I got a call a few days ago from someone looking to talk about clowns. And since that is one of my favorite subjects, I was more than happy to oblige. Now I don’t purport to be a spokesperson for clowns, or represent clowns on the whole. I wouldn’t say I’m a particularly good role models for other clowns to […]
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February isn’t actually Commedia Month (although it does contain international Commedia Day). But in Chicago, Laughing Stock Theatre is doing its darnedest to celebrate Commedia month anyway. They are bringing Antonio Fava, a world-renowned performer, teacher, director and maskmaker from Italy, to Chicago during the month of February. He’ll be conducting a 2 day master class 2/15-2/16 at Links Hall […]
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Angela Delfini Explains It All For You. Oct 4-7, 2018 in Chicago. Directly from the New York Clown Festival, Italian clown Angelina Delfini is taking her show (along with her director John Towsen) on the road to Chicago for a one week set of workshops and performances at the PROP Theatre. The show features Delfini as both a psychiatrist and […]
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Manual Cinema , the award winning puppet/film/multimedia studio based in Chicago, is putting on a performance/workshop at the end of March. It’s part of the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. The show (and the workshop) explore poetry, puppetry, and shadow theatre, and their intersections. The Puppet Festival actually happens every two years, and the next one is scheduled for 2019, however […]
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Chicago Puppet Cabaret Nasty Brutish and Short is performing at Links Hall on Monday December 11 at 7:30 pm. This show features some of the best puppeteers in the area putting on new work, experimental work, and samples of their work. Nasty Brutish & Short is an evening of contemporary short-form puppet and object based theater for adult audiences. The […]
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PHYSICAL FESTIVAL CHICAGO is calling for proposals of physical theater plays for its 5th edition of the festival that will run in June 2018. An annual contemporary, visual, and physical theater festival based in Chicago, Physical Festival presents new forms of theater that are being performed around the world and in our backyard. In 2014, Alice da Cunha and Marc Frost […]
Read moreMontreal circus company Cavalia has a new show that opened recently in Chicago (playing through April 23, 2017 at Soldier Field). The show is called Odysseo and bills itself as “The Best Show Ever.” That’s a lot to live up to.  It’s a beautiful, sumptuous show that has amazingly talented acrobats, equestrians, and some of the most talented and trained horses […]
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Whoever said that Circus was on its way out hasn’t been to Chicago. Right now– there are a plethora of circus shows coming up in the next few weeks (and some are ending in the next few weeks, or even next few days. Â So don’t miss them!) Â And I’m sure I’ve missed a few as well. CIRCUS SHOWS IN CHICAGO […]
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I had the chance to see a great production recently at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. The show is called The Complete Deaths by Spymonkey, a British troupe of clowns/physical comedians. Â If you’ve been to Las Vegas, you may have seen their work, as they created all of the comedy numbers in the Cirque du Soleil show Zumanity. Â They are known […]
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I have studied with Christopher Bayes in NY about 15 years ago– he’s a great teacher, and you are sure to learn a lot from him! Â (I studied with him and Bill Irwin AT THE SAME TIME! Well, different hours, but the same week) Take Clown in Chicago with Christopher Bayes Christopher Bayes, current head physical acting teacher at the […]
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This weekend is the last weekend for Gale LaJoye’s magical and wonderful show Snowflake, which is performing at the Chicago Children’s Theatre through February 14. I saw this show in 2000 and it was wonderful then, and based on the videos I’ve seen, it’s only gotten better. This is the 25th anniversary of Snowflake being performed by LaJoye (I featured […]
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The Chicago Festival just sort of snuck up on me– I knew it was coming, I just thought it was next month. Well, next month has ARRIVED! The festival is happening THIS WEEKEND in Chicago, with over 30 different performances from 13 of the top circus performers from around the world. Here’s a list of the performances:Â http://chicagocircusfest.com/events/ (and if you’d […]
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You’ve already missed some of it (and so have I), and some of it is sold out already, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of the first Chicago Biennial International Puppet Festival goodness to go around. Directed and founded by Blair Thomas, a local puppet juggernaut, the purpose of the festival is to establish Chicago as a prominent center for […]
Read moreSince I’ve moved to Chicago, I’ve gone to a few networking events, or met people involved .  Eventually it comes out that I’m a clown.  And then people start saying, “Do you know…”  Playