.

Acme Clown Art Exhibit- 2001

In 2001, I became the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt Maryland. As part of my work there, I curated a clown art exhibit, that featured over 50 pieces of artwork. I' ve assembled some samples on a web page, and recently moved it to my own site: http://www.acmeclown.com/clownartexhibit/ The piece to the left is "Dunk the Clown" by artist Frank Wu Enjoy the artwork! More about the Greenbelt residency: http://www.acmeclown.com/greenbelt/

Bellobration at the United Center

I was in Chicago for the weekend for a family function, and thought I'd check out the Bello-bration. It's the Red Show-- and I hadn't seen it when it was on the East Coast, so I was glad I got the opportunity. I saw it today (last day of the stand in Chicago-- we went to the 1 pm performance. The pre-show "All-Access Pre-Show" was hosted by clown Leo Acton. Leo is a graduate of Clown College from 1996. I was mostly astonished, because this is the first time that I've seen a Ringling Clown with his own facial hair. Granted the show had a 1970's feel, but I was pretty amazed. This would not have been allowed when I was at Clown College. Looking around, a lot of the clowns had their own hair--less wigs than I remember. I wondered if maybe it's because a lot of the clowns are no longer Clown College grads. (But it turns out Leo Acton is-- I guess there's been a change of policy) A couple of the costumes wouldn't have passed muster back in the day. In general the pre-show was pretty good-- the clowns did a variation on Dead and Alive with a lot of knockabout, there was a painting elephant, some hula-hooping, a great trampolining bit by a Russian clown named Alex, and a lot of clowns doing Meet and Greet. The Meet and Greet was a little lame-- standing in back of someone and making fun of them behind their back. I know that 13 shows a week gets a little hard to be original, but I thought it could have gone better. (I did get made fun of, but didn't introduce myself-- I played with the guy, and once he saw I was alive, he seemed to lose interest.) The pre-show clown bit (with a nice little clown car used by Leo Acton again) was a Campfire Marshmallows advertisement basically-- and not very funny. Something else that didn't quite fly from a clown perspective was the group piece "Dancing with the Clowns." It started off okay, but didn't go anywhere relatively slowly. The ending blowoff (an acrobatic dancer who is much better than the bad dancers) wasn't particularly strong. Good bendover routine with one clown playing a couple as a bendover. Once the show started, Bello is really the star. He falls in love with the aerialist, and spends the show going from act to act trying to get her to notice him. It's a good idea, and it's done well. The highlight was when Bello and the aerialist are up on twin sway poles, and he gets a kiss from her-- the whole spec turns into a Bello-bration, along with everybody including elephants, dogs, and the circus band, sporting Bello's blonde hair. It was Being John Malkovich for Bello, and very funny. The second act was less strong, and the pretense of his love for the aerialist went away. Bello did a great act with the Wheel of Danger (it split into two side-by-side at one point-- I had never seen that!) And the show ended with the Human Cannonball-- very impressive, but oh so fleeting. There were a bunch of good video gags in the beginning of the show-- Bello stuck in the humoungous television monitor and trying to get out. It was so clearly not live, and done a little too fast-- as if they were saying-- I know you are used to speeded up cartoons-- here you go! I enjoyed them, nevertheless Overall it was a lot of entertainment, although once we added the "Convenience Charge" It was $30 a ticket.) It was a great night out though. Find out more about the Ringling Red Show and the clowns mentioned by visiting their websites listed below. RINGLING RED SHOW: http://ringling.com/ BELLO NOCK: http://www.bellonock.com LEO ACTON: Leo Acton's Myspace Page

Portrait of a Clown as a Young Man (okay, not so young)

I sat for a portrait with Bill Wadman, a photographer working on a 365 day project. Each day he takes a portrait of a different person, and posts it. It might be a book or a calendar, or a something one day. I'm 11/02. (and the rest of the photos are even more amazing!) He's been doing this project for a whole year! It was a lot of fun to be photographed for this purpose. I generally love getting my photo taken, and like most clowns, have been photographed thousands of times (and am probably on refrigerators and flickr accounts all over the country) Bill was really great to work with, and he has a great eye. So much of being a good photographer is catching someone in the act of being themselves. (and hopefully fabulous) So here's the photo that he ended up choosing of me. And then a gallery of 11 others that he took that were possibles. (our photo shoot ended up with over 100 shots-- but to get eleven that were print inclusive worthy is amazing.) What can I say, I give good photo! If you like the photo, please click the image to see Bill's page, and comment on it there! All photos by Bill Wadman for his project 365 portraits

