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.

January Workshops with Francine Cote (Toronto)

CLOWN 1: RESEARCH OF CHARACTER

with Francine Côté

January 22, 23, 24 & 26, 27 2009
4 :30 to 9:30 pm - total of 25 hrs
Price - $500.00 (includes tax)

where :
Queen St East Presbyterian Church, 947 Queen St E.
(at Carlaw)
registration information:
Class limited to 12 students with performance background - artistic resume required.
Deposit of $125.00 required after acceptance
Please email info@helendonnelly.com
or call 416-536-4323 to register

You don't create your clown; you simply let it out to live in front of others. This is a workshop for artists who wish to discover and/or develop their clown character by working on: simplicity, sincerity, lightness and vulnerability of play. Using Francine's unique method, the work proposes a series of exercises that develops openness, pleasure, creativity, rhythm, physical precision and being able to listen to your own emotions and impulses.

Ideal for the clown artist with Pochinko-influenced training who wishes to explore a complementary approach to clown as well as artists new to clown who wish to discover their unique clown persona.

Francine Côté is a clown/teacher/director from Montréal who has more than 30 years experience in the creation of comic, physical and clown characters. She has played on the International scene (Circus, Cabaret, Variety's, Festivals), taught in a diverse range of schools (National Theatre School of Canada, Ecole National de Cirque, Ecole de l'Humour (Just for Laughs) and the University of Montreal), and has worked as a stage trainer for different companies (Cirque Éloize, L'Aubergine, En Piste...etc). While touring with Le Cirque du Soleil in London and Paris in 1990 Francine met her partner in clown and life, James Keylon, and this was the beginning of a long-term international career as the duo, "Alfredo et Adrénaline". Pushing in the direction of the modern clown, but inspired by the traditional, these two lovable characters in the throes of their own "Battle of the Sexes" have touched thousands of spectators around the world.

Francine has developed a method of clown training for the professional milieu based on her years of experience as a performer and her early training in Paris with Phillippe Gaulier and Monica Pagneux. Since 2002, she has taught more than 15 workshops a year and continues to train clowns at theatre schools, abroad, and through special coaching.

Francine is also the primary clown trainer for Dr. Clown, a company that brings professional therapeutic clowns into hospitals and long-term care facilities in Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto.

For more information about the workshop, visit http://helendonnelly.com/workshops.html

For more information about Francine's work, visit http://www.formationclown.com/

Save 20% on Cirque Mechanics at the New Victory (NY)

This offer came my way, and I thought I'd share it!

Enjoy!

Join us as Cirque Mechanics transforms The New Victory into a glorious Birdhouse Factory, complete with uniformed unicyclists and acrobatic assembly lines. It's industrial-strength circus fun for the whole family! Performance Schedule: Added performances: Fri 7pm, Sat 2pm & 7pm*, Sun 12pm & 5pm Tue 11/25 at 7pm, Wed 11/26 at 2pm, Fri 11/28 at 2pm, Thu 12/4 & 12/11 at 7pm *No performances on Saturday, 12/6 (New Victory Theater Family Benefit event) Here's How To Save 20% Phone: In person: Call 646-223-3010 and mention the code NYCM856. Visit the The New Victory Theater box office at 209 W. 42nd St., between 7th and 8th Avenues and mention the code NYCM856. Box office hours: Sunday and Monday, 11am - 5pm, Tuesday - Saturday, 12pm - 7pm. Conditions: Offer cannot be combined with any other discount. Offer subject to availability. Discount valid for up to 6 tickets per show. Phone and internet orders subject to standard service fees. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. All sales are final - no refunds or exchanges. Schedule is subject to change. Regular ticket price: $50, $30, $15. Discount ticket price: $40, $24, $12.

Circus Finelli (SF) Nov 7-16

San Francisco, Ca. - Circus Finelli returns to Stage Werx after a sold out run last May. They present a Slavic slapstick cabaret with daring comedy and dangerous cutlery.
A one hour show of Circus Comedy fraught with mishap, sparkles, and sound effects. Come for sights to entice and delight: juggling, cows, contortion, dance and disaster.

Circus Finelli is interactive, bright fun. The “Slapstick Slavic Cabaret” is adult humor with kid sound effects. The show is infused with live music and sounds of the Circus: accordion and ukulele, trombone, crash cymbals and slide whistles. Come early for face-painting and games.

Your host at a Circus Finelli show is man-hungry ringmistress MadameVinaigrette (Verka Zaskodna). She is the Czech juggling bombshell with dangerous plans. She can joke with the audience in seven different languages. Her musical assistant and assailant is accordionista Luz (Luz Gaxiola). Carmelita (Molly Shannon) is the samba diva of a million costumes. And last is Pepito, exploding from all corners. "The Great Alecko; Strongest Man on Earth", will be appearing in the United States exclusively with Circus Finelli. known in Greece as “a demi-god”, Alecko will amaze audiences with
his impossible feats of strength.

Circus Finelli runs two weekends, Nov. 7, 8,9, and 14, 15,16. All shows start at 8pm, doors at 7:30. Stage Werx is located 533 Sutter Street between Powell and Mason. The theatre is close to the Powell Bart station, and is wheelchair accessible.


WHEN: November 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 15th, 16th 2008
Friday, Saturday and Sunday @ 8pm

WHERE: Stage Werx
533 Sutter Street, SF between Powell and Mason
Handicap accessible

TICKETS: $15 at the door or $15 at brownpapertickets.com/event/42383
$12 Students and Seniors

INFO: mail@circusfinelli.com

WEBSITE: http://www.circusfinelli.com
http://www.stagewerx.org