Pochinko workshop in Brooklyn 3/21-4/22/10

WORKSHOP Character Mask to Clown With Deborah Kaufmann Inspired by the teachings of Richard Pochinko, Canadian clown master teacher "If we face the six directions of self, we can't help but laugh at the beauty  and ridiculousness of all that we are." -- Richard Pochinko This investigation is an inspiring way for the artist to make direct connection to aspects of his/her true self. In the spirit of physical discovery and playfulness we will visit our childhood room, experience a bittersweet goodbye, and find the personal meaning in the colors of the rainbow.  Then we will each make six masks: North, West, South, East, Above and Below. We will connect to and physicalize each direction and then create a clay mask. The masks are explored and a character is developed for each one. All six characters are combined to create a persona that is unique, with a deeply personal mythology and imagined environment that can be used for exploration and the development of new material.  For artists in all disciplines and the seriously curious. March 21 through April 22, 2010 (First Day of Spring to Earth Day). Sundays and Thursdays; 5 weeks March 21 3-8 pm, Then Thursdays, 6-9 pm, Sundays, 4-7 pm $500.00, Scholarship available Maximum 12 Students Brooklyn Studio Deborah Kaufmann has performed and taught Clown and Hospital Clowning in the US, and around the world. She has been the National Creative and Educational Coordinator of Big Apple Circus Clown Care since 1994. In that capacity she trains, coaches and directs, as she oversees the artistic quality and growth of more than 80 unique “clown doctors.”  Of her 2006 performance at the New York Clown Theatre Festival,  nytheatre.com said, “this performance gleams most brightly, with true mischief and solid will operating unfettered at maximum strength.”     http://www.tooshorttofallover.com “It's a dream to find a teacher who combines a sharp directorial eye,  intuition as a clown, and a deep knowledge of techniques and material.                   --Tanya Solomon, clown and burlesque performer  The supportive way in which Deborah taught really resonated for me.”                --- an Australian Student  CONTACT: debdib@verizon.net             www.tooshorttofallover.com

Gilkey- Pitt- Donlon - 2 performances in San Francisco in July.

Any one of these guys would be a treat to see. All three is just the icing on the cake on the ice cream. If you are in the San Francisco area, don't miss it! The FLYING ACTOR STUDIO is an international center that celebrates the imagination and invites a profound journey into the very heart of life. In Spring 2008, James Donlon, after a 40 year international teaching and performance career, was inspired to create a physical theater school in San Francisco, building on the rich history of clowning, mime, and circus that had flourished in the city for decades. Donlon invited fellow master teacher Leonard Pitt to share this vision, and together in 2009 they founded the FLYING ACTOR STUDIO, one of the few centers in North America where one can study physical theater. In the '70's both Donlon and Pitt operated nationally known movement theater schools in San Francisco and Berkeley, as part of a vanguard of artists that included Robert Shields, Geoff Hoyle, Bill Irwin, and The Pickle Family Circus. Now Donlon and Pitt continue. THE SHOW: To celebrate, master performers John Gilkey, Leonard Pitt, and James Donlon will perform a gala kickoff piece called ‘The Zany and the Surreal’ Two performances only July 18, 5pm & July 19, 3 pm at the EXIT Theatre in San Francisco. The Show Gilkey, Pitt and Donlon bring their individual "greatest hits” to the main stage of the EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy St., San Francisco for two performances only, July 18, 5pm, and July 19, 3 pm. The Saturday (July 18th) show is followed by an 8pm to 11pm Gala at the new Flying Actor Studio, 40 First St. between Market and Mission, celebrating the launch of their new school dedicated to physical theatre and movement for actors. ABOUT THE PERFORMERS: John Gilkey has played a lead role in three Cirque Du Soleil productions; Quidam, Dralion and Varekai - more than any other performer. For each of these shows he developed and performed totally original characters and routines. With Cirque Du Soleil alone John has performed live for more than three million people. He also directed and performed in the clown troupe in Franco Dragone’s spectacular water show, Le Reve, in Las Vegas. Additionally, John has performed internationally for more than twenty-nine years in circus, variety, comedy clubs, theater and television. John Gilkey's innovative routine with a coat rack is widely recognized as a landmark juggling act of the contemporary circus movement. WEBSITE: http://www.johngilkey.com/ James Donlon has been a celebrated international performer and master teacher of Physical Theatre for 40 years, presenting his original works throughout North America, Europe, and Latin America to critical acclaim. James is the only physical theater artist ever invited to perform with legendary San Francisco street mime Robert Shields of CBS' The Shields & Yarnell Show. He is the first American clown to perform in the famed Teatro Dimitri of Switzerland. James has created award-winning ensemble works for James Donlon & Company touring nationwide and in Mexico, and also directed productions in Ireland and the Czech Republic. He has been on the faculties of acting schools such as The American Conservatory Theater, The North Carolina School of the Arts, The National Theatre Conservatory-Denver Center, The Yale School of Drama, UCSB, and UCSD, and has presented residencies with special institutions like El Teatro Campesino, Mexico City 's Bellas Artes, Prague's national Academy of Performing Arts (AMU), Dublin's Gaiety School of Acting, and Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown College where he taught Tony Award-winner Bill Irwin. He has been a film movement coach for Oscar-winners Javier Bardem, Kathy Bates, and Frances McDormand, as well as Benjamin Bratt and David Strathairn. To find out more about James Donlon's work, visit http://flyingactorstudio.com/flyingactorstudio/James_History.html Leonard Pitt has been performing and teaching for over forty years. In 1963 he traveled to Paris to study mime with Etienne Decroux, later becoming his assistant for two years. In 1970 he opened a school of physical theatre in Berkeley CA, attracting students from around the world. He has studied mask theater and carving in Bali and performed with the Balinese in their villages and temple festivals. He has presented his work internationally including England, Spain, Holland, Russia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Australia. He was a founding member of George Coates Performance Works, has received Chicago's Actor of the Year Award for his solo work, and was movement consultant for Jurassic Park and motion-capture specialist for the films Dragonheart and Three Wishes. In 1986 Leonard co-founded Life On The Water, a contemporary performance space at Fort Mason, San Francisco. He has written several books, one of which, Walks Through Lost Paris, has become a bestseller in France. The Leonard Pitt Website: www.leonardpitt.com To purchase tickets to the show, visit http://flyingactorstudio.com/flyingactorstudio/Show.html To find out more about the school, visit the website http://www.flyingactorstudio.com.

