International Clown Hall of Fame to Open Doors on May 21.

ENTER LAUGHING! 

Baraboo’s International Clown Hall of Fame & Research Center Opens For Funny Business On Friday, May 21, 2010

 

Baraboo, WI (April 29, 2010) -- The world’s foremost organization dedicated to the preservation of the art, craft and history of clowning will open its doors in Baraboo on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 10 am. 

The International Clown Hall of Fame & Research Center is located at 102 4^th Avenue in historic Downtown Baraboo, the city that gave birth to Ringling Bros. Circus.  

“Over the past four months we've been involved in the happy task of sorting and cataloguing the world's largest archive of clown artifacts,” says Greg DeSanto, Executive Director of the Hall.  “From the cash box built by August Ringling for his sons’ very first circus performance to the scrapbooks of legendary circus clowns such as Poodles Hanneford, Mark Anthony, the Sherman Brothers to authentic vaudeville contracts, personal effects, costumes, props and correspondence of some of the greatest funnymen on earth, it is our honor and privilege to preserve this priceless resource.”

 

“The clowns who left their professional lives in our care loved their work and their careers, opening their hearts to audiences on a daily basis.  We are extremely excited to be able to share these artifacts and the fascinating stories behind them.” 

In addition to the priceless archives, visitors will see a clowning “Wall of Fame,” honoring the exceptional group of international funny folk who have been enshrined in the Hall. 

“The ICHOF has been embraced by the Baraboo community in every sense of the word,” DeSanto adds.  “Without the support of downtown businesses, local government officials, circus fans and enthusiasts and friends, this opening would have never happened.” 

The Clown Hall of Fame will be open six days a week from 10am to 5pm.  Admission is $5 for adults; $4 for children and seniors.  Rates for groups are also available. 

For further information, call (608-355-0321) or visit the Hall’s website at www.theclownmuseum.com  

“We are honored to join the Circus World Museum and the Al Ringling Theater as key spokes in Baraboo’s celebrated wheel of circus history,” DeSanto concludes.   “We look forward to welcoming you to the legends of laughter.”  

NY Downtown Clown Golden Nose Awards

NEW YORK DOWNTOWN CLOWN
GOLDEN NOSE AWARDS

The New York Downtown Clown Golden Nose Awards

Monday, April 19th, 2010
Red Carpet Arrivals 7:30 pm
Presentation set to begin at 8pm
The Kraine Theatre 85 E 4th St (btwn 2nd Ave & Bowery)

Tickets are not for sale.
To request tickets email info@newyorkdowntownclown.com

Dress: Formal Attire- Noses Optional

Winners of Audience Choice Awards will be announced on April 19th 2010 at The Golden Nose Ceremony and award statues will be given out to the winners.
...

THE 2010 New York Downtown Clown GOLDEN NOSE AWARD NOMINEES ARE:
(nominees appear in alphabetical order) 

Audience Choice Best Clown Act:                  
ICETACLES! The Last Chance of A LIfetime, Created and performed by: Lynn Berg, Audrey Crabtree, Jonathan Kaplan, Maria Parra, Jeff Seal and Shawn Wickens
Choreography by Ronald Hoffman
Kiki and Ted, by Aya Tucker and Aram Alan Aghazarian
Magic!, by Joel Jeske, Mike Richter, and Christopher Lueck
Otto and Lewis, by Matthew Duncan and Brian Foley, aka Bambouk Clown Theatre.
Audience Choice Best Clown Character:       
Brett Alters- Squeeks the Clown
Eric Davis- Red Bastard
Olivia Lehrman-Ms. Pretty Smart
Roland Zwicker Jr.- Roland Zee
Clown of The Year:
Eric Davis will be awarded the 2010 Clown of the Year Award for his unparalleled service to the clown community. This year alone Mr. Davis directed Kill Me Loudly:  A Clown Noir, taught workshops in Bouffon and Clown, was a finalist for the Andy Kaufman Award at Caroline's Comedy Club, and is a curator for the upcoming NY Clown Theatre Festival. Mr. Davis’ artistic work serves as an ambassador of American performance to the world. He has performed his famed Red Bastard character around the globe including shows in Canada, Europe, and Australia. His work is completely valued by his peers and therefore has workshopped Ovo and the new Kodak Theater project, both for Cirque du Soleil. It is with great respect and gratitude that New York Downtown Clown presents the 2010 Clown of The Year Award to Eric Davis.
Clown Organization of The Year:
Big Apple Circus Clown Care

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees.

-----------------------

New York Downtown Clown is proud to present the ONLY Clown Awards Show in North America- The New York Downtown Clown Golden Nose Awards.

This fourth-time annual event will honor Clown Excellence from performances of the New York Downtown Clown Monthly Revue’s 2010 year. In addition to the awards presented, the evening will include performances, door prizes, red carpet, and audience participation games with prizes. The show will also feature Clown Superstar Presenters.