Directing Dario Fo's WE WON'T PAY

I'm directing Dario Fo's We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay! at Fairfield University in CT Here's a Press Release, along with some information about the show. Of particular interest is that opening night will feature a talkback with me and the translator, Ron Jenkins. Ron is a professor of theatre at Wesleyan University, and has been Dario Fo's onstage English translator for over 15 years. He is a graduate of Ringling Clown College (as am I) and has written one of the best books about contemporary clowns Acrobats of the Soul (available via Amazon.com) Clown Laureate Directs Nobel Laureate's Work in Connecticut Adam Gertsacov, Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland, will direct Nobel Laureate Dario Fo’s We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! The show will perform at the Quick Center for the Arts on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield CT from October 31-November 4. The show will feature Fairfield University students. Gertsacov has been in residence at the University as a guest artist. The opening night performance will be followed by a talkback with director Gertsacov and translator Ron Jenkins Fairfield, CT, October 22, 2007 --(PR.com)-- We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! is a social farce with a message. In the play, high prices have caused a revolution in the supermarket, with housewives stealing food from the market. When they get home, they realize they can't tell their husbands where they got the food, and pretend to be pregnant. From this one simple lie, a farce develops so that by the end of the play nearly everybody in the cast (including the policeman, who looks suspiciously like a number of other characters in the play) has become pregnant. Written in Italy in the early 1970’s, the play has sparked social actions. Soon after the play was first performed, a similar supermarket riot took place in Italy. The play was later performed on the site of a Fiat plant strike, and has become a much loved play among workers and political leftists. Since 1974, the play has been translated into over a dozen languages, and performed in more than 30 countries around the world. It is considered by many theatrical critics to be one of the great comedies of the twentieth century. The author, Dario Fo, is an Italian satirist, playwright, actor, director, composer, and clown. In 1997 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. In 2006 he ran an unsuccessful race for mayor of Milan, and lost by a very tiny margin. He is the author of more than 20 plays, and currently runs a theatre company in Italy with his wife, celebrated Italian actress Franca Rame. The director, Adam Gertsacov, is a clown and performer based in Yonkers, New York. Adam is the current Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland. He has performed his original shows in over 39 states and 7 countries, as well as on Czech, Canadian, and American television and radio. Gertsacov is the artistic director and boss clown of the Acme Clown Company. In addition to his work as a performer, Gertsacov is the director and curator of Bright Night Providence, a New Year’s Eve Celebration in Providence, RI. The show is at Fairfield University, Fairfield CT (exit 22 off of 95) at the Quick Center for the Arts Schedule: Wednesday October 31 @ 8 pm (talkback afterwards with Ron Jenkins, translator & director Adam Gertsacov) Thursday November 1 @ 8 pm (talkback afterwards with director Adam Gertsacov & Fairfield University professors) Friday November 2 @ 8 pm Saturday November 3 @ 2 & 8 pm Sunday November 4 @ 2 pm. Tickets are $12 ($5 for students of any high school or college) Call 1-877-ARTS-396 or (203) 254-4010 to purchase tickets or for additional information. You may also visit http://fairfield.edu/x1534.html for more information. ###

Adam Lazarus & Torontoclown.com

Adam Lazarus is a performer, director and instructor whose work in physical theatre, clown and bouffon has taken him to France, England and coast to coast across Canada. As a young man, Adam founded the Toronto based collective company Schmigeggy, where he produced, directed and performed in 10 of Schmigeggy's popular original works. After critical success and monetary failure, the company was put to rest after 6 years. The next wave of creation came out of intense study and assistance with French Clown Master Philippe Gaulier. Inspired by the creation methods of Jeu, Character, Clown and Bouffon, Adam draws on the brilliance of what we are able to create under strict time restraints. He is a graduate of McMaster University's Theatre Program, Leeds University’s Theatre Program in England and L'Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris, France. Adam is a regular facilitator of workshops for professional and non-professional artists, including recent Bouffon workshops and consultations for Theatre Passe Muraille, the Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, DanceMakers, Volcano Theatre and Mike Kennard’s The Hollow. As an actor, Adam performs in numerous cabarets around Toronto, and was recently part of The Gina Project’s silent circus comedy Big Show, Tapestry New Opera Works’ clown/opera workshop for Shelter, and Suit Suite: A Motivational-Seminar Musical at the Toronto Fringe Festival. His one-man bouffon show Fable was recently performed in Victoria, B.C, Halifax, N.S. and Toronto: Adam also directs plays and clown shows-- he recently directed the following shows:Joe: The Perfect Man, a one woman take on MacBeth starring Rachelle Elie, Bubkus, a one man show featuring Jesse Buck (and recently featured at the NY Clown Theater Festival), and Melissa D’Agostino’s Guadalupe Project - a citywide installation. He also created the show Everyone's An Asshole and a new physical work directed by Pig Iron Theatre’s Sarah Sanford entitled Appetite. Adam is also the Artistic Producer of the Toronto Festival of Clowns. To find out more about Adam's work, visit the websites listed below: http://www.quiptake.com http://www.torontoclown.com

