Maestrosities in Brooklyn with Orchestra June 13

The Maestrosities (the self-proclaimed coolest band ever) is a group of clown musicians who have a really good time while playing instruments. They've announced a collaboration with The Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra. On the program: Finlandia - Jean Sibelius Peter and the Wolf - Sergei Prokofiev The William Tell Overture - Tonto They most certainly won't be interfering with the arrangements, instrumentation or integrity of these pieces. No, what you will hear at this set of concerts is musicians playing music to the best of their ability. And it definitely won't be fun or funny. They'll also be playing a set of their favorites from the 80s, 20s, and today. Here's what you need to know: When: Two concerts - Saturday, June 13th, 2:30 pm and 5pm Where: The Irondale Center - 85 South Oxford Street in Fort Greene ( Just around the corner from BAM ) How much: $15/$8 students and seniors. Purchase now. This will sell out. http://www.zerve.com/BQCMusic/Comm To get tickets by phone call Zerve at 212.209.3370 If you have questions email louis@TheCoolestBandEver.com Or visit http://www.thecoolestbandever.com

Up and CLOWN "Closing Party" Exhibit 5/31 5-8 pm

Jim Moore's exhibit Up and Clown (talked about here) will have a closing party on Sunday May 31 from 5-8 pm. Come check it out if you get the opportunity, and may I mention-- freeroll! SB Digital Gallery 125 East 4th St. 212 979 7239 (1 block east from Kraine Theatre)

Cruel & Unusual Comedy at MOMA (NY) May 20-June 1, 2009

Cruel and Unusual Comedy: Social Commentary in the American Slapstick Film May 20, 2009–June 1, 2009 MOMA will be running a number of silent film comedies during the last part of the month. The series, titled Cruel and Unusual Comedy, will feature a number of evenings of silent films, grouped in themes, that use comedy to address pretty . All films are from the U.S. and are silent, with piano accompaniment by Ben Model. All running times are approximate. You can read film notes written by Steve Masa and Ben Model on their specialty blog http://cruelandunusualcomedy.blogspot.com/ You can find out more about the series on the MOMA website http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/948 Tickets are $10, less for seniors and students, and free if you are a MOMA member (although you do still require a ticket. Drag Shows: Cross-Dressing the Sexes Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 4:00 p.m. With piano accompaniment by Ben Model Getting Rid of Trouble 1912. USA. Directed by Del Henderson. With Charlie Murray. 10 min. Sweedie Learns to Swim 1914. USA. Directed by Wallace Beery. With Beery. 10 min. Chasing the Chaser 1925. USA. Directed by Stan Laurel. With James Finlayson. 10 min. Get ‘Em Young 1926. USA. Directed by Fred Guiol. With Stan Laurel. 18 min. Good Night Nurse 1917. USA. Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle. With Arbuckle, Buster Keaton. 18 min. Race Riots: Beyond Black and White Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 4:00 p.m With piano accompaniment by Ben Model A Change of Complexion 1914. USA. Directed by Phillips Smalley. With Henry Bergman. 10 min. Haunted Spooks 1920. USA. Directed by Hal Roach. With Harold Lloyd, Sunshine Sammy. 20 min. Below Zero 1925. USA. Directed by Norman Taurog. With Lige Conley, Spencer Bell. 18 min. A Natural Born Gambler 1916. USA. Director unknown. With Bert Williams. 20 min. Black and White 1913. USA. Directed by Del Henderson. With David Morris. 10 min. Gratuitous Violence: No Turn Unstoned Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 7:00 p.m. With piano accompaniment by Ben Model Deep Sea Panic 1924. USA. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. With James Parrott. 12 min. Their First Execution 1913. USA. Directed by Mack Sennett. With Ford Sterling. 10 min. The Phoney Cannibal 1915. USA. Directed by Charles E. Ward. With Lloyd Hamilton, Bud Duncan. 10 min. The Counter Jumper 1922. USA. Directed by Larry Semon. With Semon, Oliver Hardy. 18 min. Cold Hearts and Hot Flames 1916. USA. Directed by John G. Blystone. With Billie Ritchie. 20 min Animals and Children: No Harm Done Friday, May 29, 2009, 4:00 p.m With piano accompaniment by Ben Model An Elephant on His Hands 1912. USA. Directed by Frederick Thomson. With George Ober. 10 min. Cat, Dog, and Co. 1929. USA. Directed by Anthony Mack. With the Our Gang kids. 18 min. Mind the Baby 1924. USA. Directed by Al Herman. With Pal the dog. 18 min. The Knockout 1923. USA. Directed by Len Powers. With the Dippy-Doo-Dads. 10 min. When Summer Comes 1922. USA. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. With Billy Bevan. 18 min. The Machine Age: Mack Sennett vs. Henry Ford Monday, June 1, 2009, 4:00 p.m. With piano accompaniment by Ben Model Lizzies of the Field 1924. USA. Directed by Del Lord. With Billy Bevan. 18 min. His Bread and Butter 1916. USA. Directed by Edward Cline, Hank Mann. With Mann, Slim Summerville. 18 min. Get Out and Get Under 1920. USA. Directed by Hal Roach. With Harold Lloyd. 18 min. Squeaks and Squawks 1920. USA. Directed by Noel M. Smith. With Jimmy Aubrey, Oliver Hardy. 18 min. Neck and Neck 1924. USA. Directed by Fred Hibbard. With Lige Conley. 18 min.

UP and cLOWN: (Jim Moore Clown Photographic exhibit) starts May 15 (NY)

UP and CLOWN: Photographic Cacophony of Eccentric Performers For the last 30 years, Jim Moore has been photographing all kinds of clowns, mimes, and eccentric performers. On May 15 the SB Digital Gallery will be hosting an exhibit of Jim's photographs. The exhibit will feature over 300 shots, including shows of the NY Downtown Clown Revue, where Jim is the photographer in residence. Mr. Moore was a mime street performer during the 70’s and 80’s, he is particularly adept at capturing precise and striking moments of revelry and performance, using his insider's eye. For the last 30 years Jim has been in, on and behind the scenes at venues such as The Big Apple Circus, Bottom Line, Dixon Place and The New York Downtown Clown Revue. His diverse range of photographs include magicians, clowns, puppeteers, mimes, ventriloquists, performance artists, sword swallowers, tightrope walkers, and high wire walkers, including Philip Petit, star of last year's documentary hit Man on Wire, in which many of Jim's photographs were used. Some of the people featured in this current exhibit are: Eric Bogosian, Paul Zaloom, Marcel Marceau, world famous juggler Francis Brunn, world famous magician Slydini, world renown clown Joel Jeske, world renown clown Gardi Hutter, and sword swallower Joey Colon, along with many others. The show opens on Friday May 15th at SB Digital Gallery 125 East 4th St., from 6 to 9pm. Refreshments will be served. There are 300 photographs being presented, and they will be projected onto four large high definition monitors and a digital projector. You can call the gallery for more info at 212-979-7239 For more information about Jim's work, visit his website http://www.moorepics.com Some images of the upcoming exhibit are below. Ctibor Turba Ambrose Martel Joel Jeske McCormack & Parenti Paul Zaloom

