VAUDE_VISUALS

Summer Shapiro and Peter Musante perform in a delightful non-verbal physical theatre piece for the thinking person.

Summer Shapiro

Peter Musante

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Nick Trotter performed this show ‘Ferdinand the Magnificent’.

I had a chance to speak with him about his character and the show.

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He makes his entrance from the back of the theatre and acquaints himself with members of the audience right away.

Here he finds his romantic interest in the Amazing Amy sitting in the front row.

He has a very unique smile!

He presents her with a beautiful flower to show his compassion.

They embrace and hold on. This was the beginning of a stage romance.

He proceeded to find items of interest in his diaper.

He wonders what delightfully ingenious play can he do with this?

After escorting Amy backstage for some smooching he then leaves the theatre with his love intact.

Clowns with Gowns look on!

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Gabriela Munoz performed the piece called Perhaps, Perhaps, Quizas.

Here is an interview I did with her at Goods Restaurant across the street from The Brick Theatre.

Interview with Gabriela Munoz of ClownMeIn from Jim Moore on Vimeo.

When the lights come up on the character in PERHAPS, PERHAPS, QUIZAS we see her dressed in a wedding gown eating away at a cake.

Alone and thinking about a relationship.

She rolls out a roll of toilet paper and has a carpet to pretend to ‘walk the aisle’.

She found the man of her dreams in a willing audience member. (Adam Gertsacov)

He is ready, willing and able but she isn’t sure..for sure!

She knew it was coming all along. The perfect dream sometimes does not come true.

Who will be the ‘lucky’ gal?

A wonderful performance by Gabriela Munoz. Hope to see her in NY again soon!

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This show was a wonderful absurd clown adventure into the human quality of vanity. Two women clowns vie to out ‘beautify’ themselves.Carmen Francesca Maria Frida Ophelia De La Rosa (Adriana Chavez) and her partner is Gertrude (Heidi Rider). Together they play and entertain the audience along the way.

Gertrude (and Carmen) are  delivered to the stage in a roller suitcase and emerge.

Carmen was the throwing the camera a kiss as she was pulled around the stage.

Gertrude was summoned to put Carmen’s shoe back on.

Constant battling on who is most attractive.

Jumping rope holding the ball was a joint effort that was terrific!

A curtain call. The audience loved this duo.

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The evening was a blast with host ERIC DAVIS heading up a long line of variety performers/clowns.

The first act of the evening was CIRKUS LUNA. A wild band of gypsy performers try and make you laugh.

Directly from their website:

“Hailing from East Molvenia, Cirkus Luna may be the worst circus act ever to perform in public. Nothing this family troupe does comes remotely close to demonstrating skill.”

So needless to say they had an idea to get their two lovely ladies to do a little ‘strip’ show. They wouldn’t go for it.

So the remaining two performers took it upon themselves to entertain the audience with their ‘own’ male strip show!

They got all naked and left the stage. I have decided not to post these embarrassing photographs. (see me later!)

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Next to appear was the duo:

Diz and Izzy

Mark Jaster and Sabrina Mandell from the Happenstance Theatre.

In the tradition of Burns & Allen, Ball & Arnaz, Seeley & Fields,
this offbeat couple brings their baggage to the stage
in harmonies from Between-the-Wars
and cheery songs of the Great Depression.

Slapstick comedy, ukulele and musical saw
in a sweet little music hall show.

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Next onstage is a wild and funny:

“CLIFF” (Barbara Ann Michaels)

Ready to Rock!

A volunteer or two would help make this music rock!

Directed by Deborah Kaufman

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THIS IS BOB

with Richard Harrington and Laura Walton.

Changing their clothes to suit one another’s clothes.

Now the ball is in someone else’s hands!

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A title that gives away the story to be told!

DON’T EVER TELL ANYONE WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS HOUSE

featuring Audrey Crabtree and Jonathan Kaplan. (aka Two Hander)

A tumultuous family life that needs no explanation.

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To introduce all the acts one by one was the wonderful joke and riddle rattling Eric Davis

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Leah Abel and Olivia Lehrman

A strange tale between a spinster and a wildly strange ole man.

Suddenly we have a case of jealous contempt.

A race for who can empty the small container with the miniscule straw.

Audience members were invited up to help the battle continue.

The macho instinct rears it’s head (Mom tattoo) once more in the battle of the sexes.

Finally they make up and begin what seems like a lovely fetish.

