Clown Car Commercial for KCI

This commercial has a lot of great elements in it, and to my mind, uses the clowns in just the right way. (Thanks to Toto Johnson for pointing this out, and being in the commercial to boot!)

Finding Your Funny Bone! by Nancy Gold

In 1991, I traveled to Philadelphia to the International Clown Congress.  There I met a number of other clowns, many of whom I continue to be friendly with to this day (I also met a guy who was from Rhode Island, and we had a number of friends in common, but strangely had never met-- and we've worked on a number of projects together, including 3 original circuses and a large-scale festival.  But that's a different story!) While I was there, I took workshops with Bolek Polivka and Fred Curchack.  I also met Ctibor Turba, who intrigued me enough that in 1992, I went to Czechoslovakia to study with him. One of the people I met there was Nancy Gold, a clown teacher and performer from San Francisco.  She was taking Turba's week long workshop, (which was opposite my Polivka/Curchak classes)  and I asked for (and received) her meticulous notes about the class.  I think I gave her my much less meticulous notes about Polivka and Curchak back too. I got a much better bargain out of the deal. Lo and behold, she's got a recent book out, Finding Your Funny Bone!, about learning physical comedy for actors.  Nancy has been teaching at A.C.T. and Berkeley Rep for a number of years, and has compacted all of her teaching into this book.  I haven't delved into the book yet, (she's promised me a review copy though, and when I get it, I will review it right here.)  The little that I've seen of the book from her website, it looks like it's going to be very good.  Nancy writes and teaches with a lot of enthusiasm, and the excerpts from the book show it clearly. If you've read the book, feel free to write a comment and tell us what you think about it. WEBSITE:  http://www.findingyourfunnybone.com BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON.COM:  Finding Your Funny Bone!

Troy Wunderle directing Ringling clowns.

'Incredibly serious work' Local man trains Ringling Brothers clowns By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN Circus Smirkus artistic director Troy Wunderle of Cambridgeport gets a kiss from his daughter Ariana Wunderle during the Circus Smirkus performance in Brattleboro. (Reformer file photo) CAMBRIDGEPORT - There is a lot of pressure in being one of the most important clowns in the country. For the past month, Rockingham resident and Circus Smirkus artistic director Troy Wunderle has been in Tampa, Fla., training two groups of clowns for the upcoming season of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Wunderle, 36, was invited to go to Florida and even though he was already busy with Circus Smirkus, as well as with his own company, Wunderle's Big Top Adventures, he could not pass up the opportunity to work with Ringling Brothers. "Clowning is incredibly serious work," Wunderle said while taking a break from his 12-hour work days. "Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey have been producing the best American clowns for generations and this was a golden opportunity. There are very high expectations. There is a lot of weight on my shoulders." Wunderle graduated from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in 1995 and has been working with Circus Smirkus for 13 years. Although at this point he is a seasoned performer, and professional clown, Wunderle admits that the time he has spent over the last three weeks has been very intense. Along with working with the young clowns, Wunderle has also been responsible for developing all of the routines. He is in constant communication with costume designers, makeup artists and prop specialists, along with pyrotechnic experts, sound engineers and circus producers. He went to Florida with the intention of developing the main show that Ringling Brothers will take across the country next year, and last week he accepted the offer to also develop the clowns for a secondary show that is performed in smaller venues around the country. To further challenge his sense of humor, and every clown needs a sense of humor, Wunderle is working with aspiring clowns who speak six different languages, and his crew in the smaller circus is from Italy and does not speak a word of English. And though he is being pushed and challenged, Wunderle said he would most likely return if he is invited. "As far as clowning is concerned, this is the pinnacle," he said. "One person gets to be the director of clowning for Ringling Brothers. This is what I love." The call from Ringling Brothers came out of the blue, Wunderle said. After graduating from the Clown College, he kept in contact with circus producers and invited them to Vermont to see Circus Smirkus. He did not apply for the position, and was not even sure he would be able to fit it into his schedule. When the offer came, he could not turn it down. "The ideal candidate for this job is not just someone who is funny," said David Kiser, director of talent for Ringling. "We look for someone with excellent communication skills, someone who can communicate not just with performers but with the entire creative team. We found that in Troy." Once the circus starts touring, Wunderle's work will be mostly over. All of his work is compacted into about a month and he expect to be home just in time to direct Circus Smirkus performers at First Night in Burlington on Dec. 31. He will hand over the day-to-day responsibilities at Ringling Brothers to the boss clown, and will also be around to answer questions. If there is a major problem while on tour, Wunderle might be asked to fly to wherever the circus is set up. Along with the creative satisfaction of designing a full show, Wunderle said it has been special for him to work with young entertainers who are just entering the world of clowning. Wunderle graduated from the Maryland Institute of Art, and got into clowning after enrolling in the Ringling Brothers Clown College. His decision to pursue a life of clowning has taken him across the country, and world, and now he is helping other clowns as they begin their careers. "In my opinion, clowning is one of the hardest disciplines in the circus and now I am working with the best of the best," he said before finishing his interview and getting back to work. "This is the ring where I started my career and it's great to come back and be able to give back to the next generation of clowns."