NY Saw Festival, July 18 Queens

Natalia Paruz, also known as "The Saw Lady" has spent the last 10 years bringing the art of the musical saw to audiences high and low. She is a NYC subway musician that has performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta, at Carnegie Hall, at Madison Square Garden, and at numerous other events, including the Spoleto Festival, Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, and on film, radio, and television. Natalia has received citations of honor from the New York City Council, the New York State Senate and a medal of honor from Paris, France. She's been featured in the "Best of" of numerous magazines, and people love to write about her work. I think it's no stretch of the imagination to say that she is one of the pre-eminent Musical Saw Players in the world. She is putting together the world's largest convocation of Musical Saw Performers on Saturday July 18 in an attempt to break a Guinness world record for largest Musical Saw Ensemble. If you want to find out more, visit http://www.musicalsawfestival.org. If you'd like to find out more about Natalia, (including listening to some samples of her music, you can visit her website and/or blog, listed below. WEBSITE: http://sawlady.com BLOG: http://sawlady.com/blog/ Natalia has created a special webpage on her site about Musical Saw playing clowns which it would behoove you to check out: http://www.sawlady.com/Clowns.htm

Parallel Exit Goes Broadway!- Literally!

Well, don't say that doing a preview show won't get you anywhere. In November, Parallel Exit previewed their tap show TIME STEP at the Joyce Theatre. It got great reviews on a limited four day run, and more than likely they broke even or lost a little money on that venture. However, people saw it, and the gods smiled, and a little something called SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE? raised the profile of one of the dancers (the fabulous Ryan Kasprzak, who didn't make the show (cut at the last minute for his younger and equally talented dancer brother Evan) And now-- well, and now, they've got a slot at the New Victory Theatre come April! Mucho congrats to the Parallel Exit crew for this coup, and hopefully this is the start of a much deserved round of recognition for their work. More about Parallel Exit below and at their website http://www.parallelexit.net A brand new kind of tap show! 3 aging hoofers reminisce about their glory years as they prepare for one final performance. Fresh, funny, and filled with visual magic, TIME STEP pushes tap in a new direction by conveying a story entirely through rhythm and choreography. Perfect for audiences of all ages! “It’s a reminder of how eloquently the body can speak and of how little it takes to create entertainment.” - The New York Times TIME STEP

Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting (DC in July)

