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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Mark Gindick sitting in my hallway after our long discussion about Clowns.

Mark Gindick playing an ‘air guitar’ during his one man show ‘WINGMAN’ recently performed at “Amuse Bouche 2011″.

Mark had his own idea about how to find romance in his one man show “WINGMAN”.

Mark dancing up a storm in the Big Apple Circus production of “Dance On”.

Mark has appeared in films, one-man shows and taught. Click here to find out all the goodies!

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“International Man of Mirth”

Rob Torres photographed in his trailer at the Big Apple Circus lot in Stamford, CT.

Performing in the Big Apple Circus in Stamford, CT. on tour.

Rob Torres has performed his way through 43 countries, and across 6 continents. (Including street performing)

Rob Torres performing an excerpt from his one man show at The New York Downtown Clown Revue 11/2010.

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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS © 2011 by Jim Moore

The show was a collection of performers that HAD to be at least 50 years old…IF not older!

The hostesses of the show were Karen McCarty and Deborah Kaufman.

Of course the IDEA for this foolish evenings festivities came from the mind of Jan Greenfield. (over 50 too!)

I had a chance to get to the theatre early and take a portrait of the hostesses.

Deborah Kaufman and Karen McCarty Host the Cabaret

They get the show on the road by dancing a number together to rev up the audience spirits.

Are you ready for the show to begin?

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First to start the show is Hilary Chaplain with her delightfully demented piece  THE DIVA.

Uh Oh…What show must go on?

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GORK (Michael Getlan)  the stage hand helps clean up the roses.

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The next act to appear in the cabaret comes from the wilds of Finland.

LILI’s HAIR AND BEAUTY PARLOR

Lily Sukula-Lindblom and audience member Bryce Kasson.

Innocent audience member gets her ‘makeover’ and responds!

The Final Picture for Hair and Beauty Parlor

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The ‘oldest mime in the world’ is Richmond Shepard.  He was there and performed a few comic mime pieces.

Comical stories with nice funny mimetic touches.

Richmond was an inspiration for many mime performers to follow.

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The show was not without disturbances. An act titled ‘Clifton’s Senior Moment’ turned out to be an impostor.

John Leo tried to get in on the show’s action but got pulled off soon.

Out you go impostor. Stay out of here!

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THE HOLE

Next up was the piece featuring Nancy Smithner(c), Therese Schorn (r) and Bernie Kramer(l).

It was a strange piece to say the least!

The young girl is being scolded by the grandmother for misbehaving.

After climbing down a ladder into ‘the hole’ they put on mask and play. They also pull out their tails.(?)

After playing they climb out of ‘the hole’ and back to the drawing room. Grandma reads them the bible.

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WILL SHAW sings ‘This Old Man’.

Very unique discussion of the lyrics during the song! lol

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JULIE GOELL performs ‘Feminity Tonight’.

Preparing a nice facial using uncommon ingredients.

A little egg on the nose is always good for the overall appearance.

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VASES with David Sharps

Not only is David an accomplished juggler and performer he also happens to be a captain of a sea vessel.

Karen and Deborah with signs.

David manipulates the small vase.

David with the very heavy and large chinese vase.

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BERNARD KRAMER performs “My Way”.

Singing Frank Sinatra’s  MY WAY as he proceeded to visually portray his ideas about his ‘way’.

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Mildred and Foo Foo

Here we had another example of a performer trying to ‘get in’ to the show even though he wasn’t qualified. (not 50+)

John Leo was remarkable in his never ending attempts to perform in the show.

(and his never ending array of wild and funny characters! Thanks for the hilarity JOHN)

The gig is over. They found out who you really are John Leo!

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THE AMAZING ZAKAHHR

featuring Michael Christensen

Michael has had a long revered career in the NY circus scene. Having performed in Europe with the one-ring circus’  he and juggling partner Paul Binder came back to NY in 1977 and created the BIG APPLE CIRCUS. Michael also created in 1986 the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit. One of the first season’s of the BAC Michael performed his new act with his new character The Amazing Zakahhr.

Now many odd years later he shows us again his wonderfully creative and off beat mind in action.

