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.”  

Call for submissions 2010 Toronto Festival of Clown

Call for submissions 2010 Toronto Festival of Clowns

From June 3rd to 6th, 2010, some of the World's best Clown and Physical performers will take over 6 Noble Street, the beautiful Pia Bauman School of Creative Movement.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL.

The Toronto Festival of Clowns aims to bring together clowns and physical theatre artists of all disciplines and backgrounds and provide a common space to showcase their work. 

Now entering its 5^th year, the festival continues to encourage the risk and exploration of the clown, hosting new and established works that inspire and delight. 

Past festivals have hosted some of North America’s top clowns, including David Craig (Roseneath Theatre, Napalm the Magnificent), Eric Davis (Red Bastard), Michelle Smith and Dean Gilmour (Theatre Smith-Gilmour), Sue Morrison (Institute of Canadian Clowning), John Turner (Mump & Smoot), and Leah Cherniak (Theatre Columbus).

Call for performers
They are looking for 4 full-length productions with a maximum show length of 60 minutes.  All forms and styles of clowning and physical theatre are encouraged to apply – Red nose, mask, bouffon, character pieces, acrobatics, et al.  Please note that the festival is not tailored towards children.
How to Apply
Your application should include the following:

1. Primary contact name, phone, snail and email addresses
2. The title of your piece, playwright, genre and running time
3. Performer/company names and bios
4. Short description of piece/Letter of intent (maximum 3 pages)
5. Photos are very important for us to have to get some visual sense of your show/what you’re working on.  Hard copies are great or digital files – send to festival@torontoclown.com
6. Video (optional)
7. Technical or other special requirements (we may be able to accommodate these with enough notice)
8. 2 cheques/money orders payable to Canada Clown:
1. a non-refundable $25 CDN administration fee
2. $150 production fee: This will ONLY be cashed if your show is accepted into the Festival – if your show is not accepted, the cheque will be destroyed

They must receive your application on or before Monday March 22^nd, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. On or before April 5^th you will be contacted regarding the status of your application.  Should your show be accepted, you will be notified at this time of performance dates and times.

NOTE:  If you withdraw from the festival after April 19^th, you will lose 50% ($75) of your production fee.  If you withdraw from the festival less than one month prior to your performance date, your $150 production fee will not be refunded. 
To apply send your submission to:  
Toronto Festival of Clowns
551 Concord Ave. #1
Toronto, ON, M6H 2R2
What you get:

• 2 performance dates and times over the duration of the festival.
• All performances in a newly renovated 115 seat theatre, with back stage access and a back cross
• Basic festival lighting and sound capability
• 2 lighting specials per company
• A green room
• Blanket festival publicity – the Festival has been featured in the Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, CBC, Andy Barrie in the morning, NOW Magazine and the Festival has also served as a scouting ground for Cirque du Soleil.
• 75% percent of the ticket money sold for your show.  Single tickets will cost $10.   

NOTE:  You must PROVIDE YOUR OWN STAGE MANAGER for your production should you be accepted into the Festival.

If you have any questions please feel free to email:  festival@torontoclown.com

The Holey Trinity of Festival Producers:
Dave McKay, Adam Lazarus, Sarah Buski

February 25: International Commedia Dell'Arte Day

(Thanks to new papa Brian Foley for bringing this to my attention!) He'll also be performing at the View Theatre, Roy Arias Studios on Feb 25 in celebration.  See the postcard below for details)

Associazione SAT

has proclaimed February 25, 2010, a worldwide Commedia dell'Arte Day

Simultaneous events will occur all around the world as theatre companies, scholars, students, and audiences celebrate Commedia dell'Arte on Feb 25, 2010. There will be shows, conferences, lectures, and workshops in dozens of global cities. This worldwide festival is promoted by the Italian cultural association SAT and organized by Faction of Fools using viral and grassroots tools, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

View the current list of worldwide participants!

For more information, email them, join the Facebook group “Commedia
dell'Arte Day,” and become a "Facebook fan" of Faction of Fools.

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Theatre companies--large and small--will produce shows in the style of Commedia dell'Arte using traditional character types and scenarios. On Feb 25th, events will occur in hundreds of cities as diverse as Boston, Barcelona, Bangkok, and Beirut. The flagship event will be in Bologna where SAT and La Fraternal Compagnia will host an international conference of prominent European scholars and performers. Other companies are invited to produce events in their own cities and may utilize the free scripts and performance guides that are available on the Faction of Fools website http://www.factionoffools.org.

Commedia will also be in the classroom as theatre instructors dedicate their February 25th class time to Commedia dell'Arte at drama schools and universities around the world. Primary and secondary school teachers in the US can find easy-to-use, free curriculum that will aid them in teaching a lesson on Commedia dell'Arte tailored to their theatre, art, history, literature, or language classes. Curriculum will be available on the Faction of Fools website in January.

Did you know that Commedia dell' Arte is not recognized
as a "World Cultural Heritage"?

The United Nations' cultural wing (UNESCO) has officially recognized indigenous theatre traditions such as Japan's Noh and Kabuki; however, the famous "stock characters" of Commedia dell'Arte--Arlecchino (Harlequin), Pulcinella, Dottore (the Doctor), Pantalone (the Pantaloon), Scapin (Scapin), and Scaramuccia (Scarmouche)--have yet to be acknowledged.

The Italian cultural association SAT is petitioning the nation of Italy and the United Nations (UNESCO) for official recognition of this famous and monumental theatre form, and Faction of Fools is proud to support this appeal.