Chicagoist is featuring interviews with clowns

The Chicagoist, an online news blog, is featuring interviews with clowns all this week, in honor of Halloween. The series, called FACE YOUR FEARS, is intended to get to know people behind the greasepaint. It's pretty good, as far as it goes, but nearly all of the clowns interviewed are Primarily Birthday Party clowns and not circus clowns.  Who knows, maybe Jeff Jenkins of the Midnight Circus  is the last person interviewed (their Friday interview has not yet come out).  That might give this a little balance. UPDATE:  They balanced it in a different way-- the fifth interview was with LezBobo the Clown, who does more alternative clowning.  I've updated this post to reflect that. Here's links to the interviews: LezBobo The Clown READ THE INTERVIEW Website for more information. Kooky Da Klown READ THE INTERVIEW  Websites:  Clowns For Hire and Kooky's Myspace. Patricia "Dimples The Clown" Koopmann READ THE INTERVIEW Website for More Info Don "Tricky the Clown" Bothwell READ THE INTERVIEW  Website for more info Mirelle "Twinkles the Classy Clown" Gross READ THE INTERVIEW Website for more info

Hotel Bananas - This week at the Flea Theatre (NY)

Hotel Bananas The NY Goofs July 23 – 25 Clowns check in but they don’t check out at the Flea Theater, 41 White Street (between Broadway & Church Streets) An evening of raucous laughter with the New York Goofs America’s Got Clowns, Season Two, proves exactly what the title says, that America has some rocking physical comedians. New York Goof co-founders Dick Monday & Tiffany Riley bring together their Clown School faculty and professional clowns to create a hilarious show. Expect to see eccentric dance, musical entrees, bad magic, feats of tossing and manipulation (juggling), Godly and unGodly characters, and a lot of very physical comedy. The New York Goofs have presented three original clown theater productions at The Flea over the last ten years. The performances are July 23 – 25 at 7pm. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the Flea website here More information about the goofs at http://nygoofs.com/

Commedia at Lincoln Center (July 22-26)

The New York Premiere of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano's production of Goldoni's classic work: Trilogia della villeggiatura Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni’s 1761 three-part satire of the Italian middle class was given new life more than 50 years ago by Piccolo Teatro di Milano’s late founder, Giorgio Strehler. With a nod to Strehler and in the spirit of Goldoni, Italian actor and director Toni Servillo continues this legacy of innovation that helped to redefine commedia dell’arte nearly 250 years ago. Recently appearing in the Italian films Gomorrah and Il divo and “widely reputed to be the best Italian stage and screen actor of his generation” (The International Herald Tribune), Servillo stars in and directs his own company, Teatri Uniti di Napoli, in a co-production with the famed Piccolo Teatro di Milano in this fresh and charming version of a seminal work. This remarkably timely piece of comic theater reminds us that the masks we wear to escape from ourselves hide nothing and only serve to draw attention to the complicated realities of our everyday lives. Performed in Italian with English supertitles This performance is approximately two hours and forty-five minutes with one intermission. FIVE PERFORMANCES ONLY! Wed, July 22, 8 pm Thurs,July 23, 8 pm Fri, July 24, 8 pm Sat, July 25, 8 pm Sun, July 26, 3 pm at the Rose Theater, Broadway at 60th Center (Lincoln Center) Buy tickets at this page: http://www.lincolncenter.org/search_results.asp?showcode=32269

Circus Contraption ...The Show to End All Shows is Ending.