Just got word that Dog and Pony DC (a company of female artists in DC) is putting on a show at the Capital Fringe in DC titled (you guessed it) Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting. Want to guess what the show features? :o) First off-- great title for a fringe show-- this is a show that is going to sell out pretty much guaranteed, regardless of the quality of the show. But it's more than that- it's got a great promise as a concept-- that we can look beyond the titties to see a fantastic show of women doing the Errol Flynn thing with virtuosity. I saw a French mime woman a number of years ago who performed topless so that you could better see the dazzling muscles and work that she was doing. After the first few minutes of "Wow- nice tits!" you stop looking at the lascivious and start looking at the work. Now, I'm not sure if there ever stops being a lascivious quality to it, and the first few minutes I was most DECIDELY not looking at the work, but I love the idea of it, and I love the promise of this show. I have been planning a trip to DC to see some friends, and now I'm going to try to coincide it with this show. Who knows, maybe there's some other great fringe to see too! And there's also a blog about creating the show: http://bbwsf2009.blogspot.com/ Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting is a vaudeville that unleashes the feminine mystique in a whirl of petticoats and a dazzling display of strength, swords, and skin. Behold brutal buxom beauties! Take in tantalizing ta-ta titans! Gaze longingly at the titillating, tangoing Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting! (And, yes, this contains strong language and nudity.) conceived & directed by Lorraine Ressegger Performance schedule: July 16 @ 9pm; July 17 @ 10:30pm; July 18 @ 10:30pm; July 19 @ 8pm; July 22 @ 8pm; July 23 @ 8pm; July 24 @ 10:30pm; July 25 @ 10:30pm; July 26 @ 6pm. Tickets: $15. On sale June 22 at dogandponydc.com and capitalfringe.org.

Rat Bastards (Tutti Stronzi) June 3-7 NY

This is a commedia piece by a very talented performer and writer Julia Pearlstein-- I first met Julia at a meeting of the RAT Conference in Los Angeles, where as part of a group, we had to create a show that performed an impossible task. My group's task was to sink the Los Angeles Theatre Center like the Titanic. Her groups task was to blow up the world as we knew it. My group ended up winning, but it was a very close call, and Julia's group was one of the best and most creative uses of the space I'd ever seen. She's since moved back to NY, has been seen socializing with a certain scholar and practitioner of the fine art of Vaudeville (and whose writings can be marvelled at over at the Travalanche ) I haven't seen this piece, but I highly recommend it. At Dixon Place June 3 - 7. www.dixonplace.org

All Will Learn to Wear Bowlers: Pig Iron Clown Workshop in NYC

PIG IRON THEATRE COMPANY presents A CLOWN WORKSHOP with Quinn Bauriedel and Geoff Sobelle in New York City WHEN: Wednesdays (June 10, 17, and 24) 2:30 - 5:30 PM WHERE: The Brecht Forum 451 West Street COST: $125 Pig Iron Artistic Director Quinn Bauriedel and Company Member Geoff Sobelle (creator of the international hit all wear bowlers) invite you to join them in an investigation of the world of the clown. What gets revealed when you stand alone in front of an audience? What pleasure can be found with the smallest mask in the world? In what discipline are you the world's leading expert? With little else than a red nose and the body that you inherited, the workshop will exploit each participant's unique sense of humor and way of uncovering the absurdity of being a human being on this planet. Take a leap into the unknown territory of your own lunacy. To register, contact Quinn Bauriedel at quinn@pigiron.org Pig Iron Theatre Company has been creating original performance works in Philadelphia since 1995, making plays about live music, dead people, neuroscience and thwarted love affairs through a unique method of collaborative creation and with a signature physical approach to character. Past collaborations have included work with the legendary director Joe Chaikin, playwright Adriano Shaplin, choreographer David Brick, and composer Cynthia Hopkins. Pig Iron's work has been seen at theaters and festivals in London, Edinburgh, San Francisco, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Romania and Peru. The company's original works have met with critical acclaim and awards, including a 2005 OBIE; most recently, Pig Iron's Chekhov Lizardbrain was hailed by The New York Times as one of the top 10 theatre events of 2008. In September 2009, Pig Iron will premiere Welcome to Yuba City, a comic exploration of the mythic American West, at the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. Find out more about their work at www.pigiron.org

Pat Cashin's clownalley.net is back up!

And although he lost all of his archives (at least as if this date) he's making up for lost time. He's published 27 posts since April 15. I'm lucky if I made 27 posts this year! I hereby award clownalley.net the Spy vs Spy Most Prolific Clown Blog Award. It comes with no cash prize, simply a "well, done, old chum. Well done." Delivered in a classic English accent. http://www.clownalley.net And completists, please note. The image above was the original spy vs. spy cartoon. This award does not have any connection or collaboration with the real spy vs. spy. Any resemblance is strictly coincidental. So now, let's hope those archives come back!

CLOWNALLEY SITE DOWN.

