VAUDE_VISUALS

As he walks into the sunset and begins a new life Barry Lubin will be missed by many Big Apple Circus spectators!

I was fortunate enough to have captured some wonderful moments of Barry in the last several years.

Here they are!

Dancing Ringside with GRANDMA

Barry Lubin doing makeup for GRANDMA at the Big Apple Circus backstage

Still taken from a book project about GRANDMA in New York City

GRANDMA says “Always throw away your coffee cup tops”.

GRANDMA performing in the “Dream Big” Edition of Big Apple Circus 12/2011

I am currently editing an interview I did with Barry in 2009 about his work in the Big Apple Circus and clown.

Stay Tuned for the screening here at Vaudevisuals.

Thank You Barry for all the laughs, fun and performances!

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This is a wonderful show with lots of talent and a ‘Dream Big’ theme!

GRANDMA (Barry Lubin) assists the comedy magic team SCOTT & MURIEL.

Scott & Muriel perform wonderful magic and are also hysterically funny.

Comedy magic at it’s best. It is funny and very magicial!

Jenna Robinson is delightful as the Ring Mistress at the Big Apple Circus.

Anna Volodko performs aerial rope. Beginning in Russia she is beautiful in her act.

She flies thru the air on her rope and doesn’t seem to stop.

Grandma spits water in the ring with a spotlight on her.

Audience member and Grandma compete with the ‘spitting water’ contest.

Jenny Vidbel is an amazing animal trainer and has been for many years.

Jenny with her beautiful trained dog. She has trained many exotic animals over the years.

Here is Jenny with her trained African Porcupine on a runway.

Here is Muriel Brugman playing the saw in center ring.

Shandong Acrobatic Troupe performing amazing physical acts.

Wonderful costumes accentuate the great physical acts of wonder.

Dimitry Chernov juggling in a almost Sci-Fi costume.

Melanie Chy has amazing balance and poise in this beautiful act.

Melanie Chy in her amazing balance and strength act.

Muriel Brugman (Scott & Muriel) in an amazing display of a large production magic act in full view of the audience. AMAZING!

The Flying Cortes Trapeze act was so terrific. Many members fly and do somersaults.

Ysabella Wallenda-Cortes is the youngest member of the act at 10 years old.

Andrey Mantchev not pictured here. A vital member of the BAC ‘DREAM BIG’ Cast.

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The Big Apple Circus ‘Dream Big’ Creative Team

Renaud Doucet, Andre Barbe, Guest Director/Choreographer, Set and Costume Director

Guillaume Dufresnoy – Artistic Director

Barry Lubin – Consultant

JP Perrueaux – Sound Designer

Mathals Ruegg -Composer

Guy Simard – Lighting Designer

Rob Slowik – Musical Director

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For tickets go to this site. TICKETS

For more information or schedule go to this site. INFORMATION.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS © 2011 Jim Moore

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I was very interested in hearing the history of the NYGoofs. I had seen the name around for years and knew a few performers that worked with them. Finally a few years ago I began documenting their shows.

(Thanks to original Goofs member Hilary Chaplain)

Located at the Flea Theater in Lower Manhattan, the NYGoofs held a ‘Clown School‘ that lasted between one and two weeks two times a year.

Many aspiring clowns, comedians, actors and other physically trained movement performers take these classes. The second year I photographed the workshops they had Avner The Eccentric teaching as well as Dick Monday and his wife Tiffany Riley, Hovey Burgess, Barry Lubin, Jay Stewart, Hilary Chaplain and many others.

This year I wanted to get more information about the origins of the group and hear what Dick Monday had to say about this ‘clown venture’ that has lasted quite a few years!

Here is an interview that covers all that and more. I enjoyed working with Dick, Tiffany, Chet and Lily as well as the entire cast of performers that did the

WATER FOR CLOWNS show this year. Go here for photographs and more information on that show.

Dick Monday Interview

Recently Dick and Tiffany sat for me to do a portrait for my Clown Un_Mask series.