“Carnavorium bloodius maximus, the Latin name of one of the most remarkable and vicious creatures of the animal kingdom, the Long Haired, Silverback, Soldier Mole! The Soldier Mole, capable of burrowing through solid granite, having no known predators, this mole reigns supreme in the vast arid wastelands of the middle east.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your safety please remain seated!

We now present

The Amazing Zakahrr

And his trained Soldier Mole, Githha!”

Karen and Deborah help Zakahhr get curtain away for the entrance of his trained mole.

His head to the ground to hear the rumblings of his trained mole.

Exasperated by the effort to keep the trained mole from causing havoc on stage.

His arm under the carpet means only one thing. He is performing the finale  ’grip of death’!

(he is taking a huge chance not to have his hand chewed off  by the mole Githha)

With a hand bloodied he comes out from beneath the rug ‘alive’.

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Final Curtain Call. All of the performers are ready for bed!

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CIRCUS is a new six-hour series that takes you on an unforgettable trip with the legendary Big Apple Circus. From the big top to the “back lot,” explore a distinctive world with its own rules, lingo and no fixed address. Follow the diverse characters who make up the Big Apple family and find out what it really means to live life in the ring. Premieres in November, 2010. (PBS Press Release)

I mention this because my first posting of my new series CLOWN  UN_MASK was Glen Heroy.

http://vaudevisuals.com/2010/02/the-clown-un_masked-glen-heroy/

He has a terrific place in the documentary showing off all his delightful talent.

Tonight we saw the Golden Nose Awards Ceremony. IT was a festive evening with Golden Noses going to Eric Davis for “Clown of the Year’. The “Clown Organization of the Year” Golden Nose Award went to Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit. Michael Christensen accepted the award. The Audience Choice award for Best Clown Act went to “Otto and Lewis” and the award was accepted by Brian Foley. His partner Matthew Duncan was in St. Louis getting married. The Audience Choice Best Clown Character went to Brett Alters for his – Squeeks the Clown.

Host and Producer Christopher Lueck leaves the stage a proud man!

Christopher Lueck (and Amanda Pekoe) have  produced the show for the past 4 years and has presented over 400 clown acts during that time. The entire clown community would come out for these shows which happened the 3rd Monday of every month. Christopher announced during the March show that he was going to not produce the show any more and the Golden Nose Awards Ceremony would be his last ‘hurrah’. It was a splendid evening with great performers and organizations getting their just awards. It will be missed!

Great Job Chris. We will Miss You!

Caroline as 'RATAPUCE'.

Laila - Poster Child for NY International Festival of Clown Theatre 1983

Poster Shot for Festival

Caroline had seeked out the ‘masters’ and studied in Paris with acrobat Tudor Bono, mime Etienne Decroux, and music teacher Betsy Jolas and Michel Debost.

In 1971, in Paris, she co-founded ‘The Palace of Wonders’ with street performer, eccentric Jules Cordiere. Her character Ratapuce traveled the globe for 10 years with The Palace of Wonders. After coming to New York she started ‘Pandemonium and the Dragonfly’ performing as a singer, musician, clown and actress.

In 1988 she joined the Big Apple Circus and began a love affair with Clown Doctoring.

Dr. Josette Giraffe was born!

Dr. Josette Giraffe

Being awestruck by Baudelaire,and Camembert she (with a few grants) moved back to Paris to create Le Rire Medicin, the first group of it’s kind in Europe. This highly improvisational team was interactive with the healthcare professionals and had ongoing medical and artistic training. (Read more about Clown Doctors in France  here!) Today Le Rire Medicin is present in 15 French hospitals and employs 80 specially trained professional hopiclowns. Caroline and Le Rire Medicin are presently creating a school to train future hospital clowns. Caroline co-wrote with Dr. Bernie Warren The Clown Doctor Chronicles (Albin Michel 2001, Rodopi 2003and Les Editions Rire Medecin in 2008). She also received one of France’s most prestigious awards in 2002 The Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

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Like I said she is a hard act to follow.

Keep  up the great work Caroline!

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