Three years ago, John Towsen, artistic director of the first NY Clown-Theatre Festival in 1983, hosted a clown-theatre reunion of performers from back in the 80s. When he made plans for a “second tri-annual” clown-theatre reunion this September, Audrey Crabtree suggested he stage a cabaret of older clowns as part of the 2012 festival. The happy result was the sold-out September 28th cabaret, “Return of the Old-Timey Clowns,” which featured twelve acts from a total of fourteen performers.
Area man John Towsen put on his best circus tie to host the festivities.
Hank Smith performs The Mime, a parody of mime clichés to the music of James Brown.
David Tabatsky somehow convinces himself he’s a black cowboy in If I Tell You Now, There’s No Surprise, and Really, What Fun is That?
The Tunisian Toe Tapping Twins with Liz Bolick (left) & Therese Schorn.
Storytelling and face painting come together in Story Faces by Christopher Agostino, a finalist for the 2012 Unique Artist Awards. The volunteer is none other than festival luminary Summer Shapiro.
Hovey Burgess introduces Jim Moore and his film, The Ridiculous Romantic.
Jim Moore’s The Ridiculous Romantic, winner of the Best Silent Film award at the Coney Island Film Festival
Jan “Yoyo” Greenfield defends his right to dance to the music in his piece The Music Box, accompanied by his son Daniel..
Terry Dineen (Ireland) performs The Birth Day, a selection from her latest solo show.
Stephen Ringold confronts the audience as Charlie The Hunchback Geek.
Zeke Peterhoff charms the audience and gets them singing along with his sweet, contemplative, and original song, Stone Buddha.
Celia McCarthy & Joan Merwyn twist words and their own bodies in Help Yourself
Fools Unlimited take a curtain call.
After a mere five minutes, we were all worshipping our new guru, Bernie Kramer as The Mime Master.
Michael Trautman proves he’s not as old as he looks as he performs King Pong’s Ping Pong Rodeo
With only a mirror he was able to knock the can off his head with a ping pong ball.
Michael Trautman yells to the audience ‘Say OH YEAH’
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