Thanks to Trav S.D.'s blog Travalanche I learned of sad news this week-- Seattle based Circus Contraption is ending. Here's an article from Fremont Universe (a local Seattle blog) with photos and an interview: http://www.fremontuniverse.com/2009/07/12/circus-contraption-says-farewell-this-week Circus Contraption says farewell this week July 12th, 2009 · The “Show to End All Shows” has ended, and Fremont’s Circus Contraption is calling it quits this week after 11 years in Seattle. “It takes an enormous amount of time and makes people a very little amount of money,” said Erin Brindley, Circus Contraption’s managing director. “Everyone’s ready to move on.” This last weekend, they put just about everything up for sale in a big rummage sale in the circus’ performance space at Theo Chocolate. Even this original handmade prop that once took Bunny Lamont around the world was up for sale. The tongue-in-cheek price tag? $300,000 or best offer. A farewell celebration is scheduled for this coming Saturday, July 18th, with favorite vintage performances, special guests and a live auction “to help us bury our debt in the smoldering embers of greasepaint and poodle fur,” the website explains. As of this writing, tickets are still available. But this might not be the end of Circus Contraption. “We’re keeping the set of the Show to End all Shows with the hope we can scrounge up enough money to take the show to New York for one final hurrah,” Brindley said.

John Towsen's new blog-- All Fall Down

John Towsen, author of one of the classics of clown literature (entitled Clowns: A Panoramic History of Fools and Jesters, Medieval Mimes, Jongleurs and Minstrels, Pueblo Indian Delight Makers and Cheyenne Contraries, Harlequins and Pierrots, Theatrical Buffoons, etc.) now has a blog. His blog is called ALL FALL DOWN, after the famous Black Plague poem " Ring around a rosie, a pocket full of posies Ashes, Ashes, we all fall down" Here's what he says about his blog: Welcome to the All Fall Down blog, an exploration of all aspects of physical comedy, from the historical to the latest work in the field, from the one-man show to the digital composite, from the conceptual to the nuts & bolts how-to. Be prepared for a broad definition of physical comedy (mine!) and a wide variety of approaches. Physical comedy is a visual art form, so there’ll be tons of pictures and videos, but also some substantial writing and research, including scripts and probably even some books. This blog is a result of me wanting to follow through on lots of unfinished research from the past 25 years. It’s made possible by a full-year sabbatical leave from Bloomfield College that will take me through August 2010. It’s also made more practical by the ease of Web 2.0 tools for managing and distributing content. I had envisioned a web site similar to this blog more than a decade ago, but never got too far with it because it was simply a lot more work. Now, no more excuses! Check it out at http://www.physicalcomedy.blogspot.com

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

Tim Conway on the Carol Burnett Show

One of the great television clowns that you don't hear much about anymore, but was a genius at physical comedy, esp. with obstacles. I was alerted to George Fuller and Adrian Danzig, and nearly died laughing when I saw it. (as did Harvey Korman, Conway's often broken up partner) Conway is so matter of fact, but explores the limitations of his obstacle so brilliantly that whatever he does you both don't expect, and at the same time could completely see it coming. Well worth watching

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

Festival Preview: The Birdmann

The Birdmann is an Australian circus/vaudeville/sideshow performer who combines magic, theatre, circus skills, and inspired nonsense to create a show that is unique. Acts include plastic-bag juggling, knife-throwing, and nostril tea-drinking. The act has displayed in fifteen countries internationally, and goes directly from the NY Clown Festival back home to the Melbourne Fringe in Australia. Here's what The Groggy Squirrel, an independent publication that reviews Australian comedy has to say about the Birdmann (reviewing a previous show, Birdmannifesto: The Birdmann is a curious creature. A character comic who has invested so much into the one character that you find yourself forgetting that this is just a persona. A performer who performs tricks that would normally be the domain of clowns with a straight-faced intensity that makes them as impressive as any serious circus performer. Every element of this show, from the opening “is this a dagger I see before me” (no, it’s an umbrella) to the crab impersonations and costumes screams absurdity, but the straight-faced delivery ensures that the audience never feels lost or confused. These things might seem ridiculous coming from any other performer, but here they are just part of the Birdmann experience. While this show is very tightly scripted and performed, Birdmann is also comfortable breaking out into casual improvisation to deal with any unforeseen input. Constant creaking of the roof and the late arrival of enough punters to double his audience were dealt with amusingly and without any break from the world that he has created for us. There’s something uniquely special about Birdmannifesto, a quality to it that screams “this show is a great show”. It’s not the funniest show in the festival, and the circus skills aren’t the most impressive I’ve seen, but something about it as a whole makes it stand out from the crowd. The fact that this is also one of the cheapest shows in the festival (only $10 in a laugh pack or on Tuesdays) makes this arguably the best value for money to be found in the festival. I can’t imagine how anyone, regardless of their comedy tastes, could walk out of this show and not feel thoroughly entertained. You can find out more about his work at http://www.myspace.com/trentbaumann His website http://www.thebirdmann.com.au/ is currently under construction. The Birdmann will be at the NY Clown Festival at the Brick on: Sat 9/6 at 7pm Wed 9/10 at 10pm Sat 9/13 at 9pm Tue 9/16 at 7pm

