Circus Oz

Circus Oz is an Australian circus that tours internationally. Begun in Melbourne, Australia in 1978, The company's rock and roll style animal free circus with a live band has toured from New York to Hong Kong.


The Circus Oz show is characterized by a multi-talented ensemble. It's not unusual to see the drummers get up and do an acrobatic adagio and then sit back down and drum. One show I saw a number of years ago, the entire band and their instruments were flown upside down while playing.

Another typical act is an upside down wire act, in which one of the performers performs a tightwire style act, but upside down.

During February, they will be touring to Berkeley CA and Austin Texas in the US, before heading back to Australia in March.

SCHEDULE 2009
Berkeley, CA, USA 5th February 2009 - 8th February 2009
Austin, TX, USA 13th February 2009 - 14th February 2009
Auckland, NZ 5th March 2009 - 15th March 2009
Nelson, NZ 19th March 2009 - 22nd March 2009

To find out more about Circus Oz, please visit their website listed below.
http://www.circusoz.com

Scott & Muriel (and sometimes Joe)

Scott Nelson & Muriel Brugman are award-winning illusionists and visual comedians. Based in the Netherlands, they have traveled to over 14 countries, won the Grand Prix at the 2000 World Championship of Magic in Lisbon, have worked with Cirque du Soleil (on their television show Solstrom) and create their own illusions.

Last year they were a big hit at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival (double prize winners!)

On occasion Scott & Muriel work with former Ringling clown/Dellarte graduate Joe Dieffenbacher in a three person show called (aptly) Scott & Muriel's Big Show (with Joe). It also features four musicians, and a lot of physical and visual comedy.

Other shows are called Grand Delusions and Two By Two.

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

http://www.scottandmuriel.com

You can also watch this video below of them at work at the 2008 Monte Carlo festival.

ClownBrasil.blogspot.com

Clownbrasil is just what it sounds like-- a Brazilian blog dedicated to clowns. They have a number of videos up (mostly from Youtube) with examples and samples of Brazilian clowns. It is curated by Brazilian clown Eduardo Castro.

Great stuff!

Most of the clips are in Portuguese, but the site itself uses the Google translation feature, so you can get rough translations of text via Google to English (and a number of other languages.

To find out more, visit the website listed below:

http://clownbrasil.blogspot.com

Ira Seidenstein & Quantum Theatre

Ira Seidenstein is an Australian actor, clown, and clown teacher. He's been teaching, directing, and performing for over 30 years. Ira was a student of Carlo Mazzone Clemente (founder of Dell'arte) and of Danny Chapman, one of the great Ringling clowns (and one of the original founders of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Clown College.) Ira also has an MA, is a PHD candidate, and has studied healing at the Berkeley Psychic Institute, and Iyengar yoga also.

Ira has taught and performed with a number of companies, including Cirque du Soleil, Circus Oz, Circus Smirkus, Legs on the Wall, Chaplin's Eye, the Bell Shakespeare Company, and many more. He also coaches performers and shows on an international basis.

In 1993 he developed a concept called Quantum Theatre, which he teaches and practices regularly. Quantum Theatre is a "unified theory" of performance that brings the actor from Slapstick to Shakespeare (one of Ira's many workshops is called Shakespeare's Clowns). He uses exercises he invented such as the Creative Twist, which uses the body as a moving, living statue to augment traditional and other methods of theatre, including Suzuki, ballet, Noh, and Kabuki.

In 2005, Ira started the next phase of Quantum Theatre, I.S.A.A.C. (International School of Acting AND Clown), which is not a school like a building but a school of philosophy and practices. It should be noted that Isaac means "To Laugh" in Hebrew.

Here Ira describes Quantum Theatre:

Quantum Theatre has three systems and each has ten principles. For example, the Principle of One, represents that all work in theatre is drawn from ones self. The Principle of Two represents the polarity and balance of opposition the Yin/Yang or masculine/feminine energies within oneself. Central in Quantum Theatre is the Principle of Four, the integrative use of Body-Voice-Performance-Creativity.