This video can NOT be Embedded to play on other sites!

I had a chance to do a video interview with NYGOOFS co-founder Dick Monday at the Flea Theatre while he was preparing for the WATER FOR CLOWNS show.

I haven’t finished editing the whole 20 minutes but wanted to put up an excerpt.

Dick Monday founded The New York Goofs with wife Tiffany Riley.

Dick Monday in one of his eccentric moments juggling cigar boxes in the NY Goofs show.

Dick Monday performed with GRANDMA (Barry Lubin) as his partner when they both were with Ringling Brothers Circus.

Here is a video clip (Thanks to Pat Cashin’s Clown Alley blog) of Dick and Barry performing together in 1986.

During the years 1994 to 1998 Dick was the Director of Clown College for The Feld Entertainment Company.

He recruited, trained and created clowns to perform with The Greatest Show on Earth.

Dick and Tiffany split their time between Dallas and New York. (Mostly Dallas!) Between bring up two children and performing in hospitals and other venues in Dallas they are quite busy!

I just finished doing a video interview with Dick Monday about the NY Goofs and it’s history.

Coming SOON!

While researching for this post I found a quote from Dick that I thought was great!

“Utilizing the power of laughter to uplift the spirits of humanity is a huge responsibility and one that historically has been left to the clown. As a clown, I gladly accept this challenge and will strive to parody the power and enlighten the people where ever and when ever it is called for. This is what I do for a living. I’m also good at Ping Pong.”   –  Dick Monday

Tiffany Riley of The NY Goofs and Funnyatrics Clown Program

Slappy (Tiffany Riley) performing at the NY Goofs show at The Flea Theatre, NYC.

The New York Goofs recently completed a week workshop in NY for aspiring clowns with guest instructors Tom Dougherty and Barry Lubin.

Their new show WATER FOR CLOWNS will be performed for only 3 Nights beginning Thursday, Aug. 11th, 2011.

For ticket information click here!

Usually Tiffany can be found hanging around with Dick Monday!

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!

Host - Christopher Lueck introduces the evenings Talent!

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Jacob Deustachio

Visiting home from circus school, Jacob Deustachio wowed audiences with his freshly polished juggling act packed with amazing skill. He’d have to have balls to come on stage with that act and he had 7.  7 balls all by himself!

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Chispi El Payaso

Chispi El Payaso is working his way around the world spreading his message of joy and peace. His brief stop here in NYC resulted in an orchestra of squeaking, squawking, and thumped balloons. Have a safe journey Chispi El Payaso!

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The cleaning lady wasted our time yet again. (Katherine M. Horejsi)

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THE GAMES

Mariko Iwasa was the winner of the evenings clown game (a variation of musical chairs played with clown noses). Showing true Japanese sportsmanship she beat out contestants from GA, PA, and NJ  taking home a DVD of classic clowning and three rubber chickens!

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Michael Schruefer

Just back from Japan and on his way to Flordia, Michael Schruefer took on the commission to create a musical clown act with a tramp character. He pulled together his skill as clown and flautist to create a fun and silly piece. Mr. Schruefer is off to be married soon, so get ’em while you can ladies!

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Matt Mitler – Commission Work

Matt Mitler took on a commission that only he could create. The commission was to create a shamanistic clown piece with musical themes. If you missed it, you missed some serious comedy and serious spiritual cleansing.

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JOEL JESKE

Finishing up the evening were comic greats Joel Jeske and Barry Lubin, with guest appearance by Mr. Lubin’s Swedish sweetheart. These two are one of the best duos imaginable. Joel’s serious stillness is the perfect invitation for Grandma to run amok and slowly torture the great Jeske. Barry also proves that water-spiting with your girlfriend is always fun. Who knew?

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Curtain Call

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Blog Text by Christopher Lueck

PHOTOGRAPHS © 2010 Jim R Moore
ALL

Had fun at the Big Apple Circus and found Joel Jeske after the show chatting with BAC’s favorite grandma!