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE SHOW

AWARD CATAGORY EXPLANATIONS 

The Audience Choice Awards go to the clown or clown group which receives the most votes over the past year at The New York Downtown Clown Revue performances in a specific category. The four Nominees are the top four most voted for in each category. The one with the most votes in a category is the winner of that category and will be announced at the Golden Nose Awards Ceremony on May 19th.

Clown Organization of the Year goes to the company or group that has accomplished an outstanding clown achievement. This award goes to large scale achievements which serve the clown community as a whole or to achievements of clown work for commercial/mass appeal. Nomination and Award are at the discretion of New York Downtown Clown producers.

To be eligible for the Clown of the Year category, the clown must have appeared on stage or in a film of the current year’s Clown Revue. This award is for individual clowns that work professionally and artistically and have also made contributions to the larger clown community through education, mentorship, directing, producing, and/or other forms. Nomination and Award are at the discretion of New York Downtown Clown producers.

This is the only Clown Awards Show in North America.

Splinterhead Clown Noses in Union Square November 7 (NY)

Splinterheads Takes Union Square

Saturday Nov 7, 2009

at Union Square Park:

In support of the upcoming independent film, Splinterheads, Come get down with the clowns in Union Square Park on Saturday 11/7/2009!

They are handing out over 3000 RED NOSES to create one of the most unique iconic New York photograph that Union Square has ever seen.

Where: Union Square Park South, facing the DSW store sign
When: 4:30 PM (and not a minute later!)
What: don your nose, raise you hands and look into the sky for the coolest aerial photo Union Square has ever seen!


There are a couple of ways to get your nose.

1pm-5pm "Joey The Clown", the rudest dunking clown in the business, will be set up on 13th street between 4th and Broadway accompanied by a carnival atmosphere with fans, cast and filmmakers, and carnival attractions. Come and show off your Yankees pitching skills and try and drown the clown. Free noses will be handed out from 1pm-4pm.


Splinterheads will be playing at the Regal Union Square Theater
Noses will also be handed out at the 11:50am and 2:20pm showings.

*2:20pm - Chris McDonald and Lea Thompson will give a Q and A

See the trailer at: http://www.splinterheads.com and buy tickets at http://www.Fandango.com

Silent Clowns Film Series Fall/Winter 2009 (NY)

THE SILENT CLOWNS FILM SERIES

MEETS "THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES" HEAD-ON...

WITH SLAPSTICK SALUTES TO

FOLKS JUST TRYING TO GET BY!

( NOTE NEW THEATER LOCATION!!)

The Silent Clowns Film Series has become the place for film buffs and families to go to see classic silent comedy films. Presenting its programs on Sunday afternoons from fall to spring the series has offered hundreds of classic film fans and young people all over the tri-state region the chance to see Chaplin, Keaton, and everyone in-between. All shows feature live piano accompaniment by Ben Model.

The Silent Clowns' Fall / Winter 2009 season tips its hats (all of them) the slapstick art of survival with five programs of classic silent comedy shorts and features helmed by the likes of: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Our Gang, Ben Turpin, Charley Chase, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Harry Langdon. All this culminates in a December showing of Laurel & Hardy silents where the audience will vote online for their faves to be screened.

The Silent Clowns Film Series is held at

THE ARCLIGHT THEATRE

152 WEST 71st STREET, betw B'way and Columbus)

Subway: 1, 2 or 3 W72. or C to W72
Tickets are $10.00 all adults and $5.00 for kids and seniors.
Live piano accompaniment by Ben Model
Tickets are sold at the door. For more information visit www.silentclowns.com or call 212-712-SCFS.

THE SILENT CLOWNS FILM SERIES

2009 FALL/WINTER SCHEDULE

All programs feature live musical accompaniment by Ben Model.

Sunday, October 11 at 2pm

Comedy on the Bum

- or -

The Elegance of Indigence

Tramps (a.k.a. “Knights of the Road”) were popular comic characters on stage, in comic strips, and in early films. While Charlie Chaplin used it for his regular screen persona, most of the other big name comics spent some time cinematically "on the bum". Today’s down-and-outers include Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle in Fatty's New Role ('15), Charlie Chaplin’s Easy Street ('17), Harold Lloyd in From Hand To Mouth ('19 ), Buster Keaton’s The Goat ('21), and Fiddlesticks ('27) with Harry Langdon.

Sunday, October 25 at 2pm

Harold Lloyd in "Dr. Jack" (1922)

Remembered today as the "third genius" of silent comedy, Harold Lloyd was always first at the box office.Dr. Jack ('22), although not as well known as Grandma's Boy ('22) or The Freshman ('25), is equally funny and presents Harold as a country doctor who uses scares and thrills to help a young rich girl get rid of parasitic doctors. Also on this Halloween program is Buster Keaton surrounded by eerie goings-on inThe Haunted House ('21).