The Principle of Four is practiced in a spiral twisting movement that looks like da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man with arms outstretched horizontally. The end of the spiral twist is a held shape that looks like the chi gong pose called ‘embracing the tree’. The Suzuki Actor Training Method uses a similar shape called a ‘statue’.

To find out more about Ira's work, visit his website listed below:

http://www.iraseidenstein.com

Classes with Michael Trautman in Maine

Beginning January 27 2009, Michael Trautman will be teaching ongoing classes for children and for adults at Breakwater School.

Mr. Trautman will offer the following courses on Tuesdays after school:

CLOWN SKILLS FOR KIDS - Ages 8 to 12. 3:30 to 4:30. Slapstick, juggling, magic, balancing, and more!


PHYSICAL CHARACTERS AND PHYSICAL COMEDY - Ages 12 to 16. 4:30 to 5:30. Mime, movement, creation of character through movement, and study of elements of physical comedy.


MIKERCISE! - Adults. 5:30 to 6:30. Michael leads a vigorous class in movement that will give you a whole body workout. Drawing on over thirty years of physical training and experience students will find out exactly "How does he do all that?"

Classes are ongoing. Students may join the class at any date. Class fee is $15 per week.

Classes are held in the Jesse Building at Breakwater School, 856 Brighton Ave., Portland, Maine
Call 207.450.5342 for information or registration, or contact Michael at info@michaeltrautman.com

Flea Circus will make Chicago Premiere Feb 26-28, 2009.

I'll be performing the Chicago premiere of the Acme Miniature Flea Circus in February at a great museum/arts center. The Intuit, which is the center for intuitive and outsider art. Kind of like the Museum of Visionary Art in Baltimore or the Museum of Jurassic Technology in L.A., the Intuit celebrates who have a singular dedication to their work, and an amazing amount of creativity and devotion to their artistic vision.

I'll be appearing in conjunction with an exhibit by the works of self-taught Chicago artist Joseph Yoakum.

For more information, see the Press release:
http://www.trainedfleas.com/intuit.html
You can also purchase your tickets by clicking below!

Acme Miniature Flea Circus Thursday, February 26, 6:30pm Friday, February 27, 6:30pm Saturday, February 28, 2:00pm, 4:00pm and 6:00pm Tickets are $12 $10 (members/seniors/students/unemployed) $8 for children under 12 Intuit will present the Acme Miniature Flea Circus as a tribute to Chicago self-taught artist, Joseph Yoakum. The work of Joseph Yoakum will be featured in a solo exhibition from January 16 – June 27, 2009 at Intuit. Yoakum’s visionary landscapes were inspired by his world travels, and served as a record of his memories. Adam Gertsacov, a graduate of the Ringling Bros. Clown College and owner of the Acme Miniature Flea Circus, will bring his stars, Midge and Madge, to Intuit. Part sideshow, part exhibit, and a whole lot of fun! Midge and Madge will pull golden chariots, walk a high wire, and blast out of a cannon. According to the New York Press, the performance will “amaze and astound even the most cynical and nearsighted of visitors. WATCH! As Midge and Madge pull a tiny chariot! GASP! As they frolic on the tightrope!” Please indicate which performance you would like to attend. Non-Member Member / Discounted Kids

PRESS RELEASE: Aga Boom in Toronto Dec 30-January 3

Show One presents

AGA-BOOM

An Explosion Of Surreal Silliness!

Bluma Appel Theatre, December 2008

"Aga-Boom, one of the most creative shows to heat Vegas in a while, is perfect for the entire clan."
Las Vegas Sun

Get ready for a big BOOM in fun! Show One is proud to announce that the critically acclaimed clown show AGA-BOOM will make its Canadian premiere in Ontario this holiday season. Created by veterans of Cirque du Soleil and rooted in the European style of clowning, AGA-BOOM is a riotous mix of bold physical comedy, sophisticated stunts and delicious disarray.

"Masterly clowning." New York Times

Clever, messy and outrageously fun, AGA-BOOM cuts through the barriers of language and culture to dazzle audiences of all ages.