Amy Gordon

Amy Gordon is a clown, physical comedian and character actress. She acts and co-directs with the Daredevil Opera Company along with Jonah Logan, and has performed with them over 600 times in 20 countries. Shows with Daredevil Opera include Cirkus Inferno , Rocket & Roxy's Stunt Show , and Drakonsbreath . Amy has also performed in a number of other shows, including AntiGravity's Crash Test Dummies , the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and for the Spiegeltent in NY and Australia. She has performed, directed, and choreographed solos and group pieces in most of the NY downtown theatre, dance, and comedy venues. In addition she has worked the cruise ship market, directing the Cruise Comic program for Royal Caribbean International. Amy has a degree in Theatre Arts from Western Washington University where she was lauded as a Finalist in the Kennedy Center/Irene Ryan ACTF Competition and with the Outstanding Senior Award. She continues her studies with masters including Phillipe Gaulier, Rene Bazinet, David Shiner, Avner Eisenberg and Kenny Raskin. Amy's next performance is the premier of her solo show ON A ROLL at the Dance Theatre Workshop in Manhattan. This is part of their Family Matters series. The show will feature many comedic solo bits, and combines dance, music, and their ugly step-sibling, comedy. The show is on Saturday October 27 at 2 pm at Dance Theatre Workshop, 219 W 19th Street in New York. Tickets are $20 adults/ $10 for kids. Purchase tickets for this show. To find out more about Amy's work, please visit the websites listed below: http://www.amy-g.com/ http://www.daredeviloperacompany.com/

Jennifer Miller & Circus Amok

Circus Amok is a New York City based circus-theater company whose mission is to provide free public art addressing contemporary issues of social justice to the people of New York City. The group has been together since 1989 bringing its funny, queer, caustic and sexy, political one-ring spectacles to diverse neighborhoods from East New York to the East Village. The company is comprised of seven ring-performers, a 7 member live band, 3-roustabouts, and a trucker/technician extraordinaire. The performers in the ring are trained in traditional circus skills - tight rope walking, juggling, acrobatics, stilt walking, clowning - as well as experimental dance, theater, and gender-bending performance art and improvisational techniques. Over the years the traditional circus techniques have been combined with dance, lifesize puppetry, music old and new, and dramatic monologues creating new meanings for circus while continuing to entertain the crowds of all ages throughout the city streets, gardens, parks, and playgrounds. The troupe was founded by Jennifer Miller, a real-life bearded woman (although she prefers the sobriquet "woman with a beard") and a superb circus/sideshow artist. Jennifer has received an Obie and Bessie Award for her work. In addition to performing, Jennifer has taught performance and other subjects at several universities, including UCLA, Cal Arts, Scripps College and NYU. Along with a number of other artists, Jennifer and company each year create a new show that talks about one of the tough issues that New Yorkers face. This year, the show is called Bee-dazzled, and while I'm not sure of the content yet, I am pretty positive some mention of the curious lack of bees, and the environmental havoc being caused by industry, will feature heavily into the show. If you'd like more information about the company, please visit their website listed below. Also below is the 2007 schedule for Circus Amok. Please check their website for additional information. http://www.circusamok.org ============= BEE-DAZZLED SCHEDULE ============= *** FREE FREE FREE *** ALL REAL *** ALL ALIVE *** FREE FREE FREE Glamorous, Gritty, Dangerous, Glorious, Acrobatic Entomologists, Querelous Quandaries, Fantastical Fruits, Incredible Insects, Vaulting Villains, Stupendous Sideshow Spectacular. 2007 Tour Schedule: [but be sure to check http://www.circusamok.org for weather updates and late-breaking news!] SAT 9/1 -- RIVERSIDE PARK -- 2PM and 5PM -- Enter at 79th St. and Riverside Drive, NYC SUN 9/2 -- WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK -- 1PM, 3PM and 5PM -- University Ave. and Washington Square North, NYC MON 9/3 -- CONEY ISLAND -- 2PM and 5PM -- West 10th St. and Surf Ave., BROOKLYN THURS 9/6 -- UNION SQUARE PARK -- 12:30PM, 3PM, 5:30PM -- Union Square West and 17th St., NYC FRI 9/7 -- COLUMBUS PARK -- 12:30PM and 5:30PM -- Mulberry St. btwn Worth and Bayard, NYC SAT 9/8 -- ST MARY'S PARK -- 3PM -- St. Ann's Ave. and St. Mary's St., BRONX SUN 9/9 -- PROSPECT PARK -- 1PM, 3PM and 5PM -- behind the Tennis House, enter at 9th St. and Prospect Park West, BROOKLYN FRI 9/14 -- MARCUS GARVEY PARK -- 5:30PM -- Madison Ave and 124th St, NYC SAT 9/15 -- FT GREENE PARK 2PM and 5PM -- Dekalb and Washington Park.,BROOKLYN SUN 9/16 -- TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK -- 1PM, 3PM and 5PM -- 77th St. and Ave. A, NYC Visit http://www.circusamok.org for late-breaking news and weather updates!

