The Clown Blog

UPDATED

2010-03-14T16:56:00.000-04:00

This blog is now only occasionally updated--

I am spending more of my blogging time building my website

http://www.clownlink.com

Clown Laureate directs Nobel Laureate's work

2007-10-25T15:37:00.000-04:00

Of particular interest is that opening night will feature a talkback with director Adam Gertsacov (hey, that's me!) and the translator, Ron Jenkins. Ron is a professor of theatre at Wesleyan University, and has been Dario Fo's onstage English translator for over 15 years. They are both graduates of Ringling Clown College. Ron is the author of one of the best books about contemporary clowns Acrobats of the Soul (available via Amazon.com)

He is also one of the top Dario Fo scholars in the world.

Clown Laureate Directs Nobel Laureate's Work in Connecticut

Adam Gertsacov, Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland, will direct Nobel Laureate Dario Fo’s We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! The show will perform at the Quick Center for the Arts on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield CT from October 31-November 4. The show will feature Fairfield University students. Gertsacov has been in residence at the University as a guest artist. The opening night performance will be followed by a talkback with director Gertsacov and translator Ron Jenkins

Fairfield, CT, October 22, 2007 ---- We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! is a social farce with a message. In the play, high prices have caused a revolution in the supermarket, with housewives stealing food from the market. When they get home, they realize they can't tell their husbands where they got the food, and pretend to be pregnant. From this one simple lie, a farce develops so that by the end of the play nearly everybody in the cast (including the policeman, who looks suspiciously like a number of other characters in the play) has become pregnant.

Written in Italy in the early 1970’s, the play has sparked social actions. Soon after the play was first performed, a similar supermarket riot took place in Italy. The play was later performed on the site of a Fiat plant strike, and has become a much loved play among workers and political leftists. Since 1974, the play has been translated into over a dozen languages, and performed in more than 30 countries around the world. It is considered by many theatrical critics to be one of the great comedies of the twentieth century.

The author, Dario Fo, is an Italian satirist, playwright, actor, director, composer, and clown. In 1997 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. In 2006 he ran an unsuccessful race for mayor of Milan, and lost by a very tiny margin. He is the author of more than 20 plays, and currently runs a theatre company in Italy with his wife, celebrated Italian actress Franca Rame.

The director, Adam Gertsacov, is a clown and performer based in Yonkers, New York. Adam is the current Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland. He has performed his original shows in over 39 states and 7 countries, as well as on Czech, Canadian, and American television and radio. Gertsacov is the artistic director and boss clown of the Acme Clown Company. In addition to his work as a performer, Gertsacov is the director and curator of Bright Night Providence, a New Year’s Eve Celebration in Providence, RI.

The show is at Fairfield University, Fairfield CT (exit 22 off of 95) at the Quick Center for the Arts

Schedule:

Wednesday October 31 @ 8 pm (talkback afterwards with Ron Jenkins, translator & director Adam Gertsacov)

Thursday November 1 @ 8 pm (talkback afterwards with director Adam Gertsacov & Fairfield University professors)

Friday November 2 @ 8 pm

Saturday November 3 @ 2 & 8 pm

Sunday November 4 @ 2 pm.

Tickets are $12 ($5 for students of any high school or college)

Call 1-877-ARTS-396 or (203) 254-4010 to purchase tickets or for additional information.

You may also visit http://fairfield.edu/x1534.html for more information.

###

Flea circus featured article in Washington Post

2007-08-27T13:12:00.000-04:00

Find out more about the show at http://www.trainedfleas.com
This has also become a UPI article

The Tiniest Show in Town!

At the Flea Circus, There's More Than Meets the Eye

By Rachel Beckman

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 27, 2007; Page C01

The magic of the flea circus climaxed during the chariot race. That's when ringmaster Adam Gertsacov persuaded the audience to fall in love with Midge and Madge, the tiny stars of his Acme Miniature Circus.

Yesterday about 40 people -- a mix of families and hipsters -- at the Palace of Wonders on H Street NE rose to their feet, craning their necks to get a better look at the action. Gertsacov, wearing a purple top hat, shot a toy gun and the fleas were off.

Acme Miniature Circus ringmaster Adam Gertsacov keeps a close eye on his stars. (Photograph by James M. Thresher -- The Washington Post)

"We've approached the straightaway," he said, talkin double-time, like a sports announcer. "It's going to be a very close race. Midge is making her move. Let's hear it!"

The audience screamed and one man broke into a chant: "Let's go, Midge! Let's go, Midge!"

Who won? Maybe the more pressing question is whether there was a race at all. "Professor" A.G. Gertsacov has worked to revive a tradition that's been mostly dead since the 1950s. He's also revived the question that has always accompanied the spectacle: Are there actually any fleas?

Tough to tell. There were two small chariots moving across the stage (about as big as a school desk) but any fleas pulling them were impossible to see -- even from the front row, even with Gertsacov's magnifying glass hovering above them.

Gertsacov, however, insists that his stars exist. "It wouldn't be much of a flea circus," he said, "without the fleas."

The 42-year-old resident of Yonkers, N.Y., started his flea circus in 1994 and has presented it more than 1,000 times. The clown college graduate first got the idea after watching Charlie Chaplin host one in the film "Limelight." Gertsacov initially pantomimed the act. Then a fellow performer gave him some advice.

"He said, 'Get rid of all the clown stuff,' " Gertsacov recalled. " 'You're so big, they're so little. You love the fleas. That's your show.' "

The Acme company is one of only a handful of flea circuses left in the world, he said. They were popular in Victorian days, but existed in New York's Times Square until 1957. Gertsacov revived the Times Square show in 2002, performing in the now-defunct Palace of Variety on West 42nd Street, about two blocks from the original location.

Gertsacov wouldn't reveal his secret for training fleas, but he did assure the audience that he uses only positive reinforcement.

"I treat them as if they are my own flesh and blood."