Taking its name from a play on boomaga (the Russian word for paper), AGA-BOOM begins and ends with scenes about paper, starting with a small piece stuck to someone's hand and escalating into a huge paper fight. In between is joyful chaos that features inflated garbage bags, juggling suitcases, enormous rubber balloons and lots of audience participation.

"The kids in the audience were on cloud nine, but hardly more so than the adults." Los Angeles Times

AGA-BOOM combines physical comedy, mime, poetry, circus arts and experimental theatre to create a kooky, kinetic entertainment experience. AGA-BOOM is the brainchild of creator/director DIMITRI BOGATIREV who, together, with wife and co-star IRYNA IVANYTSKA, and cast mates PHILIP BRIGGS, ELENA NEKRASSOVA and ANTON BOGATIREV, are true masters of mayhem!

Show One presents

AGA-BOOM

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 - Saturday, January 3, 2009

Show Times: 1pm & 7pm (December 31 @ 1pm only, dark January 1)

Bluma Appel Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

27 Front Street East, Toronto, ON

Tickets: $39/$49/$65 o Family Four Pack: $189 (plus applicable service charges)

Box Office: 416.366.7723/1.800.708.6754 or online at www.Ticketmaster.ca/showone

Thanks to Alex Shnaider's generous contribution,

a portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Hospital for Sick Children

AGA-BOOM will also play in Hamilton at Hamilton Place, December 26 & 27, 2008

For more info visit www.showoneproductions.ca or www.agaboom.com

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

NY Circus Season In Full Swing

Once again, there's a bevy of NY Circus & Clown Entertainment right now, if you want to go.
(Courtesy of the NY Times)

• THE BIG APPLE CIRCUS is celebrating its 31st season of family entertainment with "Play On!," through Jan. 18 in Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park; bigapplecircus.org.
  (there's also a great review in the NY Times of the show here)
  
  
• SPIEGELWORLD ends its run this weekend in the Spiegeltent at the South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan, with performances of "Absinthe," "Désir" and "Gazillionaire's Late Nite Lounge," burlesque-style shows geared for adults; spiegelworld.com.
  
  
• 'WINTUK,' Cirque du Soleil's family show about a boy's search for snow, will run through Jan. 4 in the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden; cirquedusoleil.com.
  
  
• 'BIRDHOUSE FACTORY,' a Chaplinesque piece for all ages by Cirque Mechanics in which factory workers turn into circus performers, will begin a monthlong run on Nov. 14 at the New Victory Theater in Times Square; newvictory.org.
  
  
• THE BINDLESTIFF FAMILY CIRKUS'S CAVALCADE OF YOUTH, all under the age of 21, will juggle, clown and twirl on Nov. 16 at the Zipper Factory Theater on West 37th Street, Manhattan; bindlestiff.org or thezipperfactory.com. ANNE MANCUSO
  

Fwd: See HUNCHBACK by Red Moon at The New Victory for only $10! (NY)

I'm currently in Chicago, but Redmoon (who is from Chicago) is currently in NY  Red Moon is a fabulous Chicago company that uses puppetry, clowning, and circus skills to create amazing performances.

Here's the skinny:

Click Here and enter code TMH808 Call 646-223-3010 and mention code TMH808 Bring a printout of this offer to: The New Victory Theater 209 West 42nd Street Sun & Mon: 11am-5pm, Tue-Sat: Noon-7pm   The New Victory Theater presents Redmoon Theater's HUNCHBACK A spectacular Halloween treat from visionary American puppet masters Magic unfolds in the award-winning Redmoon Theater's visually stunning Hunchback - a gripping stage adaptation of the classic Victor Hugo novel. With Hugo himself as your guide, wander through the crooked cobblestone streets of medieval Paris and follow the story of a beautiful Gypsy dancer, a grand cathedral and a courageous heart. With striking puppetry, exquisite masks, dramatic music and fearless physicality, Redmoon's intricate production spins Quasimodo, La Esmeralda and Claude Frollo off the page and into thrilling, three-dimensional life. Best for ages 8 to adult $10 - $28 Tickets! (Reg. $12.50 - $35) October 24 - November 9 Schedule: Fri 7pm*, Sat 2pm & 7pm, Sun 12pm & 5pm* Added performance: Thu, Oct 30 at 7pm
*Conditions: Offer cannot be combined with any other discount. Offer subject to availability. Discount valid on 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: $35, $25, $12.50. Discount ticket price: $28, $20, $10. *No performance Friday, Oct 31. No 5pm performance Sunday, Nov 9. Offer Expires 11/07/2008.