Daredevil Chicken Club

The Daredevil Chicken Club is the combined talent and imagination of performers Anne Goldmann and Jonathan Taylor. Together with their extensive training in physical theater, circus, and clowning they continue to create unique performances that have been seen around the world. They have performed together on the street, on the stage and in the circus ring for the past nine years. Their show features character driven physical theater and audience participation. A husband and wife team Mark and Svetlana Buttersworth share their story of being the best daredevil superstars the world has ever seen!(or so they imagine.) They combine absurd acrobatic moves, banana spitting feats, an eight foot high slackrope, and a Tango to make a 45 minute spectacle. This show has been performed in almost every environment, outdoor and indoor, and on three continents! This show is designed for ALL AGES. Anne Goldmann has trained extensively as a gymnast, actor, circus performer, clown, and musician. She studied hand-balancing, acrobatics, and trapeze at the S.F. Circus School, and also trained with Sue Morrison at Clown Hall. She has toured North America performing Children's Theater; performed in many theater productions ranging from Shadow Theater to Musicals with Robots; written, produced, and performed in an award winning Clown show, 'Does This Mean Anything To You?'; and has performed in Cabarets and Street Theater around the globe. Jonathan Taylor has trained in Physical Theater and Clowning, attending The Dell'Arte School of Physical Theater, Ringling Bros. Clown College, and at Clown Hall with Sue Morrison. He has performed in 10 countries from Circuses and Cabarets, to Festivals and on the Street. He is also a five year veteran performer of the Off-Broadway hit, BlueManGroup. To find out more about the Daredevil Chicken Club, visit their website listed below: http://www.daredevilchicken.com

500 Clown

500 Clown is a physical theatre company based in Chicago. They have been creating work together since 2000. Their mission as a company is to create shows that use circus arts, improvisation, and action to create charged environments that allow the performers to take emotional and physical risks, and lets the audience become an active observer. Their signature piece is 500 Clown MacBeth. Since that show, they have gone on to create 500 Clown Frankenstein, 500 Clown Christmas, and the piece that they are currently working on is a 500 Clown version of A Man's A Man, by Bertolt Brecht. Currently, 500 Clown is in residence at the Steppenwolf Theatre where they are performing Macbeth & Frankenstein in repertory through July 29.. They've gotten great reviews, and in December of 2007 will be in New York at PS122. Despite their name, the group consists of the following members: Adrian Danzig Adrian Danzig is a clown and performer who has been in shows at the Goodman, Second City, Berkeley Rep, B.A.M., The Public Theater, and LookingGlass. He has studied with Ctibor Turba, Philippe Gaulier, Ronlin Formena, Dominique Jando, Avner the Eccentric, and David Shiner, to name a few. Adrian works with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit in Chicago, and teaches physical theater at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Leslie Bauxbaum Danzig Leslie is the director of the 500 Clown shows. She has worked with Redmoon Theatre, Elevator Repair Service, choreographer Molly Shanahan, and at a number of other venues. Leslie studied at the Ecole Jacques Lecoq, and with Philippe Gaulier & Ronlin Foreman. She is currently completing a PhD at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Molly Brennan Molly has worked with a number of groups in the Chicago area, including Barrel of Monkeys, The Chicago Children's Theatre, Second City, and the House Theatre of Chicago, where she is a company member. She won a Joseph Jefferson award for her work in Curse of the Crying Heart. Molly works as a clown and supervisor for the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit in Chicago. Paul Kalina Paul has worked at the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, the Court Theatre, and other theatres around Chicago. He co-founded the physical theatre duos Le Pamplemousse, and the Bumblinni Brothers, for which he has toured across Canada and the United States. He also has worked for Big Apple's Clown Care Unit. Paul is a graduate of the Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre and the University of Idaho (MFA) To find out more about 500 Clown, visit their website listed below: http://www.500clown.com UPDATE: Audio podcast interview with Molly and Paul of 500 Clown is available online. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST at http://www.theatreinchicago.com.