Sunday, November 8 at 2pm

Slapstick Show-Biz Part One:

Stagecraft Shenanigans

Since most of the silent film comedians came from the stage, it was only natural that they would use their theatre background and experiences for comic material. Tough company managers, over-ripe melodramas and fly-by-night theatre troupes are some of the subjects at hand today in the Thanhouser company’s The Soap Suds Star (215), Charlie Chaplin’s The Property Man ('14), The Play House ('21) with Buster Keaton, Charley Chase’s Bromo and Juliet ('26), and Lupino Lane in Drama Deluxe ('27).

Sunday, November 22 at 2pm

Slapstick Show-Biz Part Two:

Chaos on the Set

The second part of our Show-Biz programs finds our silent clowns poking fun at themselves and their style of filmmaking. Nothing could be simpler or handier (not to mention cheaper) than using their own studios as background for slapstick antics, which today gives us precious behind-the-scenes glimpses of where and how these films were made. On the bill is Everett True Breaks into the Movies ('16), Charlie Chaplin’s Behind the Screen ('16), Hey There ('18) with Harold Lloyd, Our Gang’s Dogs of War ('23), and The Daredevil ('23) starring Ben Turpin.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, December 6 at 2pm

Laurel & Hardy: U-Pick 'Em!

*Audience Favorites*

After years of solo work, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy came together at the Hal Roach Studio in 1927.In their comedies human foibles and the frustrations of everyday life were magnified a hundred times over. Now you have the opportunity to select which of their silent shorts you’d like to see. Vote online on our website, and the four finalists will be screened at this show! Visit our website to go to the voting page.

Cirque du soleil stilt walking event June 16, 2009

Stilt-walkers gathering for the 25th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil on June 16, 2009

Five years after setting the first Guinness world record for the most people simultaneously walking on stilts, Cirque du Soleil is inviting its artists and employees of Fortaleza (Brazil), Las Vegas (U.S.A.), Lisbon (Portugal), Macau (China), Montreal (Canada), Nagoya (Japan), New York (U.S.A.), Orlando (U.S.A.) and Tokyo (Japan), as well as the population of Moscow (Russia), to gather on June 16, 2009 and help it reclaim the title.

The 2004 record and beyond

In 2004, to mark its 20th anniversary in a slightly eccentric way, Cirque du Soleil set the first Guinness world record for stilt-walking with 544 employees from its International Headquarters in Montreal taking part. In 2006, a group of Japanese people beat Cirque’s record with 614 stilt-walkers and, in 2008, 625 young people from Brandford, Ontario (Canada), took the title from the Japanese!

The June 16 event will be a worldwide gathering to celebrate 25 years of Cirque du Soleil.

In NY the event will be From Noon to 1:30 p.m At Pier 84 – Midtown West Cross at W.44th or W.43rd Street

Cirque also provides a stilt-making guide and video for those who are crafty.

Stilt-Making Guide
Demo video

> Read more

Great Russian Water Circus

SAVE 10% on tickets to The Great Russian Water Circus Coming in September 2009 to Staten Island. BUY TICKETS NOW

Save 10% on tickets to The Great Russian Water Circus at the Staten Island Mall under the Big Top!

First time ever in New York! A one-of-a-kind international sensation, The Great Russian Water Circus is the world's only touring water circus and it's coming to New York after 35 countries and countless standing "Bravo" ovations. A water spectacle with 50 extraordinary acrobats, jugglers, magicians, clowns and synchronized swimmers, 350 spectacular costumes, sensational sets with stunning special effects and 75,000 gallons of water that will dazzle and amaze you.

Don't Miss This Splash Extravaganza!

Cruel & Unusual Comedy at MOMA (NY) May 20-June 1, 2009

Cruel and Unusual Comedy: Social Commentary in the American Slapstick Film

May 20, 2009–June 1, 2009

MOMA will be running a number of silent film comedies during the last part of the month. The series, titled Cruel and Unusual Comedy, will feature a number of evenings of silent films, grouped in themes, that use comedy to address pretty . All films are from the U.S. and are silent, with piano accompaniment by Ben Model. All running times are approximate.

You can read film notes written by Steve Masa and Ben Model on their specialty blog http://cruelandunusualcomedy.blogspot.com/

You can find out more about the series on the MOMA website
http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/948

Tickets are $10, less for seniors and students, and free if you are a MOMA member (although you do still require a ticket.

---

Drag Shows: Cross-Dressing the Sexes
Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 4:00 p.m.
With piano accompaniment by Ben Model

• Getting Rid of Trouble 1912. USA. Directed by Del Henderson. With Charlie Murray. 10 min.
• Sweedie Learns to Swim 1914. USA. Directed by Wallace Beery. With Beery. 10 min.
• Chasing the Chaser 1925. USA. Directed by Stan Laurel. With James Finlayson. 10 min.
• Get ‘Em Young 1926. USA. Directed by Fred Guiol. With Stan Laurel. 18 min.
• Good Night Nurse 1917. USA. Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle. With Arbuckle, Buster Keaton. 18 min.