Besserwisser

What do you get when you take two European Cirque du Soleil performers who decide they want to focus a little bit more on clowning and a little bit less on spectacle? Besserweiser. Which in English translates roughly as "Know-it-all" , features two very skilled performers from Cirque who do just that. In their own words: In our society we are constantly trying to be faster, better, and smarter… only to realize that we are consistently trying to reach unattainable goals. Rather than be content with where we are, we deform ourselves to reach an ideal that we have self created or bought into. This pushes us to the ridiculous, eventually becoming a know-it-all, hence a Besserwisser. Jesko and Guennadi present their comedic duo “Besserwisser”. They offer unique situations with extraordinary objects to reveal the human interaction between he who thinks thar “he knows” and is perfect, and he who tries to aspire toward perfection. Two sides of the same psyche… A besserwisser, Nothing more annoying… The artists Jesko von den Steinen Jesko von den Steinen was a solo clown with Cirque du Soleil’s “Saltimbanco” for 5 years. He is currently also performing with Familie Flöz, a Berlin based, physical theatre company. Jesko works on occasion in Paris, France with Philippe Gaulier, as his teaching assistant. He recently co-wrote co-directed and choreographed a film for Bravo! TV. The film “Corps” uses acrobatics and contemporary dance as its form of narration. It has been selected for various international film festivals. Guennadi Tchijov Guennadi has performed with Cirque du Soleil for 12 for years. Creating the role of “The Dreamer” for Saltimbanco and later working in Mystere. He originates from the Ukraine and is a former student of Valentine Gneuschiev. He subsequently has worked as Character and clown, for example with Rolf Knie’s “SaltoNatale” and has performed in various Varietés such as Roncalli’s WinterGarten. You can find out more about the duo on their website, listed below: http://www.jesko-guennadi.com

Edith Tankus

Edith Tankus is an actor, theatre artist and clown living in Canada. An alumnus of L'Ecole Jacques Lecoq and L'Ecole Philippe Gaulier. She is an award-winning actress and clown who has toured North America garnering rave reviews with her one woman show "Not Yet, At All", a lyrical and humorous piece of storytelling and aerial work. Edith also has a solo clown show for young audiences, "Hurricane Gerty". She is currently touring across Canada playing in schools and Theatre Festivals and charming audiences with her superbly comic performances. A brilliant blend of physical comedy, clown and audience engagement "Hurricane Gerty" is achingly funny and filled with wit and soul. Edith has worked as Artist in Residence in theatres across Canada where she has performed and led workshops in clown and physical theatre. She is co-founder and co-artistic director of Magpye Theatre and, as part of the Artist in Education Program of the Ontario Arts Council, has taught in numerous elementary and high schools. She has collaborated with internationally acclaimed touring company Kneehigh Theatre of Cornwall, England and award–winning vaudevillian Tomas Kubinek . Their last collaboration resulted in the Gemini-nominated feature film "Tucked into Bedlam" based on his stage play "Bed", which premiered on CBC's Opening Night. Currently she is on board with an International Arts Organization, Circus Remedy, whose mandate is to bring acclaimed theatre and circus artists to perform their shows in hospitals and poverty stricken communities all over the world. She also tours with theatres, and has recently appeared in London with the KneeHigh Theatre's "Rapunzel" . To find out more about Edith's work, please visit her website listed below: www.edithtankus.com