Opening Weekend! CRACKED ICE at PS122

Don't miss the world premiere of: "CRACKED ICE or THE JEWELS OF THE FORBIDDEN SKATES!" A new play by Jennifer Miller with additional text by Deb Margolin In this glittering theatrical extravaganza, the infamous juggling duo, The Liberty Sisters, have been fleeced by an evil ponzi schemer. Sybil and Statua Liberty embark on a mad-cap tour of revenge...but they aren't the only ones after the greedy crook. Mistaken identities, missed opportunities, star crossed lovers and variety hall numbers all combine to bring East Village high camp back home. It's tragedy, it's farce, it's mystery, it's mayhem...it's "CRACKED ICE or JEWELS OF THE FORBIDDEN SKATES!!" April 25-May 10 Performance Space 122 -- First Avenue and 9th Street, NYC Wed-Sun at 8pm With additional late show, Sat, May 9 at 11pm. Special performance to benefit Circus AMOK! on Sunday, May 3 at 8pm. Starring: Jennifer Miller, Ashley Brockington, Tanya Gagne, Sally May, Adrienne Truscott, Carlton Ward, and Rae C. Wright. Music by Kenny Mellman. Design by Jonathan Berger. Set Paintings by Mila Geisler. Choreography by Faye Driscoll. Prop Design by Jesse Proia. With additional text for Bernie Madoff by Deb Margolin. Special surprise guest artists each night, including Scott Heron, Jennifer Monson, Novice Theory, Jenny Romaine, and many more! CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO REGULAR PERFORMANCES: Use code "FF12" to buy single tickets for only $12 Use code "FF241" to buy two or more tickets for only $10 each!!! (2 for $20, 5 for $50, and so on.) TICKETS FOR BENEFIT PERFORMANCE: Benefit performance tickets are ONLY AVAILABLE at the Circus AMOK! website. Benefit tickets are $50, $75 or $100 and include a post-show reception with the cast and creative team, as well as exclusive AMOK schwag! "Cracked Ice" tickets are regularly $20. Obligatory Fine print: discounts based on limited supply; blackout dates may apply; may not be combined with other offers or applied to previous sales; may be discontinued at any time so book now and save!

Golden Nose Award Winners

I attended the Third Annual New York Downtown Clown Golden Nose Awards last night. This now annual event was a lot of fun-- not because of the awards (although it's great to see deserving people get awards) but because of the community that has been created/nurtured by founders of New York Downtown Clown Christopher Lueck and Amanda Pekoe. It's great to see all of these really funny talented people all in a room together. It's even bettter to have a drink with them before (and after the show) This year's award ceremonies were a little different-- there were only two People's choice awards (that got voted on) and three number of honorary awards. The nose awards were designed by ProKnows HONORARY AWARDS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN CLOWNING Hovey Burgess got a lifetime achievement award. Hovey, who is truly one of the instrumental early instructors of circus and clown, has been a constant presence in the NY Downtown Clown Scene. As one of the presenters noted-- not only does he go everywhere, sees every show, but everybody likes him. He's a tireless advocate for circus and clowning, and a great circus historian and archivist to boot. Wearing a formal suit and a very large tie (not shown here) He told a very funny story about John Ringling North, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, and Lady Godiva which ended up crediting LaGuardia for the development of pasties and a G string (he was the mayor that raided Minsky's Burlesque) He also read the famous "But Dr. I am Pagliacci" joke from Watchmen in his best Rorschach voice. (It's the old famous joke--a man goes to the doctor, who checks him out and says "There's nothing wrong with you. There's a famous clown Pagliacci in town-- go see the show, and he'll make you feel better." To which the man replies in tears "But Doctor-- I am Pagliacci!") CLOWN ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR: Clowns Without Borders USA received a Clown Organization of the Year award for their work bringing laughter and clowns to strife ridden places. I've featured them on this site a number of times. Deven Sissler, who had just come back from Haiti, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. For more information on the great work they do, visit http://www.clownswithoutborders.org CLOWNS OF THE YEAR: Dick Monday and Tiffany Riley of the NY Goofs Received the Clowns of the Year award for their dedication and enthusiasm for clown arts. They've been teaching clowning in NY for over 10 years, and though they are now based in Dallas, they are also truly integral members of the NY Downtown Clown Scene. For more information about their work, visit http://www.nygoofs.com AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS Audience Choice Best Clown Act WINNER-- Musique, by Joel Jeske, Mike Richter, and Christopher Lueck OTHER NOMINEES: Eccentric Dance and Hat Act, by Spencer Novich Kill Me Loudly: A Clown Noir, by FOOLS ON FIRE (Butt Kapinski, Chris Manley, ChrisRoberti and Jeff Seal, Dir. Eric Davis) The Pajama Men, by Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez Audience Choice Best Clown Character: WINNER: Spencer Novich OTHER NOMINEES: Emily Carragher Nina Levine Tweedy

Fools on Fire Cabaret April 18

Dead Herring and Fools on Fire Present a Benefit Cabaret 141 South 5th Street, 1E Brooklyn NY 11211 Saturday April 18th Doors at 8pm, Show at 8:30 $10 (includes 1 free drink) Good Food and Drink! Lineup: ZeroBoy www.zeroboy.com 'Coney Island of the Mind' piece. Follow along as Zero Boy takes his nephew and the audience on a magical cartoon like audio tour of coney island past, present and future The Lady's Circus Static Trapeze http://www.ladycircus.com Mike Dobson Balloon Bongo Drums http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-nBRlZ61AA http://www.mikedobsonmusic.com/live/ Spencer Novich and Brett Alters, Clown Duo: http://brettalters.com/ http://www.youtube.com/Snovich1 Mitchell "The Human Jukebox" Yoshida For a dollar, he'll play on his accordion your request of ANY pop song EVER. Sapphire Jones www.myspace.com/worldfamoussapphirejones Comedic Burlesque And your hosts Jeff and Buttons youtube.com/jeffseal http://newexcitementcomedy.com/