To organize a “Commedia dell'Arte Day” event in a theatre or classroom near you or for more information about SAT's petition for recognition of Commedia dell'Arte as "World Cultural Heritage," email Faction of Fools Artistic Director Matthew R. Wilson.

Commedia dell'Arte Day is promoted by SAT and is organized by Faction of Fools and the SAT project incommedia.it.

Toronto Clown Festival June 4-7, 2009

The Toronto Festival of Clowns aims to bring together clowns and physical theatre artists of all disciplines and backgrounds and provide a common space to showcase their work.

Now entering their 4th year, the festival continues to encourage the risk and exploration of the clown, hosting new and established works that inspire and delight.

Past festivals have hosted some of North America’s top clowns, including David Craig (Roseneath Theatre, Napalm the Magnificent), Eric Davis (Red Bastard), Dean Gilmour (Theatre Smith-Gilmour), Sue Morrison (Institute of Canadian Clowning) and John Turner (Mump & Smoot).

All tickets $10 except Masters of Clown $20
for more info visit:
http://www.TorontoClown.com
festival@torontoclown.com
647 504-7873



READ INTERVIEWS WITH PERFORMERS

2009 TORONTO FESTIVAL OF CLOWNS LINEUP

	Chaotica
	When: Thursday, June 4, 2009 to Saturday, June 6, 2009	Where: Toronto Festival of Clowns
6:30pm, Thursday June 4 8pm, Saturday June 6 CHAOTICA reveals the madcap adventures of Alice, a stressed out artist caught in a nightmarish board game that transforms her into different versions of who she thinks she wants to be. But this isn't your usual parlour game. Strategies both comic and brutal force Alice to confront her fears and desires, until she realizes who is really in control of her destiny.
	Spent
	When: Thursday, June 4, 2009 to Sunday, June 7, 2009	Where: Toronto Festival of Clowns
8pm, Thursday June 4 6:30pm, Sunday June 7 Did somebody say Crisis?! On September 26, 2008, two execs went to sleep with their hopes and dreams tucked safely in the bank. The next morning as the alarm buzzed, they wiped the sleep from their eyes and awoke to find everything gone! was it a dream?... a nightmare? It was a crisis!!
	Clown Chowder 2009 TFOC
	When: Thursday, June 4, 2009 9:30 PM	Where: Toronto Festival of Clowns
9:30pm, Thursday June 4 The final evening of Owen Anderson's clown cabaret.
	Big Girls Don't Cry
	When: Friday, June 5, 2009 to Saturday, June 6, 2009	Where: Toronto Festival of Clowns
8pm, Friday June 5 6:30pm, Sunday June 7 A new show from the creator of "Joe the perfect man."
	An Exercise in Futility/And now a message from Mr. Mr.
	When: Friday, June 5, 2009 to Sunday, June 7, 2009	Where: Toronto Festival of Clowns
6:30pm, Friday June 5 8pm, Sunday June 7 Double bill from Nathan Schwartz and Michael Rubenfeld.
	Masters of Clown 2009 TFOC
	When: Friday, June 5, 2009 9:30 PM	Where: Toronto Festival of Clowns
9:30pm, Friday June 5 The festival gala showcase of clown masters who have made a great contribution to the physical theatre community. Featuring Giuseppe Condello, Leah Cherniak, Helen Donnelly and Mark Andrada.
	Lunacy Cabaret 2009 TFOC
	When: Saturday, June 6, 2009 9:30 PM	Where: Toronto Festival of Clowns
9:30pm, Saturday June 6 Toronto's wildest clown cabaret at a special west-end location.
	Bouffon Show 2009 TFOC
	When: Sunday, June 7, 2009 9:30 PM	Where: Toronto Festival of Clowns
9:30pm, Sunday June 7 One of the few chances in North America to see an entire cabaret of bouffon characters.

May USArtists International Deadline Approaching!

May USArtists International Deadline Approaching!

USArtists International has recently expanded its aesthetic and geographic parameters and now includes support for American dance, music, and theater ensembles and solo artists invited to perform at significant international festivals anywhere in the world outside the United States and its territories. The application deadline for the next grant round of the program will be on Monday, May 4, 2009 for projects taking place between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. For a copy of program guidelines and application click here. Questions about USArtists International should be directed to Nicole Russ, at nicole@midatlanticarts.org or via telephone at 410.539.6656 x120. Contact Them email: karen@midatlanticarts.org web: http://www.midatlanticarts.org

Support Hospital Clowns in Haifa!

A friend of mine who is a rabbi is doing a bike tour in Israel with his congregants next week, raising money for a cause.

This year the cause is hospital clowns of Haifa!

Read his letter, and if you are so inclined, support his efforts.

You can find out more about the program "Dream Doctors" at

http://www.le-haim.org.il/site/index.asp

You have to wait for the flash, and then click on the English logo.

Pick a hospital, and you can find out more about the program, and the clowns who work it too.


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Dear Friends,

A dream is about to become reality for myself and a number of my congregants who will begin a ten day, 350 mile biking adventure on October 19th, 2008 in Israel.

In the spirit of fixing that which is broken in the world, we have selected The Children's Hospital Medical Clowns Project of Rambam Medical Center in Haifa to be the recipient of our fund raising efforts. This initiative brings clowns to the oncology ward, using their skills to entertain the children, providing them a much needed respite for them and their families through laughter, compassion and joy.

I am looking for your help and support in making this dream a reality through your generosity. Please help us put a smile on a child's face by making a donation of sponsorship. Donations can be made easily and quickly online by clicking on the following link:

http://www.shaaraytefila.org/we_care/tzedakah.php

Many thanks in advance for your support and much love,

Jason