Perhaps some of you have noticed that one of the best clown sites-- Pat Cashin's Clownalley.net, has suddenly gone away. To be more accurate, the website is still there-- but all of the archives are gone It's not by design-- sadly, Pat Cashin, who has been working tirelessly on the site for the last three years, and had amassed easily over 3000 digital photographs, videos, and other ephemera about circus clowns throughout history, had an incident where he in error deleted his blog. So far Blogger (a Google-owned company where Pat did his amassing) has not responded to his pleas to restore his blog from the backup tape. This is a huge tragedy-- clownalley.net was a great service to clowns and clown historians across the world. In their defense, Blogger is a free service, and people are supposed to use it at their own risk, and they do provide a backup or export capability, but sadly Pat never used it. (this blog also uses blogger, and I do backup on a semi-regular basis (although I'll be doing it more often) There is still a chance that Blogger will respond to Pat's pleas. Cross your fingers, and hope for the best (and if you know anyone at tech support for blogger at google, maybe you could put in a good word or two?) And in the meantime, let's hope that despite this tragedy, Pat will continue to work his special magic to make clown geeks like us happy.

Doing the math of being a clown.

a Princeton University math major who has also been studying clowning. Here's a story from Princeton about a double major in math and theatre that is creating a one-man clown show. Or as he prefers to say a one-man show about a clown that is not a clown show . (Thanks to Robin Izzo Scott, high school classmate, Facebook friend, and Princeton faculty/staff member for the heads up) The student studied with Pig Iron Theatre Company of Philadelphia last year, and is creating a theatrical clown show as his senior thesis. (His math thesis involves creating a new version of set theory) After graduation, he goes back to work for Pig Iron. I've known a number of math/science/geek guys that have ended up as clowns. (I guess I'm kind of one of them-- I was captain of the math team in high school, and our team won the state championships all three years I was involved!) And one of the circuses that I was intimately involved with was produced by a guy from Swarthmore, and featured a cast that was mostly Ivy League grads, including Penn, Dartmouth, Brown, Harvard, and some other places like MIT, RISD, and Stanford. Most of the math guys who are clowns I know enter through the juggling or magic world. Anyway, here's the article in full (in case Princeton pulls the plug on it) If you are a math/science/nerd clown guy, tell us about it in the comments! Following his muse to create an unconventional clown Posted April 22, 2009; 06:23 p.m. by Jennifer Greenstein Altmann From the April 20, 2009, Princeton Weekly Bulletin Senior Sam Zetumer likes to work in opposing realms. He is a math major who is earning a certificate in theater and dance. He scribbles math equations on the chalkboard while waiting for rehearsals to begin. He currently is completing two senior theses: one on set theory, and one on clowning. Zetumer enjoys immersing himself in two such different disciplines. Math requires him to "shut down external awareness," he said, while theater asks "that I exist in this communal space." Alternating from one to the other is "like going 60 and then going in reverse," he explained. Beginning Friday, April 24, Zetumer will perform his senior thesis production, titled "Good Winks Here," a one-man show about a clown that is not a clown show — no juggling and no gags. "It's about a weird human being who's struggling to find out how his world works and failing very badly at it," Zetumer said. "It's a style of clowning that's all about vulnerability." Zetumer with umbrella Zetumer said his show is "about a weird human being who's struggling to find out how his world works and failing very badly at it. It's a style of clowning that's all about vulnerability." "Sam's doing something very brave here — creating his own material and going out there, totally alone, to share his deep interest in clown work with an audience," said Tim Vasen, a lecturer in theater and dance and the Lewis Center for the Arts who is one of Zetumer's thesis advisers. "What he's doing is, first of all, funny, and also sometimes haunting, like the best clowns in the Bill Irwin/Charlie Chaplin/Buster Keaton tradition always are." Vasen sees a common thread in Zetumer's twin pursuits. "He's a systems nut — be it advanced math or physical technique," he said. "Clown work is also a system, and what Sam's doing in his rehearsals is playing with that system, testing it against the lights and chairs and umbrellas and floors and walls, almost like scientific research." Zetumer studied physical comedy last summer when he took courses on clowning technique offered by the Pig Iron Theatre Company in Philadelphia. The company describes itself as a dance-clown-theater ensemble that seeks to break the boundaries of dance, drama, clowning, puppetry, music and text. His summer with the troupe was supported by the Lewis Center's Alex Adam '07 Award, which Zetumer won last year. The award funds summer projects that lead to the creation of an original work of art. Zetumer first worked with members of Pig Iron during his freshman year, when they taught a physical theater class at Princeton that included clowning. After graduation Zetumer will move to Philadelphia to work for Pig Iron as an assistant stage manager. A native of San Diego, Zetumer was drawn to Princeton because of the University's strengths in math and theater. For his other thesis, Zetumer is constructing a new version of set theory, which is an important foundational system for mathematics. His adviser, Professor Edward Nelson, described Zetumer as "fiercely independent. He works hard on his own to resolve problems without asking for help." During his time at Princeton, Zetumer has appeared in several theatrical productions, portraying Prince Shuisky in Alexander Pushkin's play "Boris Godunov" and performing in "The Winter's Tale," "All My Sons" and "Romeo and Juliet." But for Zetumer, "Good Winks Here" promises to be his most memorable role. The piece "is serious work, but it's funny and touching," said Vasen, who described Zetumer as "extremely creative" and unconstrained. "Sam has always followed his own muse."