Hey-Ya Brothers in NY at Urban Stages

Hey-Ya Brothers- now performing at Urban Stages! The Hey-Ya Brothers is a two-man slapstick comedy variety show with clowns and physical comedians Joel Jeske and Christopher Lueck. This 45min show is a mixture of classic comedy, slapstick, juggling, magic, and music. The Hey-Ya Brothers create a memorable show full of laughs. Now with special guest performer Mike Richter! WHEN: SUNDAYS, March 15 – April 5, 2009 at at 2pm. WHERE: Urban Stages, located at 259 West 30th Street (between 7th & 8th Avenues)NYC TICKETS: $10 To purchase, email urbanstages@gmail.com or call 212-421-1380. Tickets are also available at the door. Running Time is 45 minutes, ages 3 + For More Info vsit www.heyyabrothers.com or www.urbanstages.org

August 2009 Clown & Comedy Course with Mick Barnfather (London)

Full details at http://www.mickbarnfather.com/workshops.php London workshop for August 2009 is Clown and Comedy (3rd - 7th August) Picture taken by Rebecca Hersh-Boyle Clown and Comedy This is a 5 day course. In this workshop I will be looking at what it is that makes us laugh and how we can be funny. It is not about big shoes, make up and squirty flowers. I will concentrate mainly on the clown and the pleasure to be ridiculous in the space. The clown moves from one flop to the next always happy and optimistic to be playing before an audience. There are many confusions and disasters in a clown show but there are never any doubts. The clown is joyful, playful, mischievous and full of fantasy. I will also be looking at other catalysts for comedy during this workshop such as status games, parody and improvisation. Nothing in this workshop is related to a style but very much looking to find what is uniquely funny about each person and how they can make that accessible to an audience. Workshops will aim to be energetic and very playful. Participants will be encouraged to have fun and pleasure and use this as a starting point. In my opinion when people have fun and play instinctively it is then that they start to play the fool, tell stories, joke and discover their creativity. Accommodation: Although I do not provide accommodation I do sometimes hear of places to rent. I also know of a cheap hostel which was recommended by a former student. Please contact me if you would wish to do the workshop(s) and would like details. Venue: Clown and Comedy - The Gallery, Edwards Lane, N16 (off Stoke Newington Church Street, behind the Library) This is very close to where Albion Road meets Stoke Newington Church St. Directions: By Bus 393 from Highbury and Islington Tube Station (15 minutes), and 73 and 476 from Angel (also 15 minutes) Hours: Clown 10-5pm, Mondays to Fridays Cost: Clown £180 (Concessions £150) (these prices are less than previous, on account of the recession) Deposits: Clown - £80 80% refundable up to two weeks before the workshop. 50% up to one week before the workshop.

MOVE IT- Free Physical Theatre March 19 at HERE (NYC)

MOVE IT! – a free evening of Physical and Visual Theatre Parallel Exit, New York City’s award-winning physical theatre company, offers audiences a free opportunity to see some of New York’s most exciting physical and visual theatre artists in MOVE IT! Featuring brand new physical theatre from Parallel Exit’s Joel Jeske, Mike Dobson, and Spencer Novich, dance-theatre from The Chase Brock Experience, clowning from Ishah Jannsen-Faith, and juggling from World Champion juggler Tony Duncan, MOVE IT! is presented at HERE Arts Center on Thursday March 19th at 8:30pm. Parallel Exit launched MOVE IT! in the fall of 2006 in order to support and promote the work of quality physical theatre artists and companies in New York City. This performance series appears throughout the year to invite audiences to experience the diversity and excitement of physical and visual theatre artists working in dance-theatre, mime, puppetry, clown, and circus. MOVE IT! Thursday March 19, 8:30pm, FREE HERE Arts Center 145 6th Ave. (between Spring & Broome, enter on Dominick), Subway: C, E, 6 to Spring St. For Tickets & Information: www.here.org 212-352-3101 This production is being presented through HERE’s Supported Artist Program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical and administrative support. To find out more about Parallel Exit, the producer of the program, visit their website listed below: http://www.parallelexit.net/ To find out more about some of the other artists, click on their names below: Parallel Exit’s Joel Jeske, Mike Dobson, and Spencer Novich The Chase Brock Experience Ishah Jannsen-Faith Tony Duncan

ClownLab show- Feb 13, 14 (NY)

Jef Johnson is a principal clown in the international touring company of Slava’s Snowshow. As Clown, he has also toured with Cirque du Soleil. Jef has more than 20 years of experience working in a wide range of physical styles. His approach is rooted in subjective expression, physical expression of condition through impulse and reflex. He has studied corporeal expression from disciples of Grotowski, Suzuki, Marceau, Decroux, Lecoq, Meyerhold, M. Chekhov, Vakhtangov. He teaches a Clown Lab in NY on a fairly regular basis. The product, or clinical trial, as he prefers to call it, of one of those Clown Labs will be coming up on Feb 13 & 14. I haven't studied with him, so can't really say what his teaching style is like. His website and (clown journal) was a bit too impenetrable for me to figure out exactly what he is all about. With most things like this, the best way to figure out if you want to study with him is to go see some of his work. Here are the details to check it out for yourself. Clownical Trials In situ modulation using perception action coupling and combined object vectors. THEATERLAB 137 West 14th Street New York, NY February 12-13 at 8 pm $10.00 Reservations: 212-929-2545 Featuring: Golan, Kathie Horejsi, Julie Josephson, Michaela Lind, Andrew Valins Jef Johnson's CLOWN LAB is dedicated to the exploration of the mechanisms underlying the nature of clown through behavior, experience and creative association. This is a clinical trial. Real humans will be used. To find out more about Jef's work, visit his website listed below: http://www.nyclown.com