---

Race Riots: Beyond Black and White
Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 4:00 p.m
With piano accompaniment by Ben Model

• A Change of Complexion 1914. USA. Directed by Phillips Smalley. With Henry Bergman. 10 min.
• Haunted Spooks 1920. USA. Directed by Hal Roach. With Harold Lloyd, Sunshine Sammy. 20 min.
• Below Zero 1925. USA. Directed by Norman Taurog. With Lige Conley, Spencer Bell. 18 min.
• A Natural Born Gambler 1916. USA. Director unknown. With Bert Williams. 20 min.
• Black and White 1913. USA. Directed by Del Henderson. With David Morris. 10 min.

---

Gratuitous Violence: No Turn Unstoned
Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
With piano accompaniment by Ben Model

• Deep Sea Panic 1924. USA. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. With James Parrott. 12 min.
• Their First Execution 1913. USA. Directed by Mack Sennett. With Ford Sterling. 10 min.
• The Phoney Cannibal 1915. USA. Directed by Charles E. Ward. With Lloyd Hamilton, Bud Duncan. 10 min.
• The Counter Jumper 1922. USA. Directed by Larry Semon. With Semon, Oliver Hardy. 18 min.
• Cold Hearts and Hot Flames 1916. USA. Directed by John G. Blystone. With Billie Ritchie. 20 min

---

Animals and Children: No Harm Done
Friday, May 29, 2009, 4:00 p.m
With piano accompaniment by Ben Model

• An Elephant on His Hands 1912. USA. Directed by Frederick Thomson. With George Ober. 10 min.
• Cat, Dog, and Co. 1929. USA. Directed by Anthony Mack. With the Our Gang kids. 18 min.
• Mind the Baby 1924. USA. Directed by Al Herman. With Pal the dog. 18 min.
• The Knockout 1923. USA. Directed by Len Powers. With the Dippy-Doo-Dads. 10 min.
• When Summer Comes 1922. USA. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. With Billy Bevan. 18 min.

---

The Machine Age: Mack Sennett vs. Henry Ford
Monday, June 1, 2009, 4:00 p.m.
With piano accompaniment by Ben Model

• Lizzies of the Field 1924. USA. Directed by Del Lord. With Billy Bevan. 18 min.
• His Bread and Butter 1916. USA. Directed by Edward Cline, Hank Mann. With Mann, Slim Summerville. 18 min.
• Get Out and Get Under 1920. USA. Directed by Hal Roach. With Harold Lloyd. 18 min.
• Squeaks and Squawks 1920. USA. Directed by Noel M. Smith. With Jimmy Aubrey, Oliver Hardy. 18 min.
• Neck and Neck 1924. USA. Directed by Fred Hibbard. With Lige Conley. 18 min.

UP and cLOWN: (Jim Moore Clown Photographic exhibit) starts May 15 (NY)

UP and CLOWN: Photographic Cacophony of Eccentric Performers

For the last 30 years, Jim Moore has been photographing all kinds of clowns, mimes, and eccentric performers. On May 15 the SB Digital Gallery will be hosting an exhibit of Jim's photographs. The exhibit will feature over 300 shots, including shows of the NY Downtown Clown Revue, where Jim is the photographer in residence.

Mr. Moore was a mime street performer during the 70’s and 80’s, he is particularly adept at capturing precise and striking moments of revelry and performance, using his insider's eye. For the last 30 years Jim has been in, on and behind the scenes at venues such as The Big Apple Circus, Bottom Line, Dixon Place and The New York Downtown Clown Revue. His diverse range of photographs include magicians, clowns, puppeteers, mimes, ventriloquists, performance artists, sword swallowers, tightrope walkers, and high wire walkers, including Philip Petit, star of last year's documentary hit Man on Wire, in which many of Jim's photographs were used.

Some of the people featured in this current exhibit are: Eric Bogosian, Paul Zaloom, Marcel Marceau, world famous juggler Francis Brunn, world famous magician Slydini, world renown clown Joel Jeske, world renown clown Gardi Hutter, and sword swallower Joey Colon, along with many others.

The show opens on Friday May 15th at SB Digital Gallery 125 East 4th St., from 6 to 9pm. Refreshments will be served. There are 300 photographs being presented, and they will be projected onto four large high definition monitors and a digital projector.
You can call the gallery for more info at 212-979-7239

For more information about Jim's work, visit his website

http://www.moorepics.com

Some images of the upcoming exhibit are below.

	Ctibor Turba
	Ambrose Martel
	Joel Jeske
	McCormack & Parenti
	Paul Zaloom

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

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

Dell'arte MFA program in SF June 13-15

Although this deals with tragedy, and not circus/clowning per se-- the way that Dell'arte trains and deals with tragedy/melodrama is related enough to clown for me to include it here. If you can see the show, check it out and report back!

Between Two Winters
Created by the MFA Ensemble of the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre

Catherine Tuttle, the accomplished and commanding mayor of Kalispell, MT, and her daughter, Naomi, travel to the deserts of Kuwait to honor a hero who was instrumental in extinguishing fires after the war in the Persian Gulf. During the course of the tribute, Catherine and this man recognize one another and now must reconcile a past they both have spent their lives running from. Between Two Winters is the culminating performance of the second year masters students in their study of the Tragic form.