Midnight Circus Halloween Spooktacular (Chicago) October 17-31

Halloween 2008!

 

The Eco-Friendly, Acro-Centric, High-Flying, Grid-Defying, Green Halloween Spectacular!


The Midnight Circus has created an exciting, accessible, highly skilled, funny to the bone, ensemble oriented, multi-cultural circus that travels by bicycle. ENTIRELY BY BICYCLE. Everything one needs to throw a ghostly celebration worthy of Chicagoween will makes its way to Daley Plaza aboard the Halloween Haulers powered by acrobats from around the globe.

Unicycles, Tandem Bikes, Penny Farthings, if it has wheels and can be human powered it will be part of this traveling bicycle Circus Halloween Spectacle.

The show will include an array of circus acts including; Acrobatic Juggling, Free Standing Ladder, Acrobatic Bicycle, German Wheel, Hula-Hoops, Aerial Rope, Aerial Silk, Aerial Straps, Lola Circus Dog, and more.

The show will also feature Grammy Nominated Musical Maestro Mars Williams and his sidekick DJ Boy Elroy on the Mystical Music Maker Cart each and every show!

Show Times & Dates
 

Daley Plaza
50 W Washington

Chicago IL

 

October 17-31

Opening Night  Friday October 17, 2008  5:30pm and 7:00pm

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 11:30am and 12:30pm

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 11:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:00pm

 

FREE!!!!
 

CRUEL & UNUSUAL COMEDY: Slapstick films at MOMA (NY) 11/5-12/10

This looks to be a great class, and a wonderful opportunity to see some rare and exciting early clown and comedy films.  Ben Model is a fount of information, and a great silent film accompanist as well.  If you've got the time and the dough, you'll be in for a real treat.


"Cruel and Unusual Comedy: Social Commentary in the American Slapstick Film"
Five Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 p.m., 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 12/3,12/10, (no class 11/26)
Instructors: Ron Magliozzi, Steve Massa, Ben Model and Special Guests. Musical accompaniment for silent films by Ben Model

This course considers how silent era slapstick comedy treats social, cultural, and political subjects that have continued to be central concerns in America to this day. Industrialization, race, ethnicity, gender, public order, violence, and substance abuse have traditionally been among the most vital sources for the "rude" forms of comedy that have entertained mass audiences. Drawing on a body of work that is a particular strength of the Museum's film collection, classes consist of screenings, with historical lectures and classroom discussion.

Five-part courses are $260; $220 for members. Sign up for Museum membership starting at $75 and receive free admission to the Museum for a year and the discounted course prices. For more information on MoMA Courses, e-mail courses@moma.org or call (212) 408-8441.

Class One: November 5
Drag Shows: Cross-Dressing the Sexes
Guest speaker: John Epperson (a/k/a "Lypsinka")
 
GETTING RID OF TROUBLE (1912) Biograph. Dir: Del Henderson. Cast: Charles Murray, Eddie Dillon, Kathleen Butler. 1 reel. A tough Irish cook takes care of mashers.
 
GOOD NIGHT NURSE (1917) Comique. Dir: Roscoe Arbuckle. Cast: Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Al St John, Alice Lake. 2 reels. Fatty's wife checks him into a sanitarium in order to cure his carousing.
 
SWEEDIE LEARNS TO SWIM (1914) Essanay. Dir: Wallace Beery (?). Cast: Wallace Beery, Betty Brown, Ben Turpin, Leo White. 1 reel. Wallace Beery starred in this series as a big lummox Swedish girl, and in this entry Sweedie wants to be a beach bunny.
 