Classes with Michael Trautman in Maine

Beginning January 27 2009, Michael Trautman will be teaching ongoing classes for children and for adults at Breakwater School. Mr. Trautman will offer the following courses on Tuesdays after school: CLOWN SKILLS FOR KIDS - Ages 8 to 12. 3:30 to 4:30. Slapstick, juggling, magic, balancing, and more! PHYSICAL CHARACTERS AND PHYSICAL COMEDY - Ages 12 to 16. 4:30 to 5:30. Mime, movement, creation of character through movement, and study of elements of physical comedy. MIKERCISE! - Adults. 5:30 to 6:30. Michael leads a vigorous class in movement that will give you a whole body workout. Drawing on over thirty years of physical training and experience students will find out exactly "How does he do all that?" Classes are ongoing. Students may join the class at any date. Class fee is $15 per week. Classes are held in the Jesse Building at Breakwater School, 856 Brighton Ave., Portland, Maine Call 207.450.5342 for information or registration, or contact Michael at info@michaeltrautman.com

News: Clowns Face Ban on Playing Trumpets

In England, Clowns have been silenced by a council which has banned them from playing their trumpets at Zippo's Circus. The circus said it was told by council officials that the show could not go on unless the clowns dropped the musical part of their act. The circus, which is currently performing in Birmingham, fell foul of the Licensing Act 2003 which forbids the playing of live music without a licence. A spokesman for the circus said that Birmingham City Council officials warned the show was breaking the law and would be shut down unless it complied. But proprietor Martin Burton said that applying for a licence was time consuming and expensive, and called for circuses to be exempt. Mr Burton said: "I'm a big fan of silent comedy but this is nonsense. "Live music is an essential part of traditional clowning, and for us to be told that they can't play instruments, even in the three minutes of the show which features trumpets, is laughable." Peter Luff, Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire, said: "When the law silences the clowns, one wonders who the clowns really are. "It would be very funny if it wasn't so serious for circuses. "For a long time now, the Government has admitted the legislation is having a disproportionate effect on circuses. It's time for them to act and sort out this mess."

Goofs & Bongar at the Flea August 7-9

Michael Bongar, former Ringling clown, graduate of clown college and now one of the most well-versed and influential of the variety bookers in the NY Area, is coming out of retirement for one set of shows as part of a NY Goofs reunion night at the Flea Theatre. Billed as his "Farewell Tour", I'm sure there will be lots of ribbing, poking fun, and that old-fashioned stuff... Oh yeah, comedy. Other Goofs will also be performing, including Dick Monday, Tiffany Riley, Hilary Chaplain, Mark Gindeck, Watson Kawecki, Joel Jeske, Evelyn Tuths, Michael Preston, Larry Pisoni, Mike Smith, Jay Stewart, Therese Schorn, Kim Winslow AUGUST 7, 8 & 9 7 PM $20 Tickets - 212-352-3101 The Flea Theatre 41 White St New York, NY 10013 (212) 226-0051 or visit www.theflea.org

Bindlestiffs Reality Show on the web

Add another show to your summer web watching schedule. The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has a new reality show that is being broadcast on the web. Each week will feature a mini-sode that is a different aspect of working with the Bindlestiffs-- booking, rehearsing, performing, touring. The trailers look like they are taken from all over the last 10 years or so (or at least incorporate footage from that time period.) The whole thing is supposed to start on 8/1/08, but there's some pretty good footage/trailers up on the site now. Here are some screengrabs from the trailers. For more information or to watch the show, visit the websites listed below: WEBISODES: http://www.thebindlestiffs.com WEBSITE/INFO: http://www.bindlestiff.org

Authentic Dynamics Workshop: Momentum & Change (NY)

Authentic Dynamics: momentum and change for actors and clowns Join Under the Table's Matt Chapman on Saturday, July 5 in Brooklyn for a unique physical investigation of the dynamics of the performer This world works on certain undeniable dynamics. To perform with authenticity, the actor must have the ability to identify and navigate them. In this workshop, a few fundamentals of the stage will be explored, including johakyu ( beginning/middle/end, or how things grow, break, and resolve), minimum-to-maximum, evolution, and the rhythms of comedy. W This workshop is appropriate for actors, clowns, and directors of all levels. Learn to see human action and comedy onstage more clearly. Dress to move and bring water. When: Saturday, July 5, 2008. 1-6:30 pm Where: Triskelion Arts: 118 N. 11th St, 3rd Floor. (L to Bedford, Williamsburg, Brooklyn) Cost: $75 (Limited scholarships are available) To register, reply by email. Payment holds your slot. us@underthetabletheatre.org Note: Class size is limited. If it gets filled up, they'll add a repeat section on Sunday the 6th, so if you're interested in that, let Matt know quickly. __________________________________________________________ Matt Chapman is a performer, director, and teacher of physical theatre and clown. He is Artistic Director of Brooklyn's Under the Table, a physical theatre ensemble. He also tours as an actor with Dell'Arte International (California). In the US, Matt has taught Clown and Improvisation as adjunct faculty at Marymount Manhattan College and Manhattanville College in New York, and has taught workshops at New York University, Vassar College, Sarah Lawrence College, Towson University, Luther College, the University of Iowa, the University of North Dakota, the New York Fringe Festival, and the Carolinian Shakespeare Festival, as well as working in public schools and with the mentally ill in New York care facilities. He has served as an assistant to Ronlin Foreman, Clown master and Director of Pedagogy at Dell'Arte International. Matt teaches abroad as well; his workshops in the last year have included South Africa, Denmark, the Netherlands, and England. This past winter and spring, Matt directed "Circus Life," a contemporary circus work about HIV/AIDS in Durban, South Africa, toured the US teaching workshops for Dell'Arte International through the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and taught Clown workshops in Denmark with the other members of Under the Table while on tour there. He attended the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas. To find out more about Matt's work, please visit the websites listed below: http://www.underthetabletheatre.org http://www.clownnosefactory.com

Kirk Marsh

Kirk Marsh is a clown and entertainer that has been described as an amalgamation of Charlie Chaplin, Jerry Lewis, and Dick Van Dyke rolled into one. His shows feature magic, juggling, eccentric dance,and oddball audience participation routines. His performances portray a man at odds with his life and his props. Kirk is a graduate of Ringling Brothers Clown College. Part klutz, part consummate entertainer, Kirk's shows and acts have delighted and amazed audiences around the world, from Las Vegas casinos to the world's largest cruise ships. Some of his employers have included Disney, Ringling, 3M, IBM, The RIO casino in Las Vegas, and Caribbean Cruise lines. He recently had a very successful performance at the International Circus Festival of Albacete, Spain. To find out more about Kirk, visit his website listed below: http://www.kirkmarsh.com