Tragedy is a form that, at its root, pits the rational and ordered world against the world of terror and chaos. It deals with the human drive to step out of the chorus to stand for and proceed into the hero's journey, unwilling to be passive anymore in a world that defies logic and reason. This sets the tragic hero onto an irreversible collision course with the unrelenting forces of fate that result in a crash of cosmic proportions.

Fri, Jun. 13 - 8:00P
Sat, Jun. 14 - 2:30P
Sat, Jun. 14 - 8:00P
Sun, June 15 - 2:30P


At The Magic Theatre
For directions to The Magic Theatre, go to: http://www.magictheatre.org/pages/location.shtml

Call 707-668-5663 to inquire about student, educator and group discounts
For more information, go to: http://dellarte.com/

Laugh Out Loud Festival (NY)-3 more days

Emerging Artists Theatre and Paul Adams, Artistic Director, has been presenting a festival entitled LAUGH OUT LOUD at the Roy Arias Theatre Center, Off-Off Broadway Theatre (300 West 43rd St, 5th floor, NYC). The festival is curated by EAT member. Jenny Lee Mitchell and co-curated by Honey Goodenough and Carol Lee Sirugo. Performances began Tuesday, May 27, 2008, and run through Sunday, June 1, 2008.



Here's what's going on for the next three days.

Friday May 30th, 8pm
Host: Deenie Nast - Lucky you-Deenie Nast, Oscar Winner, 2 time Tony winner and international performance artist will grace the LaughOutLoud Festival with her presence, performing a song-filled tribute to herself.
with:
All Kinds of Shifty Villains - directed by Rachel Klein - carnival noir, blending elements of circus with crime fiction
Mika - diabolo artist and juggler
Carol Lee Sirugo - Gwendolyn Rosa Lee is on a mission: to pay homage to her favorite musical, Gypsy. She wishes she could be Gypsy Rose Lee. She can't. But where talent fails, guts prevail!
The Marriage Of Reason - puppetry by Sean Keohane - "The Marriage of Reason": Originally written for children in 1860s Paris, Polichinelle's battle of the sexes with a content bachelorette isn't only Politically Incorrect, it's just wrong! Naughty, bawdy puppets, religious mysticism, and totally unnecessary slapstick violence.
Film Noir Clowns - Jeff Seal and Chris Manley . Two clowns attempt to recreate a classic film noir tale on stage.

Saturday May 31st, 8pm
Host: The Maestrosities - The Coolest Band Ever! Or so they think!!!
with:
Kendall Cornell as The Torch Singer - The Torch Singer laments love in a comically grand style.
Kendall Cornell's Soon-To-Be-World-Famous Women's Clown Troupe kick up their heels with an assortment of comic song and dance numbers."
Mika - diabolo artist and juggler
Carol Lee Sirugo as Gwendolyn Rosa Lee
Rob Lok

Sunday June 1st, 5pm
Host: Dierdre
with:
Logic Limited Ltd - clown troupe
A Wrinkle in Starch - puppetry by Leslie Strongwater and David Michael Friend
Phillip Guerette as Phildo The Clown
Emergency Use Only - puppetry by Erica Mclaughlin
Four droning strangers are stuck in a subway tunnel when inspiration strikes: they put their personal effects together an a puppet eager to dance emerges to breathe life into an otherwise hapless situation.
Miron Gusso - storytelling and clowning

LAUGH OUT LOUD plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, June 1, 2008:

Tuesday at 7:30 pm
Wednesday at 7:30 pm
Thursday at 7:30 pm
Friday at 8:00 pm
Saturday at 8:00 pm
Sunday at 5:00 pm

Tickets are $10. Advanced tickets are recommended (only 55 tickets available per show). For reservations, please visit www.eatheatre.org, or call 866-811-4111.

Tickets may also be purchased in person half-hour prior to the performance at Roy Arias Theatre Center (300 West 43rd St, 5th floor).

* Running Time: 60 minutes *

All performances include an open Talkback Session with the performer and staff after the show.

Emerging Artists Theatre's mission is to provide a dynamic home for emerging writers and artists, providing the unique opportunity for playwrights to collaborate with directors, actors, and designers throughout the development process--from idea through fully realized production. EAT's supportive environment continues to nurture a close-knit group of artists working toward the common goal of creating dynamic theatre, and its commitment to the development of new works is integral to the cultural enrichment of New York City.

To find out more about Emerging Artists, please visit their website listed below:

http://www.eatheatre.org/

Golden Nose winners!

THE 2008 New York Downtown Clown GOLDEN NOSE AWARD WINNERS ARE:

Audience Choice Best Clown Film:
Retard Midget Get Out of My Life, by Happy Hour

Audience Choice Best Clown Act:
At The Opera, by Those In The Nose


Audience Choice Best Clown:
Chris Allison

Clown of The Year:
Keith Nelson


Clown Achievement of The Year:
The Brick Theater, producers of the New York Clown Theatre Festival.