And, in some ways, he said, they are. Gertsacov said he uses the Pulex irritans flea, or the human flea, for his show. They like human and pig hosts best, so he feeds them by pricking his finger and bleeding into a petri dish every 10 to 12 days. Uh-huh.

Gertsacov uses only female fleas because they're bigger and easier to train. But not every flea is cut out for being a circus flea, mind you. He gets his performers from an entomologist and then puts them through rigorous exercises to see if they've got what it takes. Pulex irritans lives for about a year, so there have been quite a few Midges and Madges.

The Acme Miniature Flea Circus performing with "Prof." A.G. Gertsacov, here warming up the crowd at The Palace of Wonders on H St., NE. (Photograph by James M. Thresher -- The Washington Post)

Gertsacov initially thought that his circus would attract families, but it turned out that "the punk-rock-tattooed guys loved my show." At the Palace of Wonders, a sideshow-themed bar, he attracted plenty of both families and tattooed folk. (He sold flea-themed temporary tattoos at the beginning of the show, so the two demographics started to blend together.)

"I feel a little guilty coming to a flea circus," said Kathy Hutchins, who brought her 12-year-old daughter. "I have dogs and cats, so I've spent a lot of time trying to eradicate fleas. I hope they're not relatives of Midge."

Gertsacov lamented the flea eradication industry during the flea history segment at the beginning of the performance. He also started off with a "flea" market, selling plastic magnifying glasses, "Save the Fleas" bumper stickers and 2-by-3-inch programs.

As for the race: Despite the zeal of Midge's fans, Madge pulled ahead at the finish and won. Gertsacov said it was time for Midge to rest, so, using tweezers, he placed her in a miniature Airstream trailer adorned with a sparkly green "M" on top.

For a solo stunt during the show, Madge walked a tightrope while balancing a chair and a pole. Gertsacov watched the death-defying act through a magnifying glass and put her in a spotlight by shining a flashlight on her.

The show's grand finale was supposed to have Midge and Madge shot out of a cannon, sailing through a fiery ring and landing safely in their cushy trailer.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, a moment of silence for their brother Leopold, who died while attempting this trick."

The sister fleas stayed safe because Gertsacov was cursed with two malfunctions. The ring of fire wouldn't light, and then the cannon wouldn't shoot. The ringmaster improvised his way out of it, urging the audience to visualize the stunt.

By the later show, he said, he hoped to have worked the bugs (ha ha) out of the system. That 8 p.m. show admitted patrons 21 and over only because the fleas performed "completely nude," Gertsacov said.

Amy Pollok, whose husband co-owns the bar, brought her two daughters to the show. The girls, ages 3 and 6, enjoyed the flea circus but Pollok suspected that "it might have been the popcorn." Pollok, for her part, tried to buy into Gertsacov's magic.

"I would like to believe there is a flea out there named Madge," she said.

Please Believe the Hype

2007-08-24T19:28:00.000-04:00

[PLEASE BELIEVE THE HYPE!] My show's been featured in the Washington Post as a pick of the week.

My show was featured as one of the picks of the week for this week's Washington Post!

And a reviewer is coming on Sunday to the 4pm show to write an article about the show.

If you have any friends in the DC area, please let them know, and please have them come out to the 4 pm show. It'd be great to have a big audience for that show.

Full press release is available at http://www.trainedfleas.com/dcfleas.html

Press Release: Fleas in Washington DC August 26

2007-08-02T22:31:00.000-04:00

Let me take a moment to shamelessly promote my own project!

Trained Fleas To Perform In Our Nation's Capital

==============================
SUMMARY:
WHAT: Acme Miniature Flea Circus at the Palace of Wonders
WHERE: Palace of Wonders, 1210 H Street NE Washington DC
WHEN: Sunday August 26, 2007 at 4pm and 8 pm. (4 pm is an all ages show)
COST: $8
MORE INFO: http://www.palaceofwonders.com
MORE INFO: http://www.trainedfleas.com
============================

Washington, D.C., 8/1/07

This summer, our nation's flea circus will not be performed in the White House or the Capitol Building, and will not feature any elected officials. That's because this year, the flea circus will take place in Washington D.C's up and coming Atlas District, and will feature insects. Trained insects. Fleas, to be exact.

The show, the Acme Miniature Flea Circus, is an authentic Victorian flea circus that features trained fleas Midge and Madge who perform spectacular circus stunts as seen before (and on top of) the crowned heads of Europe. Midge and Madge will perform their star turn at D.C.'s wildest and wackiest venue, the Palace of Wonders on Sunday August 26.

Details magazine called the show "One of the top alternative circuses in the country." The New York Times said "The appeal is irresistible... Gertsacov is every bit the fantastical impresario, in his purple top hat and cash-register voice, introducing us to the wondrous insects itching (sorry) to perform" And the Los Angeles Times says that "Professor Gertsacov holds the audience (and the stars of the show) in the palm of his hand."

According to Professor A.G. Gertsacov, ringmaster and proprietor of the Acme Miniature Circus, flea circuses were popular entertainments during Victorian times, but had nearly disappeared since the advent of television. The last popular American flea circus was Professor Heckler's of Time Square, which left New York in 1957. The rumor is that Heckler thought that the nude shows were giving his fleas a bad name.

There are now only a handful of flea circuses still performing throughout the world. Gertsacov's is arguably the most famous. The Rhode Island native (now based in Yonkers, NY) and his amazing insect stars have performed throughout the country, and in Canada, Chile, and Brazil. He recently spent three months performing in Times Square, less than two blocks from where Professor Heckler once had his fleas. Gertsacov has also been filmed for documentaries on the History Channel, the Travel Channel, and numerous news programs. He's even been a question on Jeopardy!

Gertsacov's educated insect stars pull chariots, dance on a tightwire, and perform other circus-like stunts. While he does not reveal his method of training (a proprietary secret, he explains) , he assures the curious and the civic minded that he uses only methods of positive reinforcement to teach the insects their routines. "I treat them as if they are my own flesh and blood," Gertsacov says. "And in some ways, they are."

