VAUDE_VISUALS

On Monday at 11am a Celebration was held at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital on Broadway and 165th St.

Serving that facility for 25 years, The Big Apple Circus Clown Care staff sang, blew bubbles, played music  and entertained the children and adults.

In 1986, Big Apple Circus co-founder and Creative Director Michael Christensen founded this professional hospital clowning program.

In the beginning it was only three clowns. Michael Christensen (Mr. Stubbs), Barry Lubin (Grandma) and Jeff Gordon (Gordoon)

Today the Big Apple Circus’s Clown Care is at 18 leading pediatric hospitals nationwide with over 80 talented professional clowns.

It also has inspired many other groups world-wide to develop in Germany, France, Mexico etc.

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The ceremony began with remarks by Big Apple Circus Chairman Chris Wearing.

Chris Wearing

Dr. Robert Seigle, pediatric nephrologist spoke about his relationship with the Clown Care group from the beginning.

Dr. Robert Seigle

The other speaker was nine time Emmy  award winning broadcast journalist Jane Hanson, host of NBC’s LX NEW YORK.

NBC’s Jane Hanson (w/clown nose)

They had celebratory cup cakes donated by Magnolia Bakery.

Philip Thurston, Press Contact for the Big Apple Circus organized this delightfully heartfelt event.

Philip Thurston and Clown Dikki Ellis.

The event was very emotional. Michael spoke about the role of the clown in the hospital environment. The Big Apple Circus Clown Care has been working in hospitals for 25 years and has brought joy and laughter to many children.

Mr. Stubbs (Michael Christensen) speaks to the hospital patients and press.

Directing part of his talk to the clown members of the audience he spoke of the importance of their work.

The Clowns gathered together at the end of the celebration and collectively chanted;

“See you down the road”

The tuba and banjos began playing as they marched out of the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and into the street.

They gathered their belongings, suitcases and instruments and paraded out the front door and took the subway to another hospital in Harlem.

Here are some photographs from the day.

Karen McCarty

Deborah Kaufman

David Engel

Audrey Crabtree and Andy Sapora

Dikki Ellis and Deborah Kaufman

Getting ready to Parade out the door.

The Big Apple Circus Clown Care CLOWNS!

(Not listed in order)

(Michael Christensen, John Grimaldi, Erin Schmahl, Karen McCarty, Josh Matthews, Julie Pasqual, Will Shaw, Audrey Crabtree, Watson Kawecki, Laine Barton, Leo Dessilets, Phyllis Capello, Ron Hoffman, Deborah Kaufman, Sarah Petersiel, David Engel, Lauren Sharpe, John Leo, Dikki Ellis, Hilary Chaplain, Maria Para.)

(L to R)Audrey Crabtree, Michael Christensen, Deborah Kaufman and Hilary Chaplain

The Big Apple Circus Clown Care ensemble (in hospital coats) travel to the next hospital in Harlem.

Mr. Stubbs (Michael Christensen) entering the subway at 165th Street station with props and gear!

Juggler Will Shaw with Big Apple Circus Clown Care 25th Anniversary Banner getting on the elevator with peers.

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Help the New York  Big Apple Circus Clown Care community outreach program continue by donating here!

Most people have heard about ‘Doctors without Borders‘. But my favorite group is CLOWNS WITHOUT BORDERS.

On Saturday April 30, 2011, performer, actor, director and teacher Peter Musante taught a workshop at Soundance in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Physics of Play: Curiousity – Imagination – Spontaneity – Abandon

The attendees were: Aya Tucker, Lynn Levy, Natalie Elizabeth Weiss, Ranjana Mendes, Kurt Carlson, Jeff Smithson, Jason Hicks, Tanya Solomon, Jesse Garrison, Ben Dziuba, and Sayda Trujillo.

Peter Musante with the workshop group working in a circle.

Many attendees were working on character and physical comedy routines.

Peter is elated at the character created by workshop attendee.

Up in the air with this exercise given by teacher Peter Musante.

The workshop description was as follows:

This 3-hour workshop, led by Peter Musante (Blue Man Group, Legs and All), explores ways to liberate our bodies and voices through insanely fun group exercises inspired by various improvisational physical theater approaches.

Working in pairs they explored many different physical attitudes.

Peter conducted a wonderful, spirited and playful workshop for all the attendees.

The workshop was a benefit for CLOWNS WITHOUT BORDERS.