CHASING THE CHASER (1925) Hal Roach. Dir: Stan Laurel. Cast: James Finlayson, Lyle Tayo, Fred Kovert. 1 reel. A suspicious wife hires a detective to trap her philandering husband, who poses as a woman to do it.
 
GET 'EM YOUNG (1926) Hal Roach. Dir: Fred Guiol. Cast: Harry Myers, Stan Laurel, Max Davidson. 2 reels. Dissolute playboy Harry has to marry to get an inheritance, so he makes his valet dress as his bride.
 
 
Class Two: November 12
The Machine Age: Mack Sennett and Henry Ford
Guest speaker: Eileen Bowser, Curator Emerita, The Museum of Modern Art
 
HIS BREAD AND BUTTER (1916) Keystone/Triangle. Dir: Edward Cline & Hank Mann. Cast: Hank Mann, Peggy Pearce, Slim Summerville, Bobby Dunn. 2 reels. Hank gets more than he bargained for when he puts his wife to work.
 
GET OUT AND GET UNDER (1920) Hal Roach. Dir: Hal Roach. Cast: Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison. 2 reels. Harold has many trials and tribulations getting to his sweetheart's performance.
 
LIZZIES OF THE FIELDS (1924) Sennett. Dir: Del Lord. Cast: Billy Bevan, Sid Smith, Barbara Pierce, Jack Richardson. 2 reels. All bets are off in a Mack Sennett auto race.
 
ALL WET (1924) Hal Roach. Dir: Leo McCarey. Cast: Charley Chase, William Gillespie, Martin "Tonnage" Wolfkeil. 1 reel. Charley has a good deal of trouble with his new automated status symbol.
 
SUPER-HOOPER-DYNE LIZZIES (1925) Sennett. Dir: Del Lord. Cast: Billy Bevan, Lillian Knight, Andy Clyde, Jack Richardson, Irving Bacon, Leo Sulky, James Donnelly. 2 reels. A scientist has a patent for remote controlled cars.
 
 
Class Three: November 19
Race Riots
Guest speaker: TBA
 
BLACK AND WHITE (1913) Biograph. Dir: Del Henderson. Cast: Dave Morris, Clarence Barr, Sylvia Ashton. 1 reel. Two hoboes, one white the other black, look around for handouts. The white hobo treats his servant terribly until the tables are turned.
 
A CHANGE OF COMPLEXION (1914) Crystal. Dir: Phillips Smalley. Cast: Henry Bergman, Vivian Prescott, Caroline Rankin. ? reel.  A disgruntled cook blacks up her employers for revenge.
 
COME SEBEN, LEBEN (1913) Biograph. Dir: Del Henderson. Cast: Gus Pixley, Dave Morris, S ylvia Ashton, Clarence Barr. 1 reel. Denziens of the black community all try their luck in the local crap game.
 
A NATURAL BORN GAMBLER (1916) Biograph. Dir: ? Cast: Bert Williams. 2 reels. The great stage comic Bert Williams stars in this comedy about a black gambling club, which captures on film his famous pantomimed poker game routine.
 
HAUNTED SPOOKS (1920) Hal Roach. Dir: Hal Roach & Alf Goulding. Cast: Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison, Edgar Blue, Wallace Howe, William Gillespie. 2 reels. Harold sabotages a plot to swindle a young heiress with the help of the black servants.
 
 
 
Class Four: December 3
No Harm Done: Children & Animals
Guest speaker: Sandra DeFeo, The Humane Society of New York
 
AN ELEPHANT ON THEIR HANDS (1912) Vitagraph. Dir: Frederick Thomson. Cast: George Ober, Kate Price, Flora Finch, Lillian Walker, Robert Gaillard, Charles Eldridge, Hughie Mack. 1 reel. A surprise inheritance from a rich uncle eats peanuts and weighs 11,000 pounds.
 
THE KNOCKOUT (1923) Hal Roach. Dir & Photo: Len Powers. Cast: The Dippy-Doo-Dads. 1 reel. Intelligent monkeys, dogs and ducks enact a spoof of boxing dramas.
 