Professor Gertsacov will bring his minuscule marvels to perform at Washington's wildest and wackiest venue on Sunday August 26 . He invites all curious parties to come and see the show that was deemed one of the top shows of the world famous Spoleto Festival in 2004. But he asks that you leave your dogs and cats at home. Gertsacov quips, "I don't want anyone to steal the show."

Shows are at the Palace of Wonders, 1210 H Street NE in the Atlas District of Washington DC. Shows are at 4 pm and 8 pm. Admission is $8. The first show is for all ages. The second show is for over 21 only. (In this show, the fleas will perform completely nude!
PLEASE NOTE: At the 8 pm show ID's will be checked!)

For more information about the show, or to reserve tickets, call the Palace of Wonders at 202-398-7469 (SHOW)
Or visit http://www.palaceofwonders.com

For press information, photographs, or interviews, please contact Flea Master Professor A.G. Gertsacov at 401-351-2596 or visit the flea circus website: http://www.trainedfleas.com.

More Circus Fiction

2007-06-13T10:37:00.001-04:00

Summer Reading recommendations.

Sara Gruen's Water For Elephants
Amazon Link

Water for Elephants is a story of a Depression era mudshow that Jacob Jankowki, a down on his luck veterinary student, joins. The fictional circus Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show On Earth shows the seamy underbelly of that era of circus. The novel is a little bit on the "typical circus fiction" side, but the writing is great, and if you like the circus, you'll probably like this.

Patti Frazee's Cirkus
Amazon Link

This is also a fictional story of an old mud show, focusing more on freaks such as Mariana , the fortune teller who can turn herself invisible, Shanghai a fire-breathing dwarf, and conjoined twins Atasha and Anna. This time the circus is set in the American midwest at the turn of the century, and the circus is the Borefsky Brothers. It's a debut novel by Patti Frazee, who lives in Minneapolis. It's been getting great reviews.

John Irvings's A Son of the Circus
Amazon Link
A book about an Indian circus, with all of John Irving's weird characters (He wrote The World According to Garp). It's about an Indian born doctor who goes back to India to study circus-dwarves. It's got a lot of exposition, as Irving's books do, but there's gold there-- especially if you like Irving and the circus. Which I do. Not as much about India as you would like though.

Search out More Books on Amazon that are circus fiction
Search out books on Amazon that are about clowns

Circus Music on Itunes

2007-05-29T12:15:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine (Peter Bufano) has a Circus Band called Cirkestra. They are really fantastic-- if you are looking for some great circus music, Cirkestra is a good bet.

Find out more about Cirkestra at their website.

CLICK THE ALBUM COVER TO SEE/LISTEN TO THE ALBUM ON ITUNES:

Red Hook Waterfront Festival Performance June 2

2007-05-27T09:38:00.001-04:00

The Theatre Museum & the Waterfront Museum will present
SHOWBOAT 'ROUND THE BEND
A unique exhibition extolling the glory of the American showboat

The exhibition which will run through December will have a grand opening on Saturday, June 2, 2007 from noon to 6 pm on board the Showboat Barge (at the foot of Conover Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn) The opening is in conjunction with the Red Hook Waterfront Festival.

Artists of exceptional ability will perform at the opening (entitled AHOY THERE!)
Performances include acrobatic fleas, a yodeling ukelele, butoh dance, and a whole lot more (See the performance schedule below)

Admission: Donations requested

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Hosted by vaudeville scholar and performer Trav S.D. with Officer Crabtree

12:00 noon Moira Stone sings selections from "Show Boat"
(accompanied by Whitney Gardner)
12:30 Steve the Whistler America's premier whistling entertainer
1:00 Acme Miniature Flea Circus
1:30 Sorcha Dorcha Celtic folk music ensemble
2:00 Uke Jackson (ukulele player, singer)
2:30 Nellie Tinder (country operetta)
2:45 Kate Magram (acrobalance)
3:00 Mr. Patrick (story teller)
3:30 Kathrine Adamenko (butoh dancer)
4:00 Scottie Davis of the Salt and Pepper Mime Company (mime and song)
4:30 Maestrocities (clown band)

Questions? Visit:
http://www.waterfrontmuseum.org
or http://www.ttmnyc.org
FULL PRESS RELEASE & DIRECTIONS

Circus Fiction

2007-05-25T09:27:00.000-04:00

I was recently asked about Circus Fiction, so I thought I'd give a couple of recommendations. These should get you started.

Amanda Davis's Wonder When You'll Miss Me
Amazon Link
Amanda toured with the Bindlestiff's when I toured with them (in 1998)
She wrote this novel (her first, and sadly her last) after that. It's about a young troubled girl who runs away to join the circus.

Amanda was killed in a tragic plane crash along with her parents on the way to a book signing in North Carolina in 2003.
She was an up and coming young writer, and showed amazing promise. It's a real tragedy.

Katherine Dunn's Geek Love
Amazon Link
Great and classic book about a touring sideshow of self-made freaks and the religion/cult that develops about one of the performers. This is a book that consistently gets very high praise, and is consistently on the list of "Best Books About the Sideshow." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Angela Carter's Nights At the Circus
Amazon Link
A book about turn of the century London turns into an epic love story between a cockney trapeze artist who may or may not have wings and the hotshot journalist that is set to debunk her as they tour the frozen steppes of Siberia. I was in a recent stage production of this, and the story and novel twist of this is astonishing and beautiful. It's a slightly long read and very narrative, but oh so worth it.

Search out More Books on Amazon that are circus fiction
Search out books on Amazon that are about clowns

Scary Clowns

2007-05-17T17:44:00.000-04:00

This is a small fun book of over 80 photographs of clowns in a slightly scary or macabre mode. Not all of them are scary, but enough to give those with coulrophobia (fear of clowns) a moment of pause. A fair amount of the photos are classic, but there's also a bunch of other photos that I hadn't seen before. It's definitely a great gift for the clown or clown collector among you. The center of the book has a very cool 3D pop up (pictured). I can recommend this book!