All proceeds from the workshop attendees went to Clowns Without Borders.

Clowns Without Borders USA

Clowns Without Borders offers laughter to relieve the suffering of all persons, especially children, who live in areas of crisis including refugee camps, conflict zones and territories in situations of emergency.  We bring levity, contemporary clown/circus oriented performances and workshops into communities so that they can celebrate together and forget for a moment the tensions that darken their daily lives.

To DONATE to this wonderful group click here!

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Abby Bender

started the show off with a surreal dance offering “excerpt from Zero Sum”

Dressed in a women’s business suit she organized a survey of the audience.

A delightful, modern and absurdist piece on consensus and it’s lack of usefulness!

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After finishing her piece Abby introduced the show and the first duet.

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HANDSHAKE UPPERCUT

John Leo and Jay Dunn

Jay Dunn brings the show alive with a rope pull from off stage.

John Leo is resisting the entrance.

While John chews the apple, Jay gets his shoe tied!

Choreographed and performed by John Leo and Jay Dunn.

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RAIN IS JUST THE CLOUDS GETTING THE BLUES (Working title)

Conceived by Alyson Perry and Mary Cavett

Performed by Alyson Perry, Mary Cavett, Kym Bernazky, Melanie Jones, Clare O’Sheeran and Michaela Lind.

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BIO

Choreographed by Josselyn Levinson

Performed by Josselyn Levinson and Hayley Muth.

Hayley Muth reads the ‘BIO’ as Josselyn Levinson performs in the background.

Hayley and Josselyn take their curtain call.

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An Excerpt from their show

NEON LIGHTS

Performed by Jeff Seal and Chris Manley

Choreographed by Rebecca Bull Ketchum

Chris Manley sets the needle of the victrola on the vinyl record.

Jeff Seal questions the selection he picked.

Jeff and Chris making the audience laugh out loud!

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A PRETTY GIRL IS LIKE…

Choreographed and performed by Tanya Solomon

Directed by Deborah Kaufman

Tanya Solomon dances up a storm in this very cute and funny piece.

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DIRTY UP THE KNUCKLES

Choreographed and performed by Sarah Konner and Austin Selden

A lovely and charming duet by two talented dancers.

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TREES TO REALLY GET THE FEELING OF ROMANCE

Devised and performed by Billy Schultz for The Hollering Motley

Appearing on stage in a ‘lumberjack’ wardrobe.

A very surreal and funny dance piece by Billy Schultz

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The Comedy in Dance Festival is an Annual event at Triskelion and is worth attending.

Friday April 22, Sat. April 23, 2011.

Check here for more information.

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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS © 2011 Jim Moore

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The NEW YORK Downtown Clown Revue

The evening’s program was ALL WOMAN and ALL GRREEAT!

Zea Barker performing her character BonyLil.

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Brenn Swanson

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Christopher chops down on a slice of pizza between acts!

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THE GAME

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Butt Kapinsky – Private Eye

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AMANDA CROCKETT

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Curtain Call

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Photographs © 2010 Jim R Moore

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Keith Nelson in the studio.

Portrait of KINKO the CLOWN for this presidential campaign (Kinko for President) last time around.

Keith has many characters that he does in his life but Kinko seems to get the most work.

Studio shot of Kinko.

Keith Nelson awarding the CLOWN OF THE YEAR award at The Golden Nose Awards Ceremony.

Among the many activities that Keith takes into his stride is The Bindlestiff Open Stage Variety Revue.

During this ‘first Monday of every month’ occurrence at Galapogos Art Space Keith attempted and successfully completed a very difficult trick. The Kendama Blockhead. See it done here by Keith.

Along with this monthly event he also produces shows and events all over the country with the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.

(along with his wife and performing partner Stephanie Monseau.)

Check out this recent interview of Keith.

Angry Clowns: Don’t Call Washington Politics ‘a Circus

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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ARE © 2010 Jim Moore

Kevin C. Carr relaxing for the camera in my back yard.

Kevin performing at the New York Downtown Clown Revue for the first time.

Sitting in the park during the filming of ‘The Ridiculous Romantic’.

Kevin with Carol Sirugo in a still from the film ‘The Ridiculous Romantic’.

The silent film ‘The Ridiculous Romantic’ will appear soon at a theatre near you.

The cast includes Kevin C. Carr, Carol Sirugo, Mistress B, Peter Daniel Straus and Emily Season.