BAMBOUK show in NY starting April 16

Bambouk brings their Vaudeville-inspired silent comedy to NY for a limited run from April 16-27. Bambouk is the creation of two American theatre clowns, Matthew Duncan and Brian Foley. Matthew and Brian juggle plates, flip hats, ride a sixfoot unicycle, play the accordion, ukulele and musical saw, even make an audience member float in mid-air! They wear no makeup, just red noses and tuxedos. BAMBOUK has opened for the Drifters, the Platters and Charo, and shared the stage with award-winning circus artists from the Moscow Circus, Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil. Together and individually they have been the featured physical comedians in stage productions, ice shows, cruise ships and theme parks since 1990. BAMBOUK has been seen multiple times in China, Japan, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and throughout the contintental U.S. BAMBOUK Bald Comedy. In Tails. WHEN: Opens April 16 - April 27, 2008 WHERE: American Theatre of Actors located at 314 West 54th Street, 2nd Floor SCHEDULE: Tuesday-Friday at 8pm; Saturday 2pm and 8pm; Sunday 2pm and 7pm PRICE: Tickets are $30 for Adults, $20 for Children aged 8 to 13 OTHER NOTES: Not suitable for children under 8. Recommended for Adults. Call SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com Running time is 1 hour, 45 minutes with one intermission More information: http://www.bambouk.com/

Clowns Talk about Clowning- YouTube Videos

Jim Moore, the variety arts photographer who has probably photographed more clowns than anybody in the history of photography, has been doing something new-- he's been videotaping clowns. If you check out his YouTube videos (URL below), he's putting up interviews with performers as they talk about their work, how they create their work, and even why they create their work. Jim's got tons of archival stuff, so who knows what else he's got in his archives. Recently he posted an interview with Keith Nelson of the Bindlestiff's, and he's also got David Engel and Hilary Chaplain talking about creating a new act for David's character El Magnifico. HILARY CHAPLAIN & DAVID ENGEL VIDEO I suggest subscribing to his YouTube feed on the page, or checking in there pretty often to see what rare and interesting material he surfaces. He'll also be interviewing somebody from the NY Downtown Clown Revue every month, where he remains the official staff photographer) (And speaking of subscribing, thanks to the ever more efficient Pat Cashin of Clownalley.net for the link to Keith's interview. I knew Jim was putting these videos together, but didn't think to mention them until I saw Pat's post. He beats me to the punch a lot in posting stuff.) If you are not RSS'ing Clownalley.net, you should be! Jim's Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=jm5star&p=r Pat Cashin's Clown Alley: www.clownalley.net

Safety Last, with Ben Model Riverdale, NY 1/26

Safety Last with Ben Model Yes, it's Harold Lloyd in his iconic climb up the side of the 12-story Bolton Building, accompanied live by Ben Model, a silent film historian and accompanist for the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 1997 he founded "The Silent Clowns Film Series" with film historian Bruce Lawton. Ben composes all his own scores, and performs in a style that is both evocative of the silent era and also aware of a contemporary (and younger) audience's awareness of music and film scoring. Ben composes and improvises all his own scores, and performs in a style that is both evocative of the silent era and also aware of a contemporary (and younger) audience's awareness of music and film scoring. After each movie - come upstairs to our candle-lit cafe and enjoy complementary coffee, wine, and sweets before you go home for the evening. Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 8:00 PM Neuwirth Theatre 5625 Arlington Avenue Bronx, NY 10471 Map & Directions TICKETS ARE $12 and available online: http://www.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=121438

Jim Moore Photo Exhibition of the Twin Towers Tightrope Walk

In 1974, mime and photographer Jim Moore became the right-hand-man for aerialist Philippe Petit during the secret preparations and daring guerilla tightrope walk between the two World Trade Center Towers. Thirty three years later, Jim is presenting his photographs of the event in oversized 50" x 35" Iris prints, including shots titled On the edge of the abyss, A Helicopter's View, 110 floors, and more. The shots reveal the inner workings of the audacious preparations, including climbing and rigging of the World Trade Towers, all done in complete secrecy. The exhibit will run October 16- November 4 at the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, 315 Columbia St, Red Hook, Brooklyn. An opening reception is planned for Wednesday October 17 from 6-9 pm. There is no word yet if there will be a commemorative tightrope walk at the reception. For more information about the tightrope walk, visit the wikipedia article on the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Petit

The Midnight Circus

The Midnight Circus started as a collaboration between circus clown Jeffrey Jenkins and actress Julie Greenberg. They combined their talents to create a 5 minute eccentric acrobatic act to be featured with Vermont's Circus Smirkus. While on tour with the show, they apprenticed themselves to two former stars of The Moscow Circus. In between shows and practice, they would all sit over a cup of tea (or a more than occasional vodka!) and share aspirations and ideas for the future of performance. It was in that backlot that the seeds were planted for The Midnight Circus. In 1997, having returned to Chicago, they created a show called The Midnight Circus: When Circus and Theatre Collide, which was what happened when a Shakespearean troupe and a Circus troupe end up sharing the same performance stage, and what happens when they mix. That show got great reviews and ending up running in various incarnations for the next year. Later that show was licensed by the Big Apple Circus, which took it on tour to large theatres across the United States. Since that time Jeff and Julie have served as artistic directors for Circus Smirkus, have created many other shows in the Chicago area, including a tented show called The Big Bang and Other Amazing Adventures! which played in a tent on Chicago's Museum campus for three months, and an annual Haunted Hijinx show in Daley Plaza, which combines the theme of haunted house and circus arts. They also work with many of the other Chicago Theatres, performing and directing. In addition to this work they tour the cruise ship circuit, create shows for corporations, and have collaborated on another front: they have a child together. The Midnight Circus also has had at one time or another training opportunities and performance opportunities for most of Chicago's clowns at one time or another. Next up for the Midnight Circus is a weekend of performances in Chicago's Welles' Park Four shows Sept 29-30. Shows are at 3:30 and 6:30 pm. Tickets are $10 each (children under 2 are free) To find out more about the Midnight Circus, please visit their website listed below: http://www.midnightcircus.net