Combustibles Sustainable Circus Benefit -- NY May 29

A Benefit and Birthday Party for The Combustibles
Food, Drinks, Performances, Music, Dancing!

What

* All the beer and wine you can handle
* Local snacks
* Fabulous auction items - Check our website
* Exceptionally strange performances
* Live music!

Set in a sparkling trash heap of a circus ring, jugglers toss water bottles in the air, trash bag balloons fly high, crooners sing songs made from "recycled" lyrics, and hobo clowns appear from the rubble to create treasure from yesterday's trash.

The Combustibles is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Proceeds of the night will go to help The Combustibles produce more exciting work! If you cannot attend, please consider a tax-deductible donation to The Combustibles.

Performers will include:

Hilary Chaplain, Eli Bolin and more!

When

Thursday, May 29, 2008

6:30 - 8pm | Performances
8 - 9pm | Dancing

Where

Gallery MC
549 W. 52nd Street, 8th Floor
(at 11th Avenue)

Tickets are $15

Call: 1-800-838-3006 or visit:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TheCombustibles/3e589c3bc2/0b836a53a4/f5e8cae385 to purchase tickets

For More Info please visit http://www.TheCombustibles.com

NY Downtown Golden Nose Nominees

The 2008 NYDC Golden Nose Award Nominees

New York Downtown Clown would like to thank all the performers of our second year. Without each of their talents, innovations, and hard work, there would be no show on the third Monday of every month. The amazing clowns of New York City are brave, poetic, unique, and funny. New York Clowns are a strong community and the following Nominees represent some of the leaders of clown education, performance, and production from this past year.

AWARD CATAGORY EXPLANATIONS
The Audience Choice Awards go to the clown or clown group who received the most audience votes over the past year at The New York Downtown Clown Revue performances in a specific category. The four Nominees are the top four most voted for in each category. The clown or clown group with the most votes in a category is the winner of that category and will be announced at the Golden Nose Awards Ceremony on May 19th.

Clown Achievement of The Year goes to the company or group that has accomplished an outstanding clown achievement. This award goes to large scale achievements that serve the clown community as a whole or to achievements of clown work for commercial/mass appeal. Nomination and Award are at the discretion of New York Downtown Clown producers.
To be eligible for the Clown of The Year category, the clown must have appeared on stage or in a film of the current year's Clown Revue. This award is for individual clowns who work professionally and artistically and have also made contributions to the larger clown community through education, mentorship, directing, producing, and/or other forms. Nomination and Award are at the discretion of New York Downtown Clown producers.
-
GOLDEN NOSES Created and Provided by ProKNOWS, www.proknows.com
THE 2008 NYDC GOLDEN NOSE AWARD NOMINEES
(nominees appear in alphabetical order)

Audience Choice Best Clown Film:
Gravitational Fool, by Jeff Seal
Retard Midget Get Out of My Life, by Happy Hour

Audience Choice Best Clown Act:
A Clown Noir, by Butt Kapinski
At The Opera, by Those In The Nose
Coney Island Chris, by Chris Allison
Tea for One, by Nina Levine


Audience Choice Best Clown/Clown Group:
Chris Allison
Jef Johnson
Nina Levine
Those In The Nose

Clown of The Year:
Moshe Cohen performed in the September Clown Revue and is nominated as 2008 Clown of The Year for his work as Mr. Yoowho, his teachings of Zen and Clown, and his involvement with Clowns Without Borders USA.

Mark Gindick, whose Happy Hour films were featured in the October Clown Revue is nominated for 2008 Clown of The Year for his work on Big Apple Circus where he shared the role of Grandma, his teaching work at SUNY Purchase, and his coaching with Assortment of Fools.

Jef Johnson performed in the August Clown Revue and is nominated for 2008 Clown of The Year for his work on the international touring production of Slava's Snowshow, and his development of clown and clown training through Jef Johnson's Clown Lab.

Keith Nelson performed in the February Clown Revue and is nominated for 2008 Clown of The Year for his work as Kinko the Clown, the performance initiatives he has co-created through his company Bindlestiff Family Circus, and his teaching work at New York Circus Arts Academy, Wagner College, and several youth programs.

Clown Achievement of The Year:
The Brick Theater, producers of the New York Clown Theatre Festival will receive this year's Clown Achievement of The Year Award.