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

Lorenzo Pisoni's story on stage (NY)

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced the world premiere of Humor Abuse, the new one-man-show created by performer Lorenzo Pisoni (Equus, Last Dance) and director Erica Schmidt (Debbie Does Dallas). Humor Abuse will begin previews on Thursday, February 19 and open Tuesday, March 10 in a limited engagement at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street). Humor Abuse is the unique story of Pisoni's upbringing as the youngest member of the Pickle Family Circus, the Bay Area's tiny big top that entertained thousands of people worldwide and launched the careers of several legendary performers. Filled with the clowning that Pisoni learned at his father's knee, and the wonder, heartache and complexity of stepping into (and out of) his father's shoes, Humor Abuse shows that running away with the circus isn't always all fun and games. Lorenzo Pisoni's Broadway performing credits include Equus, Henry IV (LCT). Off-Broadway: Devil's Disciple (Irish Rep), Election Day (Second Stage, Lortel nomination), Last Dance (MTC), As You Like It (The Public), Much Ado About Nothing (NYSF), Troilus and Cressida (TFNA). Regional: The Injured Party (South Coast Rep), The Great Gatsby (Guthrie/Seattle Rep), Tuesdays With Morrie (Seattle Rep), The Tempest (McCarter), The Illusion (NJ Shakespeare Festival), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare & Co.), The Gamester (ACT, Bay Area Critics nomination), Arms and the Man (BSC). Film: Company Retreat, South of Pico. Other credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream (Lincoln Center/NY Phil), Pickle Family Circus, Cirque du Soleil. Education: Vassar College. Erica Schmidt's directing credits include: Rent (Tokyo); Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer and Copland's The Tender Land (all at Bard Summer Scape); Carnival (The Paper Mill Playhouse); People Be Heard (Playwrights Horizons); Trust (The Play Company, Callaway Award nominee); As You Like It (The Public Theater/NYSF, chashama and New York International Fringe Festival 2000 Winner for Best Direction); Debbie Does Dallas (wrote the adaptation and directed Off-Broadway at the Jane Street); Spanish Girl (Second Stage Uptown); Romeo and Juliet (Outdoor Garage). College and University work includes: Buried Child and R&J (The Juilliard School); Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem Cards (The McCarter's Berlind Theater, Princeton University); Top Girls (Fordham University). For more information on Manhattan Theatre Club, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com. For more information about Lorenzo Pisoni, visit his website listed below: http://www.lorenzopisoni.com TICKETING INFORMATION Single tickets for all Manhattan Theatre Club productions at New York City Center are available by calling CityTix® at (212) 581-1212, by visiting www.nycitycenter.org or by going to the New York City Center box office. Tickets are $52.00. Group and student rates are also available. For group ticket information, call (212) 399-3000 x 4132. Student tickets are $25 and will be on sale for all performances based on availability on the day of the performance, up to one hour before showtime. Call (212) 581-1212 for further information. MTC at New York City Center is accessible to people with disabilities and is equipped with a hearing augmentation system. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE · THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22: Thursday through Sunday at 7:30 PM. Matinee on Sunday at 2:30 PM. Please note there will only be five performances during this partial week. · MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23 - SUNDAY, MARCH 15: Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM. · MONDAY, MARCH 16 - SUNDAY, MARCH 29: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM. · MONDAY, MARCH 30 - SUNDAY, APRIL 5: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM. Please note that only seven performances are on sale to the general public this week. · TUESDAY, APRIL 7 - SUNDAY, APRIL 12: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM.

ClownAlley.net just gets better and better.

If you haven't visited clownalley.net lately, you really should. Better yet, get the RSS feed. The last few days have been particularly good-- almost 28 posts featuring videos, photos, congratulations, and even a harrowing tale of a ladder gone amok. Pat Cashin, the boss of clownalley.net is putting a lot of work in to make these resources available. Thank you Pat!

On Point Radio Interview with Paul Binder

Unless you live under a media rock, you probably know that Paul Binder, co-founder and ringmaster of the Big Apple Circus, is stepping down this year. He recorded a great interview on public radio about it, and about his 31 years in the circus, that included some surprises (at least for me) that he worked with Julia Child and Merv Griffin before creating the circus. The interview also features (among others) a surprise guest call in from Steve Smith, former Ringling Clown College Dean and director of the current show. If you'd like to listen to the show, you can! http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2008/11/big-apple-circus/ There's also a video news interview on ABC TV where Paul was named Person of the Week here. And the ubuquitous NY Times Article is here.