Au Revoir, M. Marceau

Marcel Marceau died yesterday, and the world is a sadder place for it. The only real response to Marceau dying can be this " ! " He was a true master of his work, and he popularized (and romanticized) the work of mime to an unbelievable degree. there's no question that nearly every clown or mime performing in the world owes something to Marceau. And every mime-bashing joke also owes Marceau too. He didn't invent mime (he was a student of Etienne Decroux, widely considered to be the father of modern mime), but he turned it into something that has become part of our national zeitgeist. Everybody has a feeling about mimes (usually bad ones who were imitating the Master) I saw Marceau perform three times, and saw him teach once (he gave a demonstration at a master class that I was in.) Popped in unexpectedly. He demonstrated the Ages of Man (an exercise in which you start as a baby and transform into an old man slowly going through life) He was a fantastic performer and a generous teacher, and someone who did what he loved to do his entire life. I saw him last in the late 1990's, and he performed his computer dating bit, and while the material itself was dated, he was fantastic in it. He had real heart and soul, and the world is poorer (and strangely louder) because of him. BBC OBITUARY: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7009040.stm REUTERS OBIT: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-arts-marceau.html MARCEAU INTERVIEW (CSM): http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0923/p25s01-almp.html INFO ABOUT MARCEAU'S SCHOOL: http://www.mime.info/EIMP_help.html

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus

Since 1995 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has traveled the world, bringing its unique hybrid of vaudeville, circus, burlesque, and sideshow to theaters, clubs, colleges, and festivals. The company has produced innumerable cabaret shows, custom performances for special audiences, all-ages and family productions, and sophisticated adult shows. Over the last five years the company has begun developing more theatrical productions, including 2001's Buckaroo Bindlestiff's Wild West Gender Bender Jamboree, 2003's High Heels & Red Noses, and 2005's From the Gutter to the Glitter: A Night Out with the Bindlestiffs. In 2004 Bindlestiff instituted its annual children's performance program, the Cavalcade of Youth, in which young performers and technical staff (ages 8-20) have the opportunity to hone their skills with variety arts professionals. The Bindlestiff Family co-founders are Stephanie Monseu and Keith Nelson, who over the last decade have hosted a variety of outrageous talent under the Bindlestiff banner. Individually both Keith and Stephanie provide a vast array of talents, from public relations to booking to performing. Their personal dedication to the variety arts, circus, vaudeville, sideshow, and burlesque has made the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus famous both among audiences and within the variety performance community. From 2002 to 2004 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus operated the "last vaudeville house in Times Square." In conjunction with chashama, Bindlestiff opened Bindlestiff's Palace of Variety and the Free Museum of Times Square. The Palace presented up to five performances a day, presenting continuous vaudeville shows on 42nd Street and hosting nearly thirty other productions. [NOTE: During this time, I performed with the Bindlestiff's performing my flea circus on weekends, and working as the Outside Talker during night shows] The size of the Cirkus can range from two to sixteen performers, depending on the show. Over 200 performers from a multitude of disciplines have entertained Bindlestiff audiences across the country and around the world. Bindlestiff has brought its grand spectacle to hundreds of thousands from a live stage, and over a million through television. Dedicated fans come back again and again expecting the very best and most original acts working today. In 2006 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Magic Hat Summer Variety Show made its debut tour. Co-sponsored by Magic Hat Brewing Company, this production sought to bring circus to festivals and music stages up and down the East Coast. For the next two weeks, the Bindlestiffs will finish their 2007 Magic Hat Tour. The show currently features some of the Bindlestiff's best and brightest, including juggler and clown Adam Kuchler, funambulist Ariele Ebacher, cowboy extraordinaire A.J. Silver, organist Frederik Iversen, and of course Philomena Bindlestiff and Mr. Pennygaff (the founders of the show) To find out more about the Bindlestiffs, visit their website listed below, or call their Hotline. WEBSITE: http://www.bindlestiff.org HOTLINE: 1-877-BINDLES TOUR SCHEDULE: September 5 Tink's 519 Linden St Scranton, PA 18503 (570) 346-8465 http://www.clubtinks.com/index.php Showtime 9 September 6 The Chameleon 223 N. Water St. Lancaster, PA 17603 http://www.chameleonclub.net/ HOTLINE: 717.393.7133 Showtime: 9 Friday Sept 7th Zipper Factory 336 W. 37th Street NYC 10018 212-563-0480 http://www.thezipperfactory.com showtime 9pm September 8 - 9 Boston Tattoo Convention Boston Center for The Arts 539 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02116 http://www.bcaonline.org Doors at noon Saturday & Sunday Shows throughout the day September 10 The Lucky Dog Music Hall 89 Green St Worcester, MA 01604 508-363-1888 Start Time: 8:00 PM Sept 12 The Red Square 388 Broadway Albany, NY 12210 (518) 465-0444 www.redsquarealbany.com show 9pm September 13 Hops in the Square 100 East Genesee St Downtown Syracuse event begins at 5pm show 6pm-7pm September 14 The Rex Theater 1602 East Carson St Pittsburgh, PA venue phone 412-381-6811 http://www.elkoconcerts.com/rextheater.htm Show 8pm September 15 World Cafe Live 3025 Walnut Street Philadelphia PA http://www.worldcafelive.com/ tix and info 215 222-1400 Show 8:00 pm

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!

I'd like Fries with that... The Clown in Yonkers

This op/ed piece (titled appropriately, the clown in Yonkers) appeared in the Westchester Journal News. I felt like I needed to make some reference to it, as I am the clown in Yonkers! (although this particular editorial features a Red-headed clown who slings hamburgers (and a failed protest at the library) The clown in Yonkers (Original publication: August 25, 2007) It's always amusing when protesters against (pick your cause) are outnumbered by reporters, photographers and, in the case of the anti-McDonald's protest Tuesday in Yonkers, uniformed and plainclothes police. Warning of an attempt to "brainwash" children into becoming lifelong McDonald's customers, the Rev. Scott Pellegrino mounted what turned out to be a one-person protest of an appearance by mascot Ronald McDonald, who read to children and handed out "Happy Meal" coupons to kids who read five books as part of a summer library reading club. The Yonkers resident was easily outnumbered at Grinton I. Will Library by the 60 parents and children on hand to welcome the red-haired clown, whose employer sponsored the reading program. We are thankful there was no violence, as had been feared. Stephen Force, the library's director, requested a police presence and some half-dozen showed. "It was unclear from my communication with (Pellegrino prior to the visit) whether he intended to disrupt the program." Brilliant move. Had the ordained minister failed to comport himself, the kids no doubt would have been on him in a child-sized heartbeat; woe is the protester who stands between a 4-year-old and her "Happy Meal." And what was Pellegrino bringing to the table anyway? Carrots? Peas? Broccoli? Maybe some business about impressionable minds, high-fat diets, the epidemic in childhood obesity? These kids know who salts their french fries and pours their chocolate shakes. READ THE WHOLE EDITORIAL READ THE NEWS ARTICLE