Augusto Cabrera & Commedia Gillet

Augusto Cabrera is a director, actor, clown, puppeteer,commedia teacher and performer based in Stockholm, Sweden. He is the director of Mask & Commedia Centrum, an institution/school that focuses on spreading knowledge and information about masks, puppetry, and commedia to the world at large through workshops, festivals, and performances. Commedia Gillet is the professional company of Mask & Commedia Centrum, which is under the direction of Augusto. Commedia Gillet has a number of performances available-- their latest is titled Thor's Saga, about a group of Viking clowns who tell the story of how Thor lost his hammer. Unfortunately, the clowns can't keep their personal lives off of the stage. Other performances include an outdoor medieval spectacle called Pesten (The Plague), and Avstad (Distance), a puppet play about special people (I assume this means developmentally disabled, but I can't be sure.), and a clown variety show. Augusto has also started a new social network for mask and physical theatre performers on Ning.com. To find out more about Augusto's work, follow the links listed below: Augusto's web page: http://www.commediagillet.com/cabrera Commedia Gillet: http://www.commediagillet.com Mask Social Network: http://masker.ning.com

Happy Hour Clown Trio

Happy Hour is a clown trio based in New York. It consists of three clowns who are graduates of Ringling Clown College and who have come together to create physical comedy shows. Each of the clowns also perform and teach individually. To find out more, and see videos of Happy Hour in action, visit their website: http://www.happyhourclowns.com The guys of Happy Hour are: Ambrose Martos has performed standup, clown, improv, sketch and dance around New York City and the world. He was a finalist in the BBC Open Mic competition at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival and once had his roller skating disco act described as "brave comedy" by ABC's Diane Sawyer. Ambrose is a regular performer at New York City's best vaudeville reviews and has performed on the largest cruise ship in the world for Royal Caribbean. Ambrose plays the lead role in the short film Lutoski Fish Sticks, which won 3rd Place at the 2005 NYU First Run Film Festival. He is a 1997 graduate of Clown College, a member of The Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit. Recent credits include Cirque du Soleil, off-Broadway's Slava's Snowshow and as a Merry Prankster in Julie Taymor's new film Across the Universe (out in 2007). Mark Gindick has been working as a physical comedian onstage and in the circus since his graduation from Clown College. He shared the role of "Grandma" in The Big Apple Circus for two years and has performed with The NY Goofs at Carnegie Hall and The International Children's Festival and with The Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus. Mark has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan Obrien. Mark wrote and starred in How To Be A Man at the Palace of Variety on 42nd Street in 2004. Mark is a former nationally ranked tae kwan do artist and teaches circus skills at SUNY Purchase College. Matthew Morgan has performed at Lincoln Center, Dance Theater Workshop, American Globe Theater, Joe's Pub at the Public Theater, PS 122, chashama, Symphony Space, and the Princeton Repertory Company. He attended the University of Utah for acting and is a graduate of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. Upon graduating from Clown College he toured with "The Greatest Show on Earth" for two years. He has also performed with the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus where his duo act, the Slapinski Brothers, was hailed as "riotous" by the Village Voice and "hilarious" by Time Out NY. Keep your eyes open for Matthew as The Silver Guy in the upcoming feature film Just my Luck, starring Lindsay Lohan.

Ariane Anthony

Ariane Anthony is a dancer and clown based in Brooklyn, NY. She has choreographed and directed over thirty original works of dance-theater, both independently and under the auspices of Ariane Anthony & Company, a performing group she co-founded with her collaborators in 1999. Ms. Anthony studied ballet as a professional trainee at the Joffrey Ballet School from 1983 to 1989, and began her choreographic training with Claire Mallardi at Harvard University where she earned a B.A. in Anthropology with a focus on human and animal communication. Anthony continued her dance training as a scholarship student at The Merce Cunningham and Mary Anthony Studios, and performed and toured internationally with Cornfield Dance, Mary Anthony Dance Theatre, Tina Croll, Maureen Fleming, Bryan Hayes, Christopher Caines, and Carolyn Lord.