Happy Birthday Clown Alley's Pat Cashin!

Pat Cashin is 29 (again) today. If you want, you can attend his birthday party drunk, have your makeup sloppily made-up, root through his garbage, smoke cigars throughout his house, curse a lot, and offer to date his wife. I think he'd like that. On the other hand, you could just go visit his website and wish him a happy birthday in the comments! http://www.clownalley.net

Olympic Comedy--Paul Hunt & his Comedy Gymnastics Routines

Just happened across some amazing gymnastic comedy by Paul Hunt. He was a coach and gymnast in the 1980's and does some amazing comedy gymnastic routines in drag. In a tutu, Paul manages to perfectly parody a number of female gymnastic stunts, while at the same time doing a lot of amazing gymnastics and acrobatics himself. I haven't been able to find out what happened to him (the videos are all from the 1980's) If somebody out there knows, please comment listed below. There is a Hunt's Gymnastics Academy in Utah, but the webpage is currently defunct. Enjoy these incredible videos (most of which seem to be shot at Gymnastic competitions, and at least a few of these are commented on by professional sports commentators.) It's very interesting to see the floor routine shot side by side, one in French, and one in English, and how the commentators comment on them. COMEDY FLOOR ROUTINE IN ENGLISH COMEDY FLOOR ROUTINE IN FRENCH COMEDY PARALLEL BAR ROUTINE COMEDY BALANCE BEAM ROUTINE

RIP, Mr. Snot

Joe Kudla, half of the team of Puke and Snot, passed away on Monday. He was 58 years old, and had been performing Ren Faire stages for over 30 years, including letting young upstarts Penn and Teller open for them. Read more below (obit from the Pioneer Press) or visit the Puke and Snot website, listed below for more details. At the website listed below, Joe's partner Mark Sieve shares stories and fan email about Joe. PUKE AND SNOT WEBSITE: http://www.magaga.com Actor Joe Kudla of 'Puke and Snot' team dies at 58 By Dominic P. Papatola dpapatola@pioneerpress.com Article Last Updated: 08/11/2008 06:30:56 PM CDT Minneapolis actor Joe Kudla - half of the "Puke and Snot" comedy team that entertained crowds at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival for more than three decades - died Monday at the age of 58. Kudla died at his home in Northeast Minneapolis, according to his performing partner, Mark Sieve. A cause of death was not immediately available. "I'm wondering if Bud Abbott felt this way when Lou Costello died," said Mark Sieve, who played Puke in the popular comic duo that mixed swordplay and groaner jokes. Sieve said he and Kudla were supposed to go over some new material Monday, but that Kudla wasn't returning phone calls. "I was complaining to my wife about my irresponsible partner not answering his phone," Sieve said, honoring his late partner with a bit of gallows humor. "Turns out he had a good excuse." Kudla was already a fixture on the local performing scene when he and Sieve conjured the idea of a pair of medieval types who would crack wise and cross swords. The first iteration of the duo, dubbed Mouldy and Wart, premiered at the 1973 festival. Puke and Snot appeared the next year. At the height of their fame, the opening act for their routine was a young pair of comic-magicians named Penn and Teller. Kudla and Sieve trained others their shtick, and have been a fixture at Renaissance festivals across the country ever since. In 2007, Kudla took a break from playing Thomas Snot, earning rave reviews in the History Theatre production of "The Baron," a paean to old-school professional wrestling in which he played, among other famous grapplers, Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon. Sieve intends for the show to go on when the Minnesota Renaissance Festival opens later this month. "It would be a great tribute to Joe to keep it going," he said, "but I don't know. I might break down in the middle of the routine."

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

Paul Wildbaum

Paul Wildbaum is a mime/clown/ standup comedian that has thrilled audiences around the world with an inspired repertoire of comedy, visual theater and audience participation. Described as "hilarious" and "touching", Paul is a compelling performer who combines the sublime with the ridiculous to create a brilliant cast of characters: Hamlet as a drunk, a baby unsure about being born; and with an uncanny ability to involve the audience, he creates a western in which he plays the villain and has audience members playing all the other roles, even the saloon doors. Paul studied mime with Til Thiel for seven years, Commedia Dell'Arte with Carlo Mazzone Clemente, and clown and mask with Richard Pochenko. He also apprenticed and performed as a puppeteer and studied acting and directing with Marie Hopps. He has presented his work to international audiences since 1976, representing Canada to such prestigious events as The Macao Arts Festival, The International Comedy Festival in Melbourne , Australia , the Totus World Theater Festival in Poland , the 1992 Expo in Seville , London International Mime Festival and the Montreal Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival. At Expo 86, in Vancouver, he was in such demand that a 6 week engagement was extended to 4 months and again, at Expo 88 in Brisbane, Australia, he was held over for a month. In 2004, he performed at the prestigious Singapore Comedy Festival. To find out more about Paul's work, visit his website listed below: http://www.paulwildbaum.com