But the relationship goes downhill from here. Licking shoes…Yuk!!!

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LEGS AND ALL

Summer Shapiro and Peter Musante

A beautiful example of physical theatre and it’s capacity to tell a story.

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A wild man on the loose hosting the Cabaret! Look at those eyes.

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HULA HELL

with Miss Saturn (Jenny McGowan)

Amazing hula hoop talent.

Amy Lee from Morro and Jasp gets into the hoop with Miss Saturn for a great ‘finale’.

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A great time for the audience and a terrfic time for the cast!

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Next CLOWN CABARET is Sept 16th with the Leroy Sisters Hosting!

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For more information on the NY Clown Festival click here!

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Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee are

MORRO AND JASP

A HILARIOUS LOOK BACK AT THE BEST PERIOD OF YOUR LIFE!

The show is about two sisters going thru the day to day turmoil of a girl’s life in puberty together.

Here are a selection of photographs from the evenings performance.

It was a delightful romp thru these sister’s lives. Funny with very poignant moments.

A charming amount of audience interaction was on hand!

What is a sister without phone issues?

A secret life is revealed!

“This device must have been invented by a man”.

This audience member found out it has many uses.

A novel use of the sticky surface.

An innocent audience member gets subjected to the ‘makeover’.

The puberty age does have it’s consequences.

An audience member (Billy Dee Bedlam) becomes her Don Juan.

After a very trying experience discovering ‘puberty’. Whew!

The curtain call involved a friend who was involved in the production. It was his birthday!

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Many people helped make this show what it is but the main person responsible was Co-Artistic Director

Byron Laviolette

Byron Laviolette is a Canadian playwright, director, dramaturge and critic who has been involved in theatre making and production for the last 20 years. Highlights include the world première of Waiting for Gilgamesh: Scenes from Iraq; Theatre du Refuse’s five star run of The Hunt For Treasure in the Toronto Fringe and its remount in N.Y.C in 2007 with English Rose Productions; Morro and Jasp do Puberty with U.N.I.T. Productions as well as the Canadian Premiere of Reefer Madness at the Hart House Theatre in 2006.

Byron is currently completing a PhD degree in Theatre Studies at York University, working on a dissertation on Canadian Theatre History and his criticism can be read frequently in EYE WEEKLY.

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This show has been the recipient of many awards including:

Canadian Comedy Awards Nominee 2010

Best of Toronto Fringe Festival 2010

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Here is an interview I did with the Co-Directors at Goods Restaurant across the street from The Brick Theatre

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Morro and Jasp Interview by Jim Moore from Jim Moore on Vimeo.

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On Friday September 3rd The NY Clown Theatre Festival got off to a great start with the Clown Parade. Beginning in Union Square and moving to The Brick  Theatre in Williamsburg where the festival is presented. More than 100 clowns and admirers moved through the streets of NY and into the L train station for their fun trip to Brooklyn. I have posted a good selection of photographs from that adventure.

John Towsen was present at the parade. John and his performing partner  Fred Yockers were the producers of the First NY Clown Theatre Festival back in the 1983. He was happy to see the tradition continue under the guidance of Audrey Crabtree cofounder with Eric Davis.

Audrey Crabtree muscling in to the picture.

Jeff Seal will be performing with his partner Chris Manley at the Festival

Lilli Sukula-Lindblom(l)  hangs on to Gabriela Munoz (c) and Sabine Choucair(r).

Gabriela and Sabine are perfoming at the festival in ‘Perhaps, Perhaps, Quizas.’

Jonathan Kaplan will be performing in the festival in ‘Le Fleur’.

Center in the platform is Audrey Crabtree giving advice to the passengers.

Nick Trotter as ‘Ferdinand the Magnificent’ taking a well deserved rest

Peter Musante is performing with Summer Shapiro in “Legs and All“.

Eric Davis -shooting photographs at the parade.

Butt Kapinski with a handcuffed friend looking proud.

Once the crowd arrived at The Brick Theatre it was only a matter of time until the ‘Pie Throwing Contest’ got started.

First the referee had to lay down the rules and then all hell broke lose!

If you want to see more Clown Theatre that will bring joy to your bones and laughter to your soul…

go here and buy some tickets to the shows!

FERDINAND SAYS “COME AND SEE SOME SHOWS!”

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I will be posting more photographs from each performance I shot in the upcoming weeks.

Stay tuned or subscribe in the upper right hand corner!

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All Photographs are © 2010 by Jim Moore