Congratulations to all the nominees.
More information at www.newyorkdowntownclown.com/awards

TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Get Your tickets now to the only Clown Awards Show in the Country!
THE NEW YORK DOWNTOWN CLOWN GOLDEN NOSE AWARDS
Monday, May 19th, 2008
Red Carpet 7:30pm, Show 8pm
All tickets $20
For tickets call or visit Smarttix at www.smarttix.com or call (212) 868-4444
At The Kraine Theater, 85 EAST 4TH STREET (BETWEEN 2nd & Bowery, 1st FL)
NO WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

JUGGLE THIS! - NYC March 7-9, 2008

	NYC's 7th Annual Juggling Festival! Friday March 7-Sunday March 9, 2008 Pratt Institute 200 Willoughby Ave Brooklyn, NY Juggling, workshops, games, shows, prizes, special guests, a raffle and more!! For more information click the links to the right. All events open to the public. JUGGLING AT PRATT ACTIVITIES RESOURCE BUILDING: FREE and open to the public Friday 5-10:30 pm (open juggling) Saturday 10 am-7 pm (open juggling & workshops) Sunday 10 am-5 pm (open juggling, workshops, & games) SHOW SPECTACULAR AT PRATT MEMORIAL HALL Saturday 7:30 pm Admission $10 Featuring world-class local and international talent, including: From Brooklyn: telepathy from The Adult Circus From southern California: Josh Casey, comedy juggling From the Celebration Barn in South Paris, Maine: Amanda Huotari, dramatic clowning From France, via Montreal's National Circus School (ENC): Florent Lestage, mesmerizing manipulations From NYC: The Maestrosities: The Coolest Band Ever! From rural Vermont: Brent Eden McCoy, "Clown at Work" From Spain, via ENC: David Menes, juggling communication From Harlem, NYC: Paris, the hip-hop juggler From Denmark via France: Jens Sigsgaard, "beyond belief" high-technique juggling and subtle artistry From ENC: Yann et Grég, hand balancing BONUS: Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at the Zipper Factory Sunday, 8pm followed by post-festival party. For details on the show, see bindlestiff.org. Juggle This is hosted by Jugglers Anonymous: the Pratt Chapter with support from the Carmine Street Irregulars For more info about Juggle This, visit their website: http://www.jugglenyc.com/fest_08.html

November 9-11: Conference of Hospital Clowns in Buenos Aires

From November 9-11 there will be The First Congress of Hospital Clowns at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Buenos Aires to teach and talk about the art and science of hospital clowning. It will be in Spanish, and all the information is in Spanish, and my Spanish isn't very good, so some of this info may be wrong-- feel free to correct me, and I'll correct the information)

The conference is being organized by two organizations: Payamédicos, and Clowns No Perecederos. Both organizations organize clowns and artists to help the sick and needy feel better in Buenos Aires. Clowns No Perecederos is a project of Argentinian clown Cristina Marti. I am not 100% sure (as I said, my Spanish isn't very good), but I think they create shows that benefit hungry and homeless kids, and help feed malnourished children. Payamédicos is an organizations similar to the Big Apple Clown Care Unit that connects clowns into hospitals.


There is a full schedule of events during the two days, and it looks like clowns and doctors from Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Spain will be there. The conference will be in Spanish (naturally!)

To find out more about the conference, visit their website listed below:

http://www.congresoclown.blogspot.com/

To find out about the organizations sponsoring the conference, visit their websites.

CLOWNS NO PERECEDEROS
PAYAMÉDICOS

CIRCA: Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army

CIRCA (The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army) is a very loosely organized group that creates protests, actions, events, etc, that are political (and clowny) in nature. They protest at events such as the G8 Summit, Presidential visits, and other events that they think might make a difference. Their aim is to take the ideas and actions of the clown out of the circus ring, birthday party, and stage, and bring them to the street as a method of protest. Or as they say as part of their manifesto:

"CIRCA aims to make clowning dangerous again, to bring it back to the street, restore its disobedience and give it back the social function it once had: its ability to disrupt, critique and heal society. Since the beginning of time tricksters (the mythological origin or all clowns) have embraced life's paradoxes, creating coherence through confusion - adding disorder to the world in order to expose its lies and speak the truth."

They hold training events for non-clowns to learn their techniques (both clown techniques and civil disobedience techniques), and offer advice to groups looking to form. The groups (called gaggles) are autonomous, and do their own actions and events. CIRCA provides some basic ideas about things to do at a protest, but each group is responsible for their own work.


The group seems to be mostly European based, with many of the actions that they list happening in London, and in Europe. Because of the loose structure & clandestine nature of the group, it's hard to say who is actually a member, and who is dressed at a clown as part of a protest.

To find out more about this group, and how to start a gaggle of your own, visit their website listed below:

http://www.clownarmy.org

Clown Festival-- First Cabaret

Went to the first cabaret tonight-- it was very full (I'd say over sold, but the tickets were free, and the fire marshal may not be happy to hear about it- so let's just say that it was full of people.)

It was my first time at the Brick, which is a nice and cozy space. Although they had a mongo air conditioner front and center, it was too little too late, the space was very hot, what with all the people. Fortunately, there were plenty of chinese hand fans in evidence (and liberally used)

One of the best things about a festival like this (in addition to seeing the work, of course) is running into new friends and old friends. I ended up talking for sometime with a new friend- a Danish clown who is living in London and working with a Russian troupe (and it turns out we have a lot of the same influences!) It was great talking to him. (His name was improbably Denni Dennis (and his website is http://www.dennidennis.com )


There were a number of acts performing little tidbits of their upcoming performances. Acts ran about 8 minutes, and while some seemed well suited or designed to pique the interest in the 8 minutes, other shows were less adept at making the cabaret/showcase spot work for them. Nevertheless, all of the shows looked redeeming and pretty interesting (it's just that some looked more interesting than others) The worst part for me is because of all my other commitments, there are lots of shows I won't be able to see.