For a couple of scarier options, you might want to visit The Gallery of Scary Clowns A compilation of photographs of scary clowns (most seem to be from Cirque du Soleil.)

Video of the best flea circus in town!

2007-05-06T19:20:00.000-04:00

Some great visuals of the flea circus-- originally shown as part of an interview on Philadelphia Television.

Enjoy!

Not Just For Shock Value April 7-28

2007-03-27T15:58:00.000-04:00

“Not Just for Shock Value: A Femmes-Clowns Assemblage” is a nine woman clown ensemble theatre event that will be performing at the 6 Figures Theatre Company April 7-28. It is performed by Kendall Cornell and her Soon-To-Be-World-Famous Women's Clown Troupe.

Thoughts from Kendall about her work:

"In a traditionally male field, I have discovered the need for women clowns. Women’s clowning has a specific beauty. Only a woman can uncover the deep humor of women’s experience – and perhaps of certain life truths. For me, it has been necessary to go back to the ancient core principles of clowning to re-find a place for the women, so they are not merely an imitation of the male tradition, but instead they reveal (and create fun with) their own distinct terrain. For the audience, the experience may also be new territory. In order to laugh at a clown, we have to sense a certain mutuality, which means that both men and women in the audience will identify with the clown on stage. It can be a startling thing for both groups to recognize themselves in a woman on stage (and a sovereignly foolish one!). Clowning can cut through our differences to our universality, at the same time that it wakes us up to our unique selves."

In other words:

"I dreamt that I was in a world where women were free to be funny all the time. Where if they ran and their skirts hiked up to reveal their underpants, it was comical and not scandalous. No one saw London. No one saw France. I dreamt of a world where falling on the floor brought laughter -- not smelling salts. A world where body parts were for joyous, expressive, uninhibited fun -- not for selling cars. Where a woman’s bodily smells, sounds and jiggles were cause for quick, cheap gags -- not the foundation for a billion dollar fix-her-upper industry. A rich world where a woman’s delighted giggle would be as valuable as her jewels, and her naughty cackle as coveted as her beauty. No one would look askance. No one would gossip. Oh, for a world where dropping your drawers meant comedy, not promiscuity! I carry that simple dream within me today – that we can create a place on the stage where many women will be extremely funny together. A world devoid of the vanilla caricatures of dumb sex pot, uptight librarian and drab mother, but rather filled with the complex, deep, multi-layered, poignant fools that women can be. I dream of a world where a woman, too, can claim the job of village idiot, or be anointed as the skewering high jester of the realm. A magnificent world with women clowns!"

To find out more about the show, visit the Not Just For Shock Value website:
http://notjustforshockvalue.com/

Tickets are $20 each and are available from http://www.smarttix.com or call (212) 868-4444.

Hospital in Israel sets up "medical clowning" degree

2006-11-23T08:14:00.000-05:00

Israel university sets up medical clowning degree

Wed Nov 22, 4:23 PM ET

TORONTO, Nov 22 (Reuters Life!) - An Israeli university is taking the notion that laughter is the best medicine seriously, setting up a Bachelor of Arts degree in medical clowning to help legitimize the profession.

Hospitals in many countries use clowning as a form of therapy to help patients' recovery or ease suffering, particularly in children's wards .

The 1998 film "Patch Adams" told the real-life story of a doctor from Virginia who believed humor and humanity needed to play a major role in patient care. Virginia-based Adams' Gesundheit! Institute, founded in 1972, organizes clown trips to hospitals around the world.

But Israel's University of Haifa said it was taking this idea one step further, making medical clowning part of academic studies in what other hospital clowns believe is the first degree of its kind.

READ THE ARTICLE

Flea circus in Riverdale, NY-- December 3, 2006

2006-11-14T23:12:00.000-05:00

A lot of people have been wondering when I'd be performing the flea circus in New York-- here's an opportunity to see the show for FREE! Come check it out, if you get the chance.

--
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PLEASE LIST, POST, AND DISSEMINATE

KILL DATE 12/3/06

--

Trained Fleas Perform In Riverdale

RIVERDALE, NY: This winter, the stars treading the boards at the First Annual Riverdale Jewish Arts Festival (December) will be rather difficult to see. That's because they will be insects. Trained insects. Fleas, to be exact.

The show, the Acme Miniature Flea Circus, is an authentic Victorian flea circus that features trained fleas Midge and Madge who perform spectacular circus stunts as seen before (and on top of) the crowned heads of Europe. Midge and Madge will make their Riverdale premier on Sunday, December 3, 2006.

Details magazine called the show "One of the top alternative circuses in the country." The New York Times said "The appeal is irresistible... Gertsacov is every bit the fantastical impresario, in his purple top hat and cash-register voice, introducing us to the wondrous insects itching (sorry) to perform" And the Los Angeles Times says that "Professor Gertsacov holds the audience (and the stars of the show) in the palm of his hand."

According to Professor A.G. Gertsacov, ringmaster and proprietor of the Acme Miniature Circus, flea circuses were popular entertainments during Victorian times, but had nearly disappeared since the advent of television. The last popular American flea circus was Professor Heckler's of Time Square, which left New York in 1957. The rumor is that Heckler thought that the nude shows were giving his fleas a bad name.

There are now only a handful of flea circuses still performing throughout the world. Gertsacov's is arguably the most famous. The Rhode Island native (now based in Yonkers) and his amazing insect stars have performed throughout the country, and in Canada, Chile, and Brazil. He recently spent three months performing in Times Square, less than two blocks from where Professor Heckler once had his fleas. Gertsacov has also been filmed for documentaries on the History Channel, the Travel Channel, and numerous news programs. He's even been a question on Jeopardy!

Gertsacov's educated insect stars pull chariots, dance on a tightwire, and perform other circus-like stunts. While he does not reveal his method of training (a proprietary secret, he explains) , he assures the curious and the civic minded that he uses only methods of positive reinforcement to teach the insects their routines. "I treat them as if they are my own flesh and blood," Gertsacov says. "And in some ways, they are."