Bouffon Glass Menajoree at Green Room NY Tuesdays at 10:30 pm

I saw this show last night, and I highly recommend it-- there are just 2 performances left. It's pretty damned fantastic. ============================== Did someone leave the blender on, or is that the sound of Tennessee Williams turning over in his grave? Why would anyone do this to an American masterpiece?!? Bouffon Glass Menajoree 2007 NY Innovative Theatre Award winner for Outstanding Production TWO PERFORMANCES LEFT Gentlemen callers beware!  Tennessee Williams' classic tale is ripped wide open as Ten Directions, Paul Lucas Productions, and The Green Room present the revival of Bouffon Glass Menajoree, a twisted and outrageous bouffon parody with a new ending determined by an audience member every night.  Winner of the NY Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Production.  "Total Theatrical sacrilege.Delicious!" -NYTheatre.com, "Must See! Hilarious!" -TimeOutNY   "Genius" - CultureBot, "Hilarious Madness" - Show Showdown, "Extremely Funny"   -NY Theatre Wire "Twisted Southern Goth! Absurdity at its best!" KAFI FM, MN Written in collaboration with the cast Lynn Berg (Tony & Tina's Wedding), Audrey Crabtree (ComedyCentral), Aimee Leigh German (Opening Baywatch Butt) and director Eric Davis (Red Bastard, Cirque du Soleil), Bouffon Glass Menajoree is a dark comedic parody of the Tennessee Williams's masterpiece, performed in the style of bouffon.   Employing this time-honored tradition of undermining the establishment through verbal and physical satire, BGM is a satire not only of traditional American theatre, but of American society, the family unit, and the audience  themselves.  The production involves direct interaction with the audience: one lucky member will even play the role of the gentleman caller every night, determining how the show ends. This show is certain to surprise, shock and delight. Performances begin April 29th and run Tuesday nights only through May 27th at 10:30pm downstairs at the newly reopened Green Room at 45 Bleecker, NYC. 2 for 1 SPECIAL DISCOUNT,  In person, use code "BGM241" at 45 Bleecker, Box Office hours Tues. - Sat 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sun. 11:00 AM - 8 PM.   Online, use Code: green241 at http://www.broadwayoffers.com For directions, call 212-260-8250 For more information, visit http://www.bouffonglassmenajoree.com/

Tom Sgouros at Maker's Faire- San Mateo May 3.

Adam writes: My good friend and collaborator Tom Sgouros has a fantastic show that he'll be performing in the Bay Area on Saturday May 3 at the Maker's Faire. A fun and engaging show that asks the question: What is it like to be a robot? It's not quite clowning, but Tom is a very good clown, and the show is all about obstacle (and philosophy) Judy the Robot will return once more to sunny California this coming weekend, at the Make Magazine "Maker Faire" at the San Mateo Event Center (I think it used to be called the Fairgrounds). This is a very strange, but altogether delightful event that calls together people from all over the place who like to make stuff, ranging from robot giraffes to bicycle-driven generators to catapults and sweaters that blink. So Judy will fit right in. Judy will provide the Saturday night entertainment for the festival, 6:30 in the Fiesta Hall, May 3. There's more about the festival at http://makerfaire.com . PRESS RELEASE AT http://sgouros.com/judy/judyrel.pdf Judy -or- What Is It Like To Be A Robot? Written and Performed by Tom Sgouros Since the dawn of the computer age, oceans of ink have been spilt writing about the intelligence of computers. Some researchers say that computers will eventually attain super-human intelligence. Others call these claims... um, poppycock. Oddly, in the search for the truth of the matter, both camps have overlooked an obvious strategy: interviewing a computer and asking its opinion. Intrepid researcher Sgouros has leapt into this lacuna, and presents some preliminary findings in a new not-quite-solo show. (You could call it "My Dinner with Android.") The central question is: if you build a robot smart enough to do the dishes, will it also be smart enough to find them boring? Judy herself was built in Tom's basement, over the course of several months, from pieces of some old computers, a couple of bicycles, a copy machine, marine stove, and yes, someone's kitchen sink. After literally weeks of intensive tutoring in phonics, elocution, and the elements of logic, Judy made her public debut in January, 2000, at Providence's Perishable Theatre. The seventh in a series of possibly comic monologues and solo dialogues, Judy is a story of a man and his, um, companion, discussing such topics as imagination, consciousness, stage magic, the uses of eyes, and what it's really like to wake up in the morning and confront your aluminum-and-steel face in the mirror each day.

