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.