Professor Gertsacov will bring his minuscule marvels to perform in their Riverdale premiere on Sunday, December 3, 2006. He invites all curious parties to come and see the show that was deemed one of the top shows of the world famous Spoleto Festival in 2004. But he asks that you leave your dogs and cats at home. Gertsacov quips, "I don't want anyone to steal the show."

Shows are the Riverdale YMHA, 5625 Arlington Ave, Riverdale, NY on Sunday December 3, 2006. Shows at 1 and 2 pm. Admission is free, but seating is limited, so please arrive early.

For more information about the show, or to reserve tickets, contact Erna Brout, Festival Coordinator at the Riverdale Y at (718) 548-8200.
Or visit http://www.shalomriverdale.org
For press information, photographs, or interviews, please contact Flea Master Professor A.G. Gertsacov at 917-334-2502 or visit the flea circus website: http://www.trainedfleas.com.

==============================
SUMMARY:
WHAT: Acme Miniature Flea Circus at the First Annual Riverdale Jewish Arts Festival
WHERE: Riverdale Y, 5625 Riverdale NY 718-548-8200
WHEN: Sunday December 3, 2006 at 1pm and 2 pm.
COST: Free (seating limited, please arrive early)

MORE INFO: http://www.shalomriverdale.org
MORE INFO: http://www.trainedfleas.com.
RIVERDALE Y DIRECTIONS: http://riverdaley.org/new_page_4.htm
============================

Buffoon Anonymous1

2006-11-05T17:41:00.000-05:00

Buffoon Anonymous1
Originally uploaded by kafclown.

Recent photo of myself before a show. I rarely wear makeup lately, and despite that fact, still remembered my Ringling Clown Makeup pretty well. The lines are a little rough, and the red around the mouth is a little less bright than it could be, but overall, I was pretty impressed.

Buffoon Anonymous in Portsmouth NH

2006-10-19T20:50:00.000-04:00

My original one man show Buffoon Anonymous, will be performed as part of the Pontine Movement Theatre's season November 3-5 in Portsmouth NH.

If you'd like to come make a road-trip (or you live in the area) please come by! The theatre is small (47 seats) so make your reservations early!
Here's some info about the show:

BUFFOON ANONYMOUS is a fictional autobiographical story, created and performed by performance artist, Adam Gertsacov, about a clown who needs to quit-- and can't. Through trial and tribulation, the clown wages an unsuccessful war on his own stupidity as he strives to find a cure for, ...well, himself.

BUFFOON ANONYMOUS contains (among other things) classic clown routines, addictive behavior, a circus ring, an obligatory avante-garde dance piece, the Acme Declownifier, and mediocre juggling. Mr. Gertsacov is the artistic director, boss clown, chief bottle washer, and Big Cheese of the Acme Clown Company.
He is an internationally renowned theatre artist from Providence Rhode Island recently relocated to Yonkers, NY.

WHEN: Friday November 3, 8pm Saturday, November 4, 4pm & 8 pm Sunday, November 5, 2 pm	WHERE: West End Studio Theatre,959 Islington Street Portsmouth NH 03801
COST: Fri & Sat 8pm & Sun 2pm: $20 / $17 students & seniors Saturday, 4pm: $16 / $13 students & seniors	RESERVATIONS: (strongly recommended) Call 603-436-6660,or email info@pontine.org Purchase tickets online

MORE INFO:

Pontine: call 603.436.6660 or visit www.pontine.org

Acme Clown: call 401-351-2596 or visit www.acmeclown.com

Jeff Raz to work for Cirque

2006-09-29T07:26:00.000-04:00

My good friend (and a teacher of mine at Dell'Arte ) will be playing the lead in Cirque du Soleil's Corteo come December) It is really a plumb role, and something Jeff will be fantastic in. Biggest congratulations to him!

Inside Bay Area
Island clown gets Cirque du Soleil gig
By Hanna Tamrat, STAFF WRITER

ALAMEDA — Alameda parent and professional clown Jeff Raz will juggle a few clubs at his last Bay Area performance Sunday before joining highly acclaimed Cirque du Soleil. Then, he will have to juggle work and family for a year.

The 49-year-old veteran clown is ringmaster at the third annual Circus for the Arts morning and afternoon shows at Kofman Auditorium that benefit arts programs in Alameda public schools. He will perform a few acts, including juggling with the Lincoln Middle School Juggling Club, but mainly will work backstage putting the show together.

For a long time, Raz stuck to local performances to be close to his family and work with the local community. But "magic" called, and he is going to be on the road again.

"When you are a performer, the magic moment is when you hear of or see a role that is perfect for you," Raz said. "That doesn't happen often. And that is magic you don't take lightly."

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE

Duelling Magicians: a question of material.

2006-09-27T08:50:00.000-04:00

Really interesting article in the New York Times today about Ricky Jay and another magician who is doing a very similar show to his, with many of the same effects.

READ THE ARTICLE Duelling Magicians: A Question of Material

This is a really interesting question. Almost all of Ricky Jay's work is based on homage to other magicians, but he's upset when other people pay homage to him. (Which is understandable, considering the amount of time and energy he has put in to researching and reviving these ancient tricks and putting his unique spin on them.)

There is a fine line between homage and plagiarism. Is anybody that does a feat of endurance like David Blaine ripping off David Blaine? Or pretends to be able to levitate? (Worthy to know that David Blaine's levitation trick is itself a $20 magic trick that nearly anyone can buy at a number of magic stores)

In fact, here's a concrete example: I've been doing my flea circus, The Acme Miniature Flea Circus, since 1994. (For more information, visit http://www.trainedfleas.com) At the time that I began, there were one or two other people presenting flea circuses ( Maria Fernanda Cardoso and the Alberti Flea Circus) I did my own research, came up with my own show, and trained my own fleas.