Hot on the list was an old friend Rob Torres, who has been performing on the cruise ship circuit for some time, and has been working on a new solo show that is premiering at the festival called NO PLACE LIKE HOME. That show is directed by Avner Eisenberg. For the cabaret, Rob did a number of funny bits, including some great hat tricks, a bunch of stuff you shouldn't do with masking tape, and a brilliant tie-tying rope trick.

Another great act was COPS by EFS, a Catalan company. Three guys perform a number of routines based on noir. The scene they showed was an infiltration of a drug bust, featuring cocaine, money, a violin, and a lot of mishaps. It's clear that the guys have a great comic energy together, and are exceedingly well cast. Their show looks like a great deal of fun.

Another show that looked like a lot of fun was the Canadian clown show Bubkus. The lead clown Jesse Buck did an 8 minute piece that was nearly ruined by a slightly drunk or high giggly clown girl in the front row, who laughed at every opportunity (and some that she shouldn't have) and was just a little too game to be picked as a volunteer. Buck handled her very well, and also did some very funny obstacle bits with his toothbrush stuck in a bottle of water.

Other shows that looked interesting included The Combustibles Burnt Umber, Erin Bouvey as Flam St. Cyr and her black pussy...Dill and Digger from Norway, and a very interesting act that was just coming in from San Francisco for the day--Jamie Coventry and Natasha Kaluza as Mr. and Mrs. Legume. They did a few funny music bits, including some great body drumming.

At the end of the night, a crowd hung for a while in front of the Brick deciding where to go, and it was nice to see the clown energy. I think the festival needs a beer tent (or a designated drinking spot) It won't help me, as the best way to get there for me is to drive.... Still, it would be nice to hang out with everybody.

All in all, a very good night for the festival, and I think a great start. I only wish I had the time to see every show and take every class. It would be a LOT of fun.

===
If you like this post-- consider reading clownlink.com, links to all things clown and wonderful.

You can also subscribe to the RSS Feed here.
===

Free Events at the NY Clown Theatre Festival

There are a number of free events going on during the festival.

for a list of all the events, your best bet is to visit the festival website:

2nd Annual NY Clown Theatre Festival

It's got much more complete information.

Events include:

October 5: 4:30 pm Parade, Pie Fights, and a cabaret
(Starting at Union Square Park, and taking the L to the Brick Theater.) Just like it sounds, with a huge pie fight somewhere in the middle. Cabaret starts at 10:30 pm.



October 5, various times: HUMÔRTAL (roving throughout Union Square)
Spanish clowns who perform a roving street show where they are professional pall bearers looking for work-- and they even bring their own coffin.



October 18 at 8 pm: THE CLOWN OLYMPICS & CABARET(at the Brick Theater)
In conjunction with Downtown Clown Revue, the Festival presents the first-ever CLOWN OLYMPICS! Events include Slapstick, Eccentric Dance, and, of course, Synchronized Kiddy Pool Swimming. For more info, visit http://www.newyorkdowntownclown.com/workshops.htm
The Free Cabaret will begin at 10:30 pm.



October 19 at 11 pm CLOWN BAR HOP (starts at Macri Park Bar, 462 Union Avenue (between Metropolitan Ave. and Conselyea St)
Put on your best clown nose, slip on those big shoes and celebrate the 2nd Annual NY Clown Theatre Festival in style! Join in the fun and frivolity with these red-nosed pros as they spread the mirth and merriment with a massive late night bar crawl. Watch the hipsters scatter as this horde of clowns drink their way through Williamsburg. Sorry, hipsters, BOOZE is not free.



October 21 at 9 pm: GRANDMA SPEAKS: BARRY LUBIN OF BIG APPLE CIRCUS (at the Brick Theater)
Barry Lubin, Grandma from the Big Apple Circus, will talk about his 33 years of professional clown and circus experience.



October 23 at 8:30 pm: AN EVENING WITH GIOVANNI FUSETTI (at the Brick Theater)
Giovanni Fusetti, clown, director, and teacher will discuss his 20 years of work in the theater, especially about his new form of theatre creation entitled Helikos.



October 27 at 2pm: THE CLOWNS OF VAUDEVILLE by Trav. S. D.(at the Brick Theater)
Trav S.D., author of NO APPLAUSE, JUST THROW MONEY: THE BOOK THAT MADE VAUDEVILLE FAMOUS will talk about some of the most important clowns of the vaudeville era.
For more information, visit: www.el.net/mountebanks/travsd.html



October 28 at 6:30 pm:CLOWN FESTIVAL FUNERAL(starting at Bedford at North 7th, proceeding to the Brick Theater)
The 2nd Annual NY Clown Theatre Festival will be mourned in style in a Felliniesque clown funeral/procession. The Maestrosities will provide suitably somber clown music.