NY Workshop with Mario Gonzalez

Master Commedia Dell'Arte Mask and Clown Teacher, Mario Gonzalez, former principal actor with Le Theatre Du Soleil and Master Mask Teacher at the Conservatoire National Superieur D'Art Dramatique in Paris, will teach two workshops in New York in the beginning of August. The workshops are designed for professional actors and other performers, yet are also appropriate and useful for teachers, directors, therapists, and others who work with the public. The class has three parts: 1) Le Choeur: (chorus) Working with the Neutral Mask. 2) Le Naissance (birth) Creation of characters using masks. 3) Improvisation: texts, songs, props, and interactions with other characters. Two workshop sessions are offered July 30-August 4, 2007 from 2-6 pm August 6-11, 2007 from 6-10 pm at the Access Theatre, 380 Broadway (2 blocks south of Canal St) Cost $450 for each workshop Classes limited to 12 students. Balance due first day of class. REGISTRATION & INFORMATION Contact Ariane Anthony: arianeanthony@yahoo.com (718) 349 - 0008; or visit http://www.maskandclown.com for more information. ABOUT MARIO GONZALEZ Mario Gonzalez, originally from Guatemala, trained in Central America as an actor and moved to France in the late 60s. He spent eight years as a member of Ariane Mnouchkine's Theatre du Soleil, performing acclaimed roles in her productions of LES CLOWNS, LA CUISINE, 1789, and L'AGE D'OR. He also appeared in her films MOLIERE and 1789. With the passion for commedia dell'arte he developed while working with Mnouchkine, he has created his own pedagogy in neutral and commedia mask and clown. He is considered the leading expert in these disciplines in France. Since 1980, Mario Gonzalez has been the Master Mask and Clown teacher at the Conservatoire National Superieur d'Art Dramatique in Paris, France's national theatre school. At the Conservatoire he has trained some of the most important names in French theatre and film. Mario has given workshops at theatre conservatories throughout the world, including Canada, Japan, South Korea, Iran and many countries in Europe, Scandinavia, and Latin America. As a director, he has mounted nearly a hundred productions around the world.

Sue Morrison

Sue Morrison has been teaching, directing and collaborating on Clown and Bouffon across the globe for more than 20 years. Her students are currently featured in Cirque du Soleil, Slava's Snow Show, Blue Man Group, Second City and on other international stages. Sue trained with Second City and Keith Johnstone and performed improvisation throughout Canada and later became a Second City main stage writer/performer. On a 'quest to work from her heart', she met Clown through Mask visionary Richard Pochinko, and after working with him for many years, he asked her to be his apprentice. Today, Morrison's unique and powerful work brings together the diverse elements of Native American and European Clowning, Bouffon, le Jeu, and Improvisation, ultimately creating dynamic performance spectacles. Sue has been Artistic Director of the Theatre Resouce Centre since 1993. She has taught at the Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre, and works regularly with the LUME company of Brazil. During the past 3 years, she has been a presenter at International Theatre Conferences in Brazil and Argentina. The Bravo Arts Channel aired Burnt Tongue, directed and co-written by Morrison and her work has been the focus of several international documentaries. Sue collaborated on Absence of Magic, which was acclaimed by Time Out NY and the Village Voice. Other recent works in NYC include John Brown theatre's, The Bastard American Show, and creator of the popular bouffon, Red Bastard. Sue regularly teaches workshops in Toronto, London, and the US. To find out more about her work, please visit her website listed below: http://canadianclowning.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.

Mark Jaster

Mark Jaster is a clown and mime based in the Washington, D.C. area. The Washington Post has called Mark Jaster a "clown extraordinaire and one of the most graceful performers you will ever see on a stage." Mark's skills in mime were developed in training with 20th-century masters Marcel Marceau and his teacher, E. Decroux, along with careful observation of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harpo Marx. Mark served as teaching assistant to Mr. Marceau in a series of seminars in Michigan, and he teaches frequently in Artist residencies, theatres, and dance programs. Mark has three solo performances that he tours: Piccolo's Trunk, A Fool Named 'O', and The Maestro. In all of them, Mark combines live music, unusual instruments, outrageous acrobatics, and hyper-advanced communication skills all together in a performance that erases the bad feelings that most people have when they conjure up the word "Mime." Mark recently created a new show with his wife and partner, Sabrina Mandell, The Seven Ages of Mime, which had a sold-out run at the Round House Theatre in Silver Spring, MD. Mark is a regular as Herr Drosselmeyer in the Maryland Youth Ballet's Holiday Nutcracker, and has appeared frequently with the Washington Revels and on the stage of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Mark is a proud member of The Big Apple Circus' Clown Care Program, performing at the Children's National Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University Hospital. To find out more about Mark's work, please visit his website listed below: http://www.markjaster.com

Malcom Garey: The Frog Jumper

I read an article about Malcolm Garey, the Frog Jumper, and thought that I had to make a post about him (being a flea circus guy myself, I feel a strange kin to others who take on the strange and mysterious arts. Malcolm Garey is a 63 year old showman who started his frog-jumping business in 1982. He is based in Florida, and tours primarily to state fairs and festivals across the United States. Garey travels with about two dozen male bullfrogs along with his mascot "Peewee" a five pound bufo marinas toad from Surinam. Each frog has a life expectancy of about 6 years. (in the wild they would last around 2) At each festival, Garey chooses contestants from the crowd, ages 2 to 80 to be frog jockeys. The frog jockey places the frog on the launching pad, and then doesn’t touch him again until the frog has jumped three times. The frog that jumps the farthest wins. Sometimes the frogs need a little (or a lot) of convincing to jump. "We cheat a lot," says Garey. The current world record for frog jumping is 21 feet, 5 and ¾ inches, set in 1986 by “Rosie the Ribbiter,” entered by Lee Guidici of Santa Clara, Calif. Garey doubts that any of his current frogs are capable of jumping that distance. But hey, you never know. Malcolm Garey doesn't seem to have a website. You can read the article I read at the Detroit Free Press. Thanks also to Jackofalldays.com for their article about Garey that filled in some of the holes.