In 2001, as part of his show, ON THE STEM , Mr. Jay presented a flea circus. (At the same time, I was performing two blocks away on Times Square) My show is 40 minutes long, and Mr. Jay did about 5-7 minutes of flea circus in his act. The shows had some very striking simnilarities,including a chariot race and flea poetry. Was Mr. Jay copying me? Or were we using similar sources to create our own individual shows, and I just happened to do it five years before him.

There's no easy answer. My guess is that Mr. Jay did his own research, (and I can assure him that I did my own as well)

My feeling is that I don't own the concept of flea circus, and (now, thanks to an industrious magician and prop builder in California (Walt Noon) there are a number of people presenting flea circuses (albeit mechanical ones). None of them are mine, and my conceit (such as it is) is that nobody but me can do my show. My show is original.

But as the number of people who enter the flea circus frenzy increase, my show seems less and less novel, and hurts my chances of being seen at festivals around the country and world ("Another flea circus? We already had one") And some of these shows are (or at least seem) derivative of mine, in their acts, their marketing, and other aspects.

So, I know EXACTLY how Mr. Jay feels. On one hand, I honor the (hopefully) creative urge that sparked myself and others to recreate a 100 year old traditional sideshow that had just about vanished, I have another hand that wishes, like one of Ricky Jay's amazing legerdemains, that these pesky magicians would disappear (or to be more a propo, to flee, and leave the fleas and their circus acts to me.

Great New Circus Blog- BUCKLES BLOG

2006-07-28T14:58:00.000-04:00

Buckles Blog is a great blog by Buckles Woodcock, one of the pre-eminent elephant trainers in the country, and from a family of elephant trainers. His family has performed with most of the great circuses in the states (and I also believe abroad) The Woodcock Elephants have been a staple of American circus for a very long time.

The blog features hundreds of rare photos, interesting photos, and news all about the American circus. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

No Applause, Just Throw Money

2006-03-29T11:37:00.000-05:00

HISTORY

NO APPLAUSE: JUST THROW MONEY: The Book That made Vaudeville Famous by Trav.S.D.

This book is a really fun irreverent look at the history of vaudeville by a performer, self-taught scholar, and personal friend of mine, Trav. S.D.

Trav takes us on a journey through the history of Vaudeville, and brings his performer’s perspective to the book. A lot of the facts of the book are the same as other books, but its his perspective as a current performer, and his sharp insights on the past and future of this form of entertainment, that make this book a must-have.

It’s well-written, it’s informative, it’s funny, it’s controversial, and it’s well worth reading.

I could tell you more about it, but you can hear it from the Educated Horse himself-- I recently conducted an interview/online conversation with Trav about the book, about vaudeville, and about a lot of other subjects on The WELL which is publicly readable: READ THE INTERVIEW FOR YOURSELF

Circus Smirkus asks for donations

2005-11-04T14:15:00.000-05:00

A recent article in the Burlington Free Press reports that Cirkus Smirkus, Vermont's renowned Youth Circus, needs $250,000 to remain afloat. They are going public (literally) to try to retire all of the debt.

Circus Smirkus has established an online payment option on its official Web site, http://www.smirkus.org, requesting that Vermonters donate $1 to keep the Cirkus alive. Founder Rob Mermin is hoping that the generosity of the public will be enough to set Smirkus up on a better financial course.

If every Vermont resident donated to the campaign, Mermin said, the debt would be eliminated. "One dollar to save the circus," he said.

Judy Finelli Circus Benefit

2005-06-21T13:08:00.000-04:00

One of the performers (Larry Pisoni)
Originally uploaded by Charles Haynes.

Judy Finelli is a long time San Francisco Circus maven and one of the very early members of the Pickle Family Circus.

Unfortunately, she has MS-- a real tragedy for a top notch juggler like her.

A benefit to help raise funds for her medical expenses was held last night (June 20, 2005) in San Francisco. Some of the top performers in the country performed(and most of them were directly influenced by Judy) Performers included Karen Quest, Avner Eisenberg, Jeff Raz, Diane Wasnak, Sara Felder, Lorenzo Pisoni, and many many more)

Over $40,000 was raised for Judy!

See a slideshow of Charles Haynes's photos.

See a gallery of Earl Crabb's photos.

UPDATE:
Several people have asked if they could donate to Judy Finelli directly.

You can---

Mail your check to:

Circus Center
755 Frederick Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

Please make your check to the order of Circus Center, specifying "Judy
Finelli Fund" on the memo. (Your donation is tax deductible)

The Forgotten Films of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle

2005-06-18T12:43:00.000-04:00

DVD

The Forgotten Films of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle

The Forgotten Films of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle contains 32 classic silent and sound comedies directed by and starring master filmmaker Roscoe Arbuckle.

Arbuckle, known as the “Price of Whales” was a heavyset funnyman with an absurd amount of grace (think an elegant Jim Belushi). He was as much a household name as Chaplin, Keaton, and Harold Lloyd. But an unfortunate confluence of events led to Roscoe (a renowned drinker, womanizer, and party-giver) with being unjustly accused of raping and murdering a San Francisco Party Girl in 1921.While never convicted, he was banned from movie making, and his career died (as did he, a few years later)

We’ll never know how great Arbuckle could have been, but these DVD’s, lovingly restored, give us a clue-- very great indeed. There’s also a 36 page full color pamphlet that goes into some detail about Arbuckle, and his potential.

Huge Circus Archive Now Available Online!

2005-06-17T13:09:00.000-04:00

Freaks! Acrobats! Jugglers! Clowns! (And Much Much More!)

A huge collection and archive of circus, sideshow, and related posters (over 8000 total) is now available online, thanks to www.circusmuseum.nl

It is the largest collection of circus posters in the Netherlands, and is now available for viewing (free of charge)

There is also a store, where you can buy re-prints of posters that strike your fancy. (Prices are in Euros)

The entire site is in Dutch (without an English Translation at this time), but you can pretty much figure it out. If you have problems, try using the free translation service babelfish.altavista.com

http://www.circusmuseum.nl:

Enjoy-- it's a fantastic resource!