Rough and Tumble: Theatre That Doesn't Suck

Rough & Tumble is a ten year-old theatre company that has made a name for itself in Boston for its inventive physical comedy and bold theatricality. The company develops original works, produces new plays by Boston playwrights, and stages guerilla theater events around Boston (such as an elaborate chase scene through the Boston Public Library and a playfully bizarre tour along the Freedom Trail). While not quite clowns, they use clowning, circus skills, melodrama, masks, and just about anything else they can get their hands on to make theatre that, in their own words, "doesn't suck." (Yes, that's part of their mission statement/manifesto) They've got a great manifesto up on their website (listed below) Here's part of it: Our stuff looks different, is outside the norm, linear narrative, realistic, method/classical stuff because we are looking for new, more alive ways to engage and exhilarate our audience. If that means setting up a bedroom on the Boston Common: OK. If that means creating a show with no spoken dialogue: right-on. If that means adapting a movie script for the stage: brilliant. We love a creative challenge because it's fun, and it presents opportunities to give our audiences glittering moments of awareness. We experiment with the form for the sake of what we create, not for the sake of experimenting. Our motto is "Theater That Doesn't Suck" because we think most theater does suck. If we could call what we do something other than "plays" and "theater" without confusing people, we'd do it. Most theater is talky, bland, self-important and preaching to the choir. Most theater ignores completely what is unique and exciting about the form. We want to make theater that is more like seeing a great rock concert: dizzying and exhilarating and euphoric and communal and there's a chance you might get laid. And we don't think that's experimental, as much as we think that's what theater should be like, and everyone who isn't trying for that is doing it wrong. Their next show is a mostly true story of famous airship captain Hugo Eckener's effort to fly the Graf Zeppelin around the world in 1929, carrying dozens of journalists, photographers, paying passengers, and the physician to the King of Spain. They are combing through the many histories and newspaper reports that chronicled the event to recreate the atmosphere of media frenzy, populist pride, and futurism that swirled about the voyage. In addition to all of the historical research, they will be making a bunch of stuff up wholecloth. The show will be at the Factory Theater, 791 Tremont Street in Boston from April 11-27. To find out more about Rough and Tumble, visit their website http://www.rough-and-tumble.org

Tall Toys Troupe

The Tall Toys Troupe is a group of stilt-walking performers based in Connecticut who perform a number of stilt-based shows. They provide a number of entertainers and shows for corporate gigs, parades, birthday parties, and other events. Their costumes are great, and they have a number of different looks, including a 9 foot tall Uncle Sam, trees (like Ents from the Lord of the Rings), wizards, and lots of other characters. Although their name implies stilt-walking, they also provide jugglers, balloonologists, face painters, and of course clowns. Many of the performers they bring in are graduates of Ringling Clown College (one of the founders, Katie Wilson Peterson, was in my year) To find out more about the Tall Toys Troupe, visit their website at http://www.talltoys.com UPDATE: Both their email and their phone isn't working, although their website works like a charm. Not sure if everything is okay with them. If anyone reading this has more of an update on Tall Toys, please let me know. Or you can post in the comments....

Bouffon Glass Menajoree

Bouffon Glass Menagerie promises a lot to its audience members-- and delivers on every promise. It's a fantastic show that is well-conceived, well-directed, well-designed, and very well-acted. Basically it's a parody of Tenessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie: which was Tennessee's first commercial success, and a play that has a long history of being parodied and mocked. And mock it they do. From the moment the actors enter into the space--they are viciously and hilariously mocking the play, the playwright, the audience, each other, and just about everything else they can get their hands on. In the straight play, the characters are all crippled and limited emotionally, but they seem fine on the inside. Here the visual display of the characters shows them as crippled physically as they are emotionally. The show features Lynn Berg as Tom (the drunken lout of a brother, with a hunchback and a bald head), Audrey Crabtree as Laura (the self-destructive crazy girl with a fetish for glass animals and cutting herself) and Aimee German as Amanda (the overstuffed mother who is living in the glory days of her past) The Gentleman Caller is culled from the audience, and is allowed free roam over the play (although with some guidance) The show is directed by Eric Davis (he of The Red Bastard.) Eric and Audrey are two of the artistic directors of the Clown Festival. There are so many great moments in this show-- including the phone sex with the audience, the picking of the gentleman caller, and the beer-chugging contest in the middle (you know I am not kidding!) It's hard to pick one to site-- and I think that's the beauty of this play. This particular show is so much about the audience connection, and what they share with us-- it's really a "you had to be there" to understand it exactly. Meaning that when you go, you might have a whole different set of circumstances that you enjoy. What I have no fear whatsoever of is that you will enjoy it-- the performers are that good, and the situation that they have created is that good. The play is wonderful and deserves to be seen-- they only have one more appearance at the festival (tonight, Saturday 8/13 at 10:30 pm.) So if you are on the fence about going-- Now is your chance. Check it out. You can also find out more about the play by going to their website, listed below. http://www.bouffonglassmenajoree.com === If you like this post-- consider subscribing to the RSS Feed. ===