MIND THE BABY (1924) Century Comedy. Dir: Al Herman. Cast: Pal, Lillian Biron, Fred Spencer. 2 reels. Pal the dog saves a kidnapped baby from raging waterfalls and hungry alligators.
 
WHEN SUMMER COMES (1922) Mack Sennett. Dir: Roy Del Ruth. Cast: Billy Bevan, Mildred June, Kewpie Morgan, Billy Armstrong, Jack Cooper, Tiny Ward, Hughie Mack, Edgar Blue, John Rand, Cubby. 2 reels.  Rampaging lions on the loose in a hunting lodge.
 
CAT, DOG AND CO. (1929) Hal Roach. Dir: Anthony Mack. Cast: Our Gang (Joe Cobb, Wheezer, Farina, Mary Ann Jackson, Jean Darling, Harry Spear, Pete the pup), Hedda Hopper, Dorothy Vernon, Syd Saylor, Silas Wilcox, Robert McGowan. 2 reels. Wheezer enjoys mistreating animals, until they take their revenge.
 
Class Five: December 10
Gratuitous Violence: No Turn Unstoned
Guest speaker: Trav S.D., author No Applause- Just Throw Money
 
THEIR FIRST EXCECUTION (1913) Keystone. Dir: Mack Sennett. Cast: Sennett, Ford Sterling, Edgar Kennedy, Charles Avery, Raymond Hatton, Nick Cogley, Joseph Swickard, Glen Cavender, Rube Miller, Bill Hauber, Dave Anderson. 1 reel. When a convict escapes before his high publicized execution, Ford Sterling is picked to fill the empty electric chair.
 
THE PHONEY CANNIBAL (1915) Kalem. Dir: Chance E. Ward. Cast: Lloyd Hamilton, Bud Duncan, Charles Insley, Martin Kinney. 1 reel. Ham & Bud battle each other, and anyone else who comes onscreen, while exhibiting Bud as a phoney "wild man."
 
COLD HEARTS AND HOT FLAMES (1916) L-Ko. Dir: John G. Blystone. Cast: Billie Ritchie, Monty Banks, Robert McKenzie, Bert Roach, Joe Murphy, James T. Kelly, Charles Lakin, Eva McKenzie. 2 reels. Using dynamite to exact his revenge, Billie Ritchie causes mayhem which results in fire, blasting fire hoses, mud, and bodies careening on piano wires.
 
THE ROUGH HOUSE (1917) Comique. Dir: Roscoe Arbuckle. Cast: Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Al St John, Alice Lake, Agnes Neilson. 2 reels. Director Arbuckle choreographs roughhouse on such a grand scale that it becomes slapstick ballet, with a lot of help from Al and Buster.
 
SWEET PAPA (1924) Fox. Dir: Henry Lehrman. Cast: James Parrott, Mildred June, Kalla Pasha, Bobby Burns, Hilliard Karr, Jerry Mandy, Cameo. 2 reels.  A shanghaied sailor runs afoul of a tyrannical sea captain and his crew.

Fwd: See TARTUFFE in Boston Oct. 25

"Staged by Perrone as a cornucopia of physical gags and played to hilarious perfection" - Rob Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle SATURDAY, OCT. 25 Cutler Majestic Theatre, Emerson College, Boston 8pm, Tickets $45 Boisterous characters, lavish comedy and the trademark physicality of the Dell'Arte ensemble combine with the finely crafted satire of Moliere for an evening of masks, music and laughter. In Tartuffe, a religious charlatan takes over a family's life until the tables are turned by virtue of his own excesses. One of Moliere's most acclaimed plays, this work has a clear contemporary resonance for our times in a visually spectacular production the whole family will enjoy. Visit the Cutler Majestic Theatre website for more information and to buy tickets. You can also call 1-800-233-3123 for tickets. The Culter Majestic Theatre is located at Emerson College in the Heart of Boston's Historic Theatre District, 219 Tremont Street. ** STAY AROUND FOR A POST-PERFORMANCE TALKBACK CAST & CREW Michael Fields  | Tartuffe Deborah Taylor Barrera  | Elmire Adrian Mejia | Orgon, Flipotte Andrew Phoenix  | Cleante Barbara Geary | Pernelle, Carina David Ferney | Valere Jackie Dandeneau | Mariane Keight Gleason | Dorine Giulio Cesare Perrone | Director  Kristen Schumaker  | Stage Manager Bruce Marrs | Mask Designer Tim Gray | Sound Designer ABOUT DELL'ARTE: Dell'Arte International is the North American center for theatre training, research, and performance of the actor-creator. We are a committed community of artists who model and share in a sustained ensemble artistic practice. International in scope, grounded in the natural living world, inspired by our non-urban setting, Dell'Arte International explores theatre making, theatre practice and theatre training for ourselves, the world and the future. For more information, visit www.dellarte.com