The Performer's Guide to the Collaborative Process by Sheila Kerrigan

2005-03-18T11:01:00.000-05:00

HOW-TO

The Performer's Guide to the Collaborative Process by Sheila Kerrigan

While not specifically about clowning, this book is a great resource for people who work together to create theatre or shows (like, for example, a group of clowns) Sheila Kerrigan, the author, spent a great deal of time interviewing directors, group leaders, and theatre professionals (including myself!) and she spends a good deal of the book detailing exercises that promote team-building, group-building, and collaboration. An essential book for those who wish to do more than solo work, or director’s looking for new ways to bring the most out of your actors/team.

Sheila also has a website that you can check out if you are interested in her work.

Circus Alphabets by Dan X. Solo

2005-03-15T18:28:00.000-05:00

HOW-TO

Circus Alphabets by Dan X. Solo

This book features some of the most important cultural contributions that the circus has given to our culture-- the fonts! This book features 100 copyright-free typefaces that are directly from old circus posters and broadsides. You can scan them in, or use them as references for your sideshow posters, your postcards, your posters, and anything else you need. This is a classic book, published by Dover.

The Great Parade by Gerard Regnier (editor)

2005-03-15T17:40:00.000-05:00

ARTWORK

The Great Parade by Gerard Regnier (editor)

This book is an absolutely fabulous collection of fine arts work that incorporate circus and clowns into them. Featured are over 175 works from artists such as Picasso, Léger, Chagall, Toulouse-Lautrec, and many more. There are also some never before seen artworks published for the first time in this book. The book served as a catalog for an exhibition that was organized by the National Gallery of Canada in 2004. If you are looking for a coffee-table book of clown, circus, and acrobat paintings, this is the one to get.

CLOWN SCENES (Entrees Clownesque) BY TRISTAN REMY

2005-03-07T22:49:00.000-05:00

HOW-TO

CLOWN SCENES BY TRISTAN REMY

The Golden Age of Clowning was in Paris from the late 1890’s through the 1920’s. At that time, there were a dozen or more permanent circus buildings throughout Paris, and every week thousands of people flocked to the circus to see what new acts the clowns were going to perform. During this time, clowns actually spoke during their routines, and performed scenes with one another. Everybody knew the names of the clowns-- Charlie Rivel, Footit et Chocolat, Toto, Coco, and Marceline, to name a few.

Tristan Remy, famous French circus historian, has taken 48 of the best clown routines and written them down in a fascinating document. And while they are primarily historical scenes, they are also blue-prints for proven comedy scenarios. These are great tools for the working clown.

Mime Spoken Here by Tony Montanaro

2005-03-04T17:50:00.000-05:00

HOW-TO

Mime Spoken Here by Tony Montanaro

Tony Montanaro was a great performer and teacher of pantomime. He started out in the early 50’s as a performer who met up and worked with Marcel Marceau, and then came back to the States to continue to teach and perform. He started an amazing school in South Paris Maine in an old barn (later known as The Celebration Barn) where he taught some of the top “New Vaudeville” artists of the last 25 years. Tony passed away in 2003, and he was a fountain of energy and expertise up until he died.

Tony’s genius as a teacher and performer was his simplicity and his complete commitment to the work. He could take any subject and improvise an amazing performance around it. While this book can’t possibly subsitute for taking a class with Tony, it’s chock full of his exercises, his thoughts, and his ideas. Short of going back in time and taking a class with Tony, this book (and the accompanying videotape, if you can find it) are the closest you can get to experiencing the magic that was Tony Montanaro.

Cirque Du Soleil-The Fire Within

2005-03-03T19:26:00.000-05:00

DVD

Cirque Du Soleil-The Fire Within directed by Andrew Atherton

EMMY AWARD WINNER. A couple of years ago, a really interesting reality series was featured on Bravo. The show featured 8 young performers who wimporting htmlere in the process of making the new Cirque du Soleil show (Varekai) The show followed the performers through the highs and the lows of creating the show, and is a fascinating and not entirely flattering portrait of the making of a Cirque show. There were 13 episodes, and the DVD features extras, including a reunion of the performers a year later. This DVD is well worth viewing and owning.

WEIRD CLOWN NEWS ARTICLE

2005-03-02T19:19:00.000-05:00

And it's from the Weekly World News, so you know it must be true!

DOCS REMOVE UNICYCLE
FROM 590-POUND CLOWN'S BUTT

By RICK PINCHER
Doctors removed a full-size unicycle from a 590- pound circus clown's butt after he plopped his double-wide behind on its narrow seat and "sank to the sawdust," driving the frame, pedals and wheel a mouth-puckering 36- inches UP into his colon! "It hurt," Ron Timmerman, a.k.a. "Bunky the Fat-Arsed Clown," said from his hospital bed in London, England. "It was like somebody hit me from behind with a harpoon or rammed a white-hot poker up me bum. "By the time I hit the ground, all I could do was roll over to one side and lay there ......

The rest of this article is available at: THIS WEBSITE (requires registration, and possibly payment)

Clown Magic by David Ginn

2005-03-02T18:28:00.000-05:00

How-To

Clown Magic by David Ginn

David Ginn is one of the premier school performers in the United States. He teaches and lectures about magic and school show creation all over the United States. This book tells, in a simple, easy-to-read style, how to do a number of easy magical tricks that don’t require a lot of skill or manipulation to perform. But it is not enough to be able to do the tricks. One must also be entertaining while doing them. This book helps performers to be entertaining and funny while performing magic. And that is a pretty amazing stunt all by itself!

Cirque du Soleil: Parade of Colors

2005-03-02T18:14:00.000-05:00

Kids

Cirque du Soleil: Parade of Colors
by Cirque du Soleil

When you are a professional clown, it is sometimes easy to forget that most people think that the circus is for children only. This full color children’s book features some of the characters from Cirque du Soleil shows along with poems about color. While the poems are not particularly strong, the design of this book is, making it a great gift item to give to your friends with kids. They will definitely get a kick out of it.