Kevin C. Carr can be reached here

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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS © 2010 Jim R. Moore

Amy Chen performing at the Bindlestiff Open Stage at Galapagos.

I was so mesmerized by Amy Chen I had to post this to the blog.

Delicate, professional, exquisite, physical, technical, and a great aerialist.

If you see her listed as performing anywhere… make sure you go an catch her act. It is so wonderful!

Her is her bio from another page.

Amy Chen received extensive ballet training as a child at the Royal Academy of Dance and Vaganova methods. She received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, and more recently a law degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. Amy began her study of trapeze in 2001, and also studies acrobatics with Nourbol Meirmanov. Amy has taught circus-arts with Circesteem, and The Adler Danztheatre and currently teaches for The Acrofabulous Circus, Joel Hall Dance Center and The Skokie Park District. In her free time, Amy is an intellectual property lawyer and breaths fire.

The Kapinski Private Eye Academy

It was a cold and windy night with a thunder storm. The rain came down.

The show had to move from it’s original location to under the BQE.

These photographs were taken as evidence that the show went on despite the weather.

Butt Kapinski heralded the crowd of spectators to gather together and peruse the situation at this new yet unknown territory.

Walking with the crowd checking out the clues.

What is going on here? Let’s find out.

Yeah. It goes like this! You need to ‘want’ to investigate.

This is what I am talking about! Concern and insight.

As the crowd watches on the real ‘threat’ hides behind the column.

This victim is squirming and shaking so much from the knives imbedded in his chest. What to do?

The lineup. The Audience. The students. The action is near!

The Private Eye Academy students watch as Butt Kapinski tells it like it is!

When all is said and done the detective and director walk off into the night!

Great show and a learning experience for all.

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Music scored and performed by Snaps Alden and Patrick Farrell

Security by Joe Kolbow, Johnnie Niel, and Ralf Jean-Pierre

Written by Deanna Fleysher, Eric Davis, Sarah ‘Snaps’ Alden, Patrick Farrell, Joe Kolbow and Johnnie Niel.

Part 2 – Interview with Hovey Burgess by Jim Moore from Jim Moore on Vimeo.

Here is Part 2 of an interview I did with circus historian, book collector, teacher, juggler Hovey Burgess. Hovey Burgess literally wrote the book on Circus Techniques (1976) which is still in print. Carlo Mazzone-Clementi considered Hovey his colleague working with him at New York University and American Conservatory Theatre and spending endless days and night exploring Commedia Dell’Arte. He has taught at some of the finest professional conservatory programs in theatre. He taught at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, Ultimate Clown School, Dell’Arte, and is a forty year veteran of New York University where he first introduced the concept of Circus Arts in the theater curriculum, an idea which quickly spread to theaters programs across America. He also taught at The Juilliard School, American Conservatory Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College, National Theatre for the Deaf, National Theatre School of Canada, and the Israeli National Theatre for Youth. Hovey was circus choreographer for the motion picture Popeye (1980) staring his former Juilliard student Robin Williams.

Here are a few visual highlights from this past weekends performance of THE ROTTEN PLANTAINS.
A collection of wild and wonderfully funny clowns that put together an evening of insanity and delightfully funny chaos.
Pictured below are the cast members that come from far and near!

Patrick de Valette - Paris/ Claudio Carneiro – San Paulo  / Julie Ferrier - Paris / Fred Blin – Paris

(Wayne Wilson and Daniel Passer – Not pictured – Will be in the next weeks shows!)

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Guest Artist this past weekend – Arnaud Maillard  &  Amy Gordon – Brooklyn NY

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Patrick de Valette and Fred Blin start the show off.

Patrick de Valette and Fred Blin acting out a fantasy.

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Julie Ferrier

Julie’s character is so wrapped up in her discussion of ‘art’.

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Claudio Carneiro

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Patrick de Valette

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Julie Ferrier

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Amy Gordon – GUEST ARTIST

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Arnaud Maillard – GUEST ARTIST

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Julie Ferrier roller skates herself atop of an innocent audience member in a wonderful routine.

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The Rotten Plantain’s cast take a bow!

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The show was an amazing, hysterical, collage of clowns on their day off!
IT will be running again at 45 Bleecker St Theatre starting on August 26th for 4 Performances ONLY!

Thur Aug 26th at 10:30

Fri Aug 27th at 10:30

Sat Aug 28th at 10:30

Sun Aug 29th at 7pm

Get your tickets HERE.