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.


----
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

The Amazing Ted Show at Ars Nova (NY 10/7)

I saw a presentation of this show at the Clown Festival last year-- it was very good, and this is a re-presentation. It's probably gotten even better. It's produced by Glass Contraption.

Go check it out if you have a chance.

See Ted juggle fifty-six chainsaws, set himself on fire, hold his breath for twenty minutes and then turn himself inside out. Featuring renowned entertainers from The Glass Contraption, THE AMAZING TED SHOW! is full of singing, dancing, ukulele, loud noises, attempted feats of acrobatics, falling in love and falling down. Audiences of all ages will love clowning around inside the beautifully stupid and wildly funny world of Ted! Directed by Virginia Scott.

To find out more, visit http://arsnovanyc.com/ or
buy tickets online at smarttix.com

A Play about Clowns

The NY Times had a recent review about a play that features clowns. It's not a clown show-- it's not a clown show, it's a play, that is about a clown.

Sounds really interesting.

Wide-Eyed New Arrivals Falling in Love With the City


By ANITA GATES
Published: October 3, 2008

From Clownlink

If you are a true New Yorker (something that can be measured by purity of passion as much as by length of residence), a play that begins with balloon animals talking to each other in squeaky voices may not sound like your style. That just shows how much you (and I) know.

Saviana Stanescu’s “Aliens With Extraordinary Skills” is an enchanting piece of theater, a paean to New York that just happens to include balloon animals. It’s a simple two-boys-meet-two-girls story about a pretty clown from Moldova (between Romania and Ukraine), her wild-and-crazy-guy clowning partner, an aspiring Dominican actress and an all-American musician trying to find himself. As well as two immigration agents who, suspecting a green-card-motivated marriage, ask the bride questions like “What’s his mother’s bra size?”

Natalia Payne is adorable as Nadia the clown. Her supporting cast (Seth Fisher, Jessica Pimentel, Kevin Isola, Shrine Babb and Gian Murray Gianino), directed with great zeal by Tea Alagic, couldn’t be sharper, and Ms. Stanescu’s dialogue is flawlessly observant.

Nadia and Mr. Fisher’s Borat (yes, like the Sacha Baron Cohen character) want to perfect their English. She tries to remember the word for “when you are like really energetic and full of life.” Borat suggests “outrageous.” No, Nadia says, she thinks the word is “outgoing.” Borat says, no, “That’s when you go out a lot.”

“Aliens” shows us the world of Albanian taxi drivers, the Hot Pink Pussycat club and Craigslist. But it’s Nadia’s love affair with New York that fuels the action. She wants to go to the restaurants she saw on “Sex and the City.” She plans new birthday party tricks because “the kids are smart there.”

Borat’s take on New Yorkers is different. “They work like 14, 16 hours a day,” he says. “They are a bit like zombies, you know.” But Nadia is a true believer. She loves the city even when it turns out that sometimes cool guys at parties in SoHo can treat the hired help like prostitutes.

I’ve always believed that the special energy people talk about as New York’s essence comes from all those newcomers’ hopes and dreams in the air. “Aliens” pays tribute to that energy and at the same time radiates tons of its own.

“Aliens With Extraordinary Skills” continues through Oct. 26 at Julia Miles Theater, 424 West 55th Street, Clinton, (212) 239-6200, womensproject.org.