Mad Science®

Mad Science® is the world’s leading science enrichment provider. They deliver entertaining educational hands-on science experiences for children in every North American market and in 19 countries worldwide. Mad Science was founded in 1986 by two brothers from Montreal, Ariel and Ron Shlien. They started at a local YMCA with a 300 dollar laser, and built up a very successful birthday party business in the Montreal area. They soon expanded into educational programs, and even providing edu-tainment for cruise ships. In 1995, the brothers decided to franchise their work and spread it out across the United States. There are now over 90 franchisees of Mad Science shows, and they have created a global brand that includes books and other products. Mad Science has over 6 shows that tour nationally, and dozens of other educational shows that their franchisees can choose to present, including birthday party shows, school assembly shows, and other types of interactive performance and educational experiences. In addition, Mad Science custom designs exhibits for museums, amusement parks, and other educational institutions. Their franchisee model is (to my knowledge) unique in the clown educational market. To find out more about Mad Science, please visit their website listed below: http://www.madscience.com/

Mandy Dalton

Mandy Dalton is an actress and clown based in Glen Burnie, Maryland. She develops comical and whimsical characters for all sorts of special events. Her characters can fit into nearly any theme. She can even design a character especially for your occasion. Her circus skills--juggling, stilt-walking, unicycling, magic--mesmerize audiences. In addition to strolling entertainment, Mandy has 30 and 45 minute presentations available. For family audiences, she presents Mandy the Clown For more sophisticated crowds, She does a standup routine as Madame Olga the psychic. And she has created a number of different characters for corporate events, including a bumbling waitress to sell cleaning supplies, a mermaid to sell hot tubs, and a stilt-walking Statue of Liberty to sell raffle tickets for a trip to New York. Mandy also has a 30 minute educational show titled ‘Kid Fit! with Mandy.’ Her show helps kids 5-12 learn better health habits, like exercising and eating right. To find out more about Mandy's work, please visit her website: http://www.mandydalton.com

Matthew Pauli

Matthew Pauli is a 1991 graduate of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and has been clowning ever since. He appears regularly at corporate events, street festivals, fairs and picnics and in his stage shows. His work as a clown has taken him around the U.S. and as far as Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Since 1999, he has been proud to be part of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Program, performing at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, MD. In addition to performing as a clown, Mathew is an accomplished puppeteer and actor. He performed with Beale Street Puppets for five years, built a life size rhino for Circus Millenia, and has built severaly Audrey puppets for the musical Little Shop of Horrors. Matthew is currently with the Big Apple Circus, sharing the role of Grandma with her creator and International Clown Hall of Fame inductee Barry Lubin. To find out more about Mathew's work, please visit his website listed below: http://www.matthewpauli.net/

The Maestrosities

The Maestrosities are a clown cover band based in New York. The Maestrosities feature (from left to right) Gina Samardge as Gina on the accordion, Jenny Lee Mitchell as Dierdre on Clarinet and Operatic vocals, David Gochfeld as "The Maestro" on ukelele, vocals, and attitude, Glen Heroy as Glen on vocals and spoons, Andy Sapora as Chauncey on Tuba and Tuba, and Rod Kimball as Rod on trumpet (not pictured). The band grew together as the musical elements of the clown play My Funny Valentine. They added a few performers, replaced some others due to other commitments, and started to rehearse in earnest. In April 2007, they performed at a local festival and have had great success since then. Constantly adding new songs, The Maestrosities are excited to also expand their character and clown work into a full stage play during the coming months. When not touring the world and playing to sold out concerts, The Maestrosities also do birthday parties. If the price is right. To find out more about the Maestrosities, visit their website or myspace page (listed below) http://www.maestrosities.com http://myspace.com/maestrosities

Michael Rosman

Michael Rosman is a comedy juggler and entertainer. He has been performing for over 20 years and is one of the most respected and sought after performers on the east coast. He has performed all over the world, including stints in Japan, Singapore, Atlantic City, Reno and Las Vegas. He has performed on more than 25 different major cruise ships and at over 100 colleges and universities. He has also performed on the David Letterman show, where both Dave and Paul decided that he was "something." Michael is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a degree in finance, and is also a graduate of Ringling Clown College. He is a two-time winner of the prestigious Maryland State Individual Artist Grant Award for excellence in the arts. In addition to his work as a performer, Michael has done a lot of organizational and consulting work. He is one of the organizers for the Harborplace street performances in Baltimore, Maryland. He is also the founder and director of the Laughter Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization that produces the national variety arts professional development conferences MotionFest and MiniFest. To find out more about Michael's work visit his website listed below: http://www.michaelrosman.com/

"Marvelous Marvin" Novogrodski

Marvin Novogrodski has been a performer and entertainer for over 20 years. He spent over 15 years with the Everett Dance Theatre, a group based in Providence 'RI that mixes modern dance, circus arts, wrestling, ballet, and storytelling techniques to create original movement pieces that have been featured around the country. Marvin has also performed as an actor in plays, and as Marvelous Marvin has entertained thousands with a number of solo school science shows that incorporate juggling, comedy, dance, magic, and science, with the unique property that all of his school shows are written in verse. School shows include "How The Body Works" and "The Magic of Science" Marvin recently relocated to the NY/NJ area. To find out more about Marvin's work, please visit his website listed below: http://www.marvmarv.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.

Michael Lane Trautman

Michael Lane Trautman is an accomplished mime, an inventive juggler, and physical comedian/clown that has been performing since 1976. He has appeared at such venues as The New York International Festival of Clown Theatre, the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, to name a few. Michael trained under the tutelage of French mime Jacques Lecoq, and American mime Tony Montanaro. He has been an artist in residence at Mabou Mines Theater Company in NY, a director and teacher at Catholic University in Washington, DC, and a staple of the International Children's Theatre Festival circuit. In 1999-2000, Michael headlined the Big Apple Circus Stage Show that toured throughout the country. Michael currently has four shows that tour, each one designed for different markets, audiences, and venues: THE STOOGE - A Troubled Clown For Troubled Times is a fully staged clown-theater play. Appropriate for theaters and theater festivals. MY MISSPENT YOUTH is his solo variety show for theaters and schools. VISUAL COMEDY is his solo "stand-up-clown" show, which is appropriate for fairs, festivals, corporate and trade shows. WHAT'S THAT NOISE? is a sound effects show, intended for theaters and schools. Michael lives in Portland Maine with his wife Judy,an accomplished set designer. He has recently started a School of Physical Theatre in Portland. To find out more about Michael's work, please visit his website: WEBSITE: http://www.solotheater.com