Clown Therapy Workshop SF (May 26-29)

Clown Therapy Workshop - Weekend Intensive with Paoli Lacy May 24, 25, & 26 Saturday 2-6, Sunday 10-6, and Monday 10-1 Taught by Paoli Lacy, Godmother of Clown Therapy, this workshop will be an experiential, hands-on 2 1/2 day intensive. It will include practical kinesthetic learning of clown therapy techniques along with discussion of the theory and rationales for their use. A holistic approach to meeting psychological and physical challenges, Clown Therapy has been successful with health issues where mind, body, and a sense of humor need to converge. Clown Therapy is noted for serving special needs children at the crossroads of physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, and creative arts, with Lucille Ball directing traffic. All participants will receive a copy of the Clown Therapy Handbook for future reference. Cost: $170.00 Discounts for AYCO members, Clown Conservatory and Dell ‘Arte graduates Classes held at the Circus Center San Francisco 755 Frederick Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 Phone: (415) 759-8123 Email: info@circuscenter.org WEBSITE: http://www.circuscenter.org Photo of Paoli Lacy from Rebecca Longworth's Flickr Page Permission to use photograph from Creative Commons License.

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

Clown Show for Bruno Feb 27,28 in Atlanta

Acclaimed mime Daniel Stein and Dell'arte graduates Kali Quinn and Bill Celentano are featured in a new show about Polish artist and novelist Bruno Schultz (author of the classic Street of Crocodiles) Schulz was killed in the Holocaust in 1944 by a German officer. The show will be performed at Atlanta's PushPush Theatre. The play,written by author Murray Mednick, is produced in association with Padua Playwrights. In 1978, Murray Mednick and five other playwrights, including Sam Shepard and Maria Irene Fornes, converged on the old Padua Hills estate in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, just east of Los Angeles. The playwrights, as well as playwriting students and actors, were given free reign to re-investigate their creativity, developing writing exercises for the morning, rehearsing in the afternoon, and presenting the results in the evening. Since 2000, Padua has become a production company that produces works as well as inspires them. The Bruno Project is expected to tour throughout the world, Poland, Germany, the Ukraine and Israel. Guy Zimmerman’s direction uses elements of mask, clowning and other theatrical disciplines to underscore the lyrical poeticism of Mednick’s text. This timeless production will speak to audiences at all levels – young and old, Jewish and non-Jewish - but will have a particular impact on younger audiences looking for new ways to understand the Nazi genocide. Key collaborators in the Bruno project include, playing the lead, celebrated Commedia performer and teacher Daniel Stein. After attending the professional actor training program at Carnegie-Mellon University, Stein studied in Paris with French master Etienne Decroux, and made his home in Paris for 20 years. Daniel started his professional career as an actor with the French National Theatre, and his solo performances have toured in more than 30 countries, as well as in theatres such as the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center here in the United States. Formerly head of the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre, in Blue Lake CA (among many other prestigious teaching credits), Stein is joined for this production by two of his star students, Kali Quinn and Bill Celentano, who have made names for themselves in the Los Angeles and New York theater community. Also on board for Padua’s production of Clown Show for Bruno are award-winning designers John Zelewski (music and sound design), Ann Closs-Farley (costume design), Jeffrey Atherton (set and mask design.), and current Padua director Guy Zimmerman SHOW DATES Monday, February 25: Danville, Kentucky - Centre College, Norton Center for the Arts (Studio 502) Wednesday, February 27: Decatur, Georgia - Push Push Theater Thursday, February 28: Atlanta, Georgia - Goethe Institute Library To find out more about the show and the theatre, visit the websites listed below: http://www.pushpushtheater.com/ http://www.paduaplaywrights.net/ On the Padua site, there is a video (apparently not linkable) that you can view which is an interview with author Murray Mednick about the project. The video also features scenes from the production.

