This isn’t quite clown, but it’s all wonderful, and it’s fan-fiction/music taken to extremes. Musician Christopher Graham released a parody album of Jesus Christ Superstar as performed by the Muppets.  Entitled Muppet Christ Superstar, the album has many (but not all) of the songs from the Andrew Lloyd Weber Musical. The usual characters are in place, almost as you would […]
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This just in: TONIGHT Some of NY’s premier physical comedians are planning a special living room show (in the penthouse suite of a fancy hotel) to honor Dr. Seuss. Doors open at 10, open bar and snacks until midnight, and the performance starts just before the witching hour. The show features Hilary Chaplain, Mik Kuhlman, Peter Daniel Straus, Mark Ettinger, […]
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Even clowns have heroes.  For Malic White and Molly Brennan, the two performers/partners/lovers who are the chief instigators of the highly personal, very adult clown/rock music cabaret PopWaits, those heroes are seminal punker Iggy Pop (hero of Malic) and protean gravel-throated ultra-cool cabaret singer/music creator Tom Waits (hero of Molly) Both performers suffer from depression and use their heroes as creative jumping […]
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This weekend is the last weekend for Gale LaJoye’s magical and wonderful show Snowflake, which is performing at the Chicago Children’s Theatre through February 14. I saw this show in 2000 and it was wonderful then, and based on the videos I’ve seen, it’s only gotten better. This is the 25th anniversary of Snowflake being performed by LaJoye (I featured […]
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A new show is opening up at the Neo Futurarium in Andersonville, which features clowns, rock and roll, audience participation, and depression. Â It also features local brilliant performers Malic White and Molly Brennan. Do you really need to know anymore? Â Just buy your ticket now! If you need to know more, here you go: POP WAITSÂ Â IS AN ATHLETIC, […]
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Hilary Chaplain is giving a workshop in NY Jan 30 and 31, and it would behoove you to attend.  She’s a very funny clown with an excellent eye, and she will definitely improve your work if you let her. She’s been teaching and performing at workshops and festivals around the world, and now she’s giving a class in NYC. Here’s her […]
Read moreThe Bindlestiff Family Cirkus rides again in a one wheeled extravaganza as the producer of the NYC Unicycle Festival. This 4 day event which celebrates one wheeled riding and the related skills is one of the only events of its kind, and its certainly the largest in NY. Â The main part of the festival takes place on idyllic Governor’s Island, […]
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Cirque du Soleil’s 35th show: Kurios, Cabinet of Curiousities will come to Chicago’s United Center August 6-Sept 20, 2015. The show, which will be performed under a tent in the United Center’s Parking lot, will mark the first time in 4 years that Cirque has come to Chicago. Based on the idea of a nineteenth century curio cabinet (also known […]
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Tiny Performers To Entertain in Chicago Parks ============================== SUMMARY: WHAT: Acme Miniature Flea Circus in the Chicago Park District WHERE: July 16 6:30 pm Paschen Park (1932 W. Lunt Street) WHERE: July 18 2:00 pm Pulaski Park (1419 W. Blackhawk Street) COST: FREE! (seating limited, please arrive early) MORE INFO: http://www.palaceofwonders.com MORE INFO: http://www.trainedfleas.com PUBLICITY PHOTOS: Press Images of the […]
Read moreMy son and I went to go see the Lookingglass production of Moby Dick. Â It’s an adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic whale of a novel. Â The show runs through August 28 at their downtown Chicago location. The show is beautifully done and realized. Â This is the second Lookingglass show we’ve seen, and they do an amazing job of integrating circus […]
Read moreThis just in– due to visa problems (Chinese hacking), the Gandinis are unable to enter the country.  Their shows at the Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival have been cancelled. Bad news for fans of amazing juggling. But even the Gandini’s occasionally drop a ball. The Festival goes on! MORE INFO:  http://chicagocircusfest.com/2015/06/16/cancelled-gandini-juggling-presents-smashed-at-cccf/
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The Chicago Festival just sort of snuck up on me– I knew it was coming, I just thought it was next month. Well, next month has ARRIVED! The festival is happening THIS WEEKEND in Chicago, with over 30 different performances from 13 of the top circus performers from around the world. Here’s a list of the performances:Â http://chicagocircusfest.com/events/ (and if you’d […]
Read moreLarry Griswold was a comedy diver who was instrumental in the creation and development of the modern trampoline. Here he is on the Frank Sinatra show from 1951. If you’d like to find out more about Griswold, check out his Wikipedia page. [youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCGzy-K5rX8″]
Read moreGreat news article about the declining circus in the U.K.. Â The video was produced by British student Natasha Turney, and this video recently won her the award for Student Journalist of the Year from the Birmingham Press Club . In Great Britain, many circuses are no longer allowed to use animals in their shows, and this has decreased the draw. […]
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Weekend CLOWN Intensive “A riotous inquiry . . . a playful encounter . . . a look at our laughable & lovable selves.” WHEN: April 25th 26th, 2015 Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm Sunday 11:00am – 6:00pm COST: $200 (Deposit due with Registration: $50) WHERE: Class held at THE CENTER  4321 Wisconsin Avenue, NW  Washington DC 20016 [entrance is on Windom Place] […]
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I’ve been watching Danny Kaye on Youtube for the last couple of hours, and thought this would be a great thing to post on here (where the postings have come few and far between, I’m afraid.) He is such a wonderful performer. Â There’s something so effortless about everything he does, even though it’s clear he’s got so much virtuosity. Below […]
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