In 2010 I had a concept in my head one day that I should photograph my favorite subjects (Clowns) without their performance costume and makeup and match it with a performance shot. The ‘Unmask’ shot would be black and white and the performance shot in color. I decided to call it The Clown UnMask. I began shooting in Feb. 2010 with one of the funniest clowns I know and admire. Glen Heroy.
I followed up with many more (almost 50) until I stopped shooting the series in 2016. Here is a comprehensive list of the performers (with links to the original posts) I documented in my ‘hallway’ studio. In the order in which I photographed them. Full post are reached by using the links. Some portrait are provided for visual excitement!
(The wall came down in 2016 so the series was discontinued)
(From the 2012 NY Clown Theatre Festival Brochure)
Cookie, seeking to fulfill a lifelong dream of scouting, challenges herself in the wilderness. Is a badge within her reach, or will she be undone by the Great Outdoors?
Deborah Kaufmann has delighted audiences worldwide with original physical comedy and puppetry, most recently in Warsaw and Lisbon. She celebrates over 25 years of foolishness with Big Apple Circus Clown Care®, where she oversees the artistic development of BAC-CC clowns. She teaches Pochinko-inspired mask-to-clown and as “clown midwife” she helps others develop new material.
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A devoted smoker reaches her moment of truth: extinguish the habit! Is being a quitter for life attainable, or will she be undone by the Great Addiction?
Nina Levine creates, performs, directs, writes about, and teaches clown. Based in New York, she has appeared in numerous venues here and abroad. Nina’s acts reflect her traditional theatrical background in combination with training in physical comedy and music. In addition to her body of solo work, she is a founding member of the award-winning clown trio Those in the Nose.
Nina tries to get hypnotized to quit smoking.
Neither hypnotics nor patches seem to remedy the smoking addiction.
Deborah Kaufman gives Nina a ‘helping hand’ with her over whelming problem.
At the end of the day (after the Clown Parade and Pie Fight) The New York Clown Theatre Festival hosted a PREVIEW CABARET with a sample selection of some of the upcoming shows scheduled for the Festival. Here is a few photographs taken at the PREVIEW CABARET!.
Audrey Crabtree and Robert Honeywell host the Opening Night Cabaret
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Cirque This presented an excerpt from their MACHINATIONS show.
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Poe and Mathews perform a misadventure in the middle of nowhere.
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Nina Levine performs an excerpt from her show THE QUITTER.
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Emmet and Merril Garrick perform an excerpt from their show TO OPERA WITH LOVE.
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Denni Dennis and Kate Taylor perform an excerpt from UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS
It was being presented at the cellar space on St. Marks Place called UNDER ST. MARKS. Christopher Lueck and Amanda Pekoe began the show on a shoe-string budget.
The sign was attached to the wrought iron gate at the top of the stairs that led to the basement performing space.
Christopher and Amanda worked constantly getting new talent to perform in the revue.
Every week it was a new group of performers. On several nights they would have performers that weren’t clowns but comedic and funny. The Pajama Men performed in the review and now have a run at St. Ann’s Warehouse.
Some of the regulars at the revue are pictured below.
Walking on stage he was pulling a balloon on a string.
Balancing on top of a ladder listening to a ipod. Audience could hear silence.
After having recruited audience members he was pushed around the stage through the maze of music stands.
In and out of the music stands on stage until he reached the original starting point.
The little balloon that finished the piece intact with him.
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One of the fun audience participation segments is:
THE GAME!
Tonight’s game had two contestants that were given a deck of cards with many aces that needed to be found & run across the room to be put on a music stand.
The Winner was Monica who won 2 tickets to see PLAY DEAD at the Players Theatre.
A Commissioned Work by the NY Downtown Clown Revue
Flask in hand ready to take on the world.
Blowing up a balloon in preparation for a trick.
Pushing the skewer into the balloon with it popping.
Showing off that terrific ‘hobo’ physique.
Always wants to be in the ‘spotlight’.
Kevin C. Carr can be seen in the upcoming film The Ridiculous Romantic.
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Host Christopher introduces the new VOTE containers.
Every month the audience is encouraged to VOTE for their favorite act/performer and at the end of the season the winners are selected and presented with