Johnny Peers Muttville Comix

One of the top working clown and dog acts is Johnny Peers' Muttville Comix. Johnny has been performing his act for over 25 years, and has performed it on four continents and with some of the best circuses in the business, including Ringling, Big Apple Circus, and Carson & Barnes, among many others. Johnny's dad was a concessionaire on the Ringling circus. While helping his dad, Johnny ended up sneaking away to watch the clowns, and eventually decided to become one. He graduated from Ringling's Clown College in 1970 and a few years later, began creating the character and act that he's been doing ever since. Johnny currently uses about 15 dogs in his show, but owns and cares for 25 dogs. The dogs do everything, including jumping rope, climbing ladders, walking a tightrope, and most importantly, knocking Johnny down several times a minute and then walking all over him. It takes from 6 months to a year for each dog to learn its act, and the act is a collaboration between the dogs natural talents and Johnny's masterful ability to place the dogs in a circus context. In 2003, Johnny and his group won the Animal Planet Pet Star award. To find out more about Johnny and his Muttville Comix, please visit his website listed below: http://www.muttvillecomix.com. (site updated on 4/30/09)

Peter Pitofsky

Peter Pitofsky is a Clown College graduate who is currently plying his brand of amazing physical and facial comedy to the college and comedy circuits. He lives in the Los Angeles area, and he's been in a few movies and television shows, as well as a number of live shows, including Teatro Zinzanni, Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular, and the movie The Aristocrats. After seeing the video below, you'll be wondering why he's not in just about everything you see. Among Ringling graduates and road clowns, Peter is legendary for his 108's, for his always being on, and for being one of the funniest guys on or off the show. Here's a YouTube video that shows him at some of his funniest: (a special tip of the hat to Pat Cashin's ClownAlley.net for alerting me to this video) To find out more about Peter's work, visit his myspace page listed below: http://www.myspace.com/peterpitofsky

Circus Action International

Inspired by the success of Cirque du Soleil’s “Cirque du Monde”, Ethiopia’s “Circus of Hope” and Cambodia’s Phare Ponleu Selpak, Canadian director Jerry Snell has founded another institution for Youth at Risk using Circus and Performing Arts as a tool for helping migrant and street children, working children, freed bonded labor children, trafficked and victims of slave labor in Asia and Africa. In collaboration with co founder James Tanabe, they have begun to set up CIRCUS ACTION INTERNATIONAL which is currently a network of teachers, programs, companies using performing arts and circus as an educational tool or simply a way to build confidence and resolve feelings of isolation and abandon in youth cornered by complex problems such as human trafficking, war, AIDS/HIV, poverty and political corruption. The first conference of Circus Action International will be hosted by Cambodian Arts & Circus Company Phare Ponleu Selpak in Cambodia at their Circus Festival 3 to 6 of April, 2008 in Battambang. If you are interested in helping to organize communications (they currently need an english to french translator) or interested in becoming a teacher in the projects in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and India, please contact Jerry Snell. The teaching projects are set to begin in July 2008. Send him your background and availability for the future, especially if you already have plans to come to Asia. For more information about Jerry Snell or Circus Action International, visit his website http://www.jerrysnell.com or email info@jerrysnell.com For more information about Phare Ponleu Selpak, visit their website http://www.phareps.org It's in French, but there's an English translation.

Jean Peysson: Boxeur Bleu: Workshops in Mexico March 8-15, 2008

Jean Peysson is a French clown, writer, and theatre creator who lives in Lyon. Jean has written over 30 plays, numerous songs, two volumes of poetry and is currently working on a trilogy as a novelist. When he works as a clown, he works under the name Lulu. He is also the founder and director of Boxeur Bleu Theatre, which has performed at a number of international festivals, including Okinawa, Shanghai, and others. They teach clowning, put on shows, and create theatre. Their clown show Fanfine & Lulu has received international acclaim. Jean will be teaching a class in San Miguel of Allende, Mexico, March 8-15, 2008. The workshop is being held privately, under the auspices of a group of artists who live in San Miguel, two French people Daniel Sirdey and Florence Dengreville, and an LA Director David Hunter. The class will be about clown and also about theatre-- creating a clown character, and then using your personal life to create the story of the show. At the end of the workshop there will be a performance To find out more about the workshop or Boxeur Bleu & Jean Peyyson, visit the websites listed below. All of the websites are only in French, so you might have a problem if you don't speak French. To the best of my knowledge, the class will be in French, with some English translation available, but the website is not clear on this point. UPDATE: There are two portions to the workshop-- clown & theatre. The clown aspect will be taught in French, English, and Spanish if required. The theatre aspect will be working with French texts in French. If you are having problems understanding either of the websites, I suggest trying to translate it via this webpage www.babelfish.altavista.com It's not perfect, but it will get you 80% of what you need to know. The class costs $450 Canadian dollars, and a deposit must be paid via Paypal. The class is limited to 15 students. WORKSHOP IN MEXICO WEBSITE: www.ateliertheatre.san-miguel-allende.com BOXEUR BLEU WEBSITE: http://boxeur.bleu.theatre.free.fr/ You can also email Florence vipassana9@gmail.comif you have any questions.