Cirque Du Soleil : 20 Years Under the Sun

2005-02-28T22:08:00.000-05:00

History

Cirque Du Soleil : 20 Years Under the Sun - An Authorized History by Tony Babinski & Kristian Manchester

When Cirque du Soleil started in 1984, it was the plan of the ragtag group of Quebecois street performers to perform for only one year. However, the show proved to be so successful that 20 years later, the promise of their first show (We Reinvent The Circus) has come true! This book, with its lavish photographs, unequalled access to the principal players, provides a detailed (if slightly polished) version of how Cirque du Soleil has become the best known circus in the world. The story is both inspirational and educational, and the photographs are phenomenal. You will enjoy this book.

Strutter's Complete Guide to Clown Makeup

2005-02-28T22:06:00.000-05:00

How-To

Strutter's Complete Guide to Clown Makeup
by Jim Roberts

This is really one of the best books about clown makeup--both how to design it, and how to apply it. The most common complaint about amateur clowns is that their makeup is sloppy. While I would much rather see a great clown with sloppy makeup than an awful clown with great makeup, the truth is that clarity and good design in your makeup shows up in your work in the circus ring, on the stage, and yes, even at somebody’s birthday party. If you were going to have just one book on clown makeup, I’d make it this one.

Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women by Ricky Jay

2005-02-25T13:45:00.000-05:00

History

Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women by Ricky Jay

Ricky Jay is one of the foremost magicians and magic historians still living today. This book, his best known work, is the one that made his reputation. Through painstaking research in archives, letters, and other sources, Ricky Jay has created the most popular history of odd, bizarre, and downright strange performers. In addition to the educated swine and flame-proof women of the title, Jay delves into the history of giants, dwarves, cripples, conjurers, and con-men in a book that is almost certainly guaranteed to astound you. The book is richly illustrated.

Commedia: An Actor's Handbook by John Rudlin

2005-02-25T13:19:00.000-05:00

History

Commedia: An Actor's Handbook by John Rudlin

This is one of the first books to approach commedia dell'arte from the performers point of view. (For those of you not in the know, commedia is an Italian form of improvised comic theatre from the 1500's, featuring masked characters, comic archetypal characters,and rudimentary plots. As one scholar was known to say, "Commedia is circus with a plot."
Rudlin, a British theatre director and teacher, has done a bangup job of explaining the basics of commedia, the characters, the plots, and the history. For my tastes, the historical aspects are a little too stressed (because ultimately, for me, a play that is a historically accurate but not compelling and exciting to watch is a waste of time-- all theatre must pass the audience test.
Despite his academic tendencies, Rudlin does a great job of giving exercises and examples of how to play commedia. Well worth reading.

La Strada (1954) directed by Federico Fellini

2005-02-25T13:12:00.000-05:00

DVD

La Strada (1954) directed by Federico Fellini

This film is considered by many to be Fellini's best. Anthony Quinn is just astounding as the rough gruff strong man Zampano. He is equally matched by Fellini's wife Giulletta Massina, who plays the simpleton Gelsomina a woman who is bought by Zampano to use in his street show, and despite the fact that she is treated abysmally, she falls in love with Zampano. An equally amazing performance is given by Richard Basehart as Il Matto (literally, The Fool) who goads Zampano into an outrageous act of cruelty. This film is funny, beautiful, and moving, and well worth seeing, even with subtitles. There are several great circus and clown scenes in it, but it's the performances, especially by Quinn and Massina that make this film a classic.

First Blog Entry

2005-02-25T10:56:00.000-05:00

This is the first entry for the Clown Blog. I'll be blogging news, products, and websites all about clowning.

Of course I've got to set it up properly and all!

The Clown Blog

UPDATED

Clown Laureate directs Nobel Laureate's work

Flea circus featured article in Washington Post

The Tiniest Show in Town!

At the Flea Circus, There's More Than Meets the Eye

Please Believe the Hype

Press Release: Fleas in Washington DC August 26

Trained Fleas To Perform In Our Nation's Capital

More Circus Fiction

Circus Music on Itunes

Red Hook Waterfront Festival Performance June 2

Circus Fiction

Scary Clowns

Video of the best flea circus in town!

Not Just For Shock Value April 7-28

Hospital in Israel sets up "medical clowning" degree

Flea circus in Riverdale, NY-- December 3, 2006

Buffoon Anonymous1

Buffoon Anonymous in Portsmouth NH

Jeff Raz to work for Cirque

Duelling Magicians: a question of material.

Great New Circus Blog- BUCKLES BLOG

No Applause, Just Throw Money

HISTORY

Circus Smirkus asks for donations

Judy Finelli Circus Benefit

The Forgotten Films of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle

DVD

Huge Circus Archive Now Available Online!

The Performer's Guide to the Collaborative Process by Sheila Kerrigan

HOW-TO

Circus Alphabets by Dan X. Solo

HOW-TO

The Great Parade by Gerard Regnier (editor)

ARTWORK

CLOWN SCENES (Entrees Clownesque) BY TRISTAN REMY

HOW-TO

Mime Spoken Here by Tony Montanaro

HOW-TO

Cirque Du Soleil-The Fire Within

DVD

WEIRD CLOWN NEWS ARTICLE

And it's from the Weekly World News, so you know it must be true!

DOCS REMOVE UNICYCLE FROM 590-POUND CLOWN'S BUTT

Clown Magic by David Ginn

How-To

Cirque du Soleil: Parade of Colors

Kids

Cirque Du Soleil : 20 Years Under the Sun

History

Strutter's Complete Guide to Clown Makeup

How-To

Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women by Ricky Jay

History

Commedia: An Actor's Handbook by John Rudlin

History

La Strada (1954) directed by Federico Fellini

DVD

First Blog Entry

DOCS REMOVE UNICYCLE
FROM 590-POUND CLOWN'S BUTT