Two reviews of Clown Festival Shows (not by me)

NYTheatre.com has two reviews of Festival shows up, and so far, the festival has charmed the reviewers. I saw both of these guys at the opening, and I'm sure their individual shows are a lot of fun. Sadly, these are two more shows I won't get to see. (Part of the problem of living in the town where the festival is is that your life doesn't stop. When I am performing at a festival that I've gone to, it's not like I have anything else going on in that town. I need to promote my show, and see other shows. That's all I'm doing. Here, my schedule isn't clear, so I'm sadly going to see very little (Yes, let me complain some more, why don't I! Oy gevalt!) Anyway, here's the two reviews from NYTheatre.com NO PLACE LIKE HOME, which is the show by Rob Torres. The reviewer doesn't seem to like clowns very much (spends about half the review talking about scary clowns, annoying pantomime bits, and Stephen King's IT.) Despite her fear of clowns, she seemed to like Rob's show, and calls it charming, captivating, warm and welcoming, and funny. Rob Torres' website is http://www.funeestuff.com BUBKUS Bubkus is the work of Canadian clown Jesse Buck-- who (a different reviewer) really loved. The show involves a lot of improvisation, audience participation (including whacking the clown over the head with a pillow) and some other improvised stunts. The review says that it's entertaining for all generations, and I believe it! Jesse Buck's website is http://www.jessebuck.com Both reviews are very positive-- read them and see! NY Theatre is going to continue to review shows throughout the festival, so you can check back with them on their website here. === If you like this post-- consider subscribing to RSS Feed ===

Daredevil Chicken Club

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

Dick Monday & Tiffany Riley

Dick Monday and Tiffany Riley are a clown team currently working in the Dallas Forth Worth area. To find out more about their shows there, visit their website: http://www.slappysplayhouse.com/ Dick Monday was the Director of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College for the last three years of its existence. He created and directed the clowning for the Greatest Show on Earth during this period. Dick and his partner Tiffany Riley founded the New York Goofs in 1998, a theatrical clown troupe committed to producing clown theatre for and adult and family audiences. The NY Goofs have produced four off-off Broadway shows and been featured in every major festival in the NY/DC area. In 2004, Dick created "Slappy's Playhouse", a family theatre in Dallas, TX presenting European-style marionette shows, Variety Shows, and Magic shows. Dick currently writes and produces all the shows for that theatre, as well as shows for circuses, festivals and corporate events. He continues to clown with partner Tiffany in circuses and theaters world-wide including The Big Apple Circus and Circo Atayde in Mexico. Dick was recently one of the subjects of the acclaimed book, "Guiding Lights", about great mentors and teachers. He also started the Ultimate Clown School, which was recently named Best Clown School by the Village Voice, and is now in its eighth year. Dick's film and television credits include Into the Night with Rick Dees, Brain Donors, My Life, Love and Greed, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown. Tiffany Riley is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, has been performing professionally since the age of six. In 1993, she appeared with the LA Circus and has been clowning ever since. Tiffany was a faculty member and choreographer for the Ringling Bros. Clown College, and since 1996, she has been curator and choreographer for The International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap starring Bob McGrath (Sesame Street). She also choreographed the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus show "High Heels & Red Noses". Along with Monday, she is co-founder of the New York Goofs and the Ultimate Clown School. Tiffany was featured in The Big Apple Circus' Big Top Doo Wop, becoming the first woman to clown with America's premiere one-ring circus in 25 years. She and Monday have appeared with Circo Atayde in Mexico, Circus Sarasota, and Extravaganza Le Cirque in Dallas. She is Director of the Ultimate Clown School, member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit, and has recently launched a therapeutic clown program with Children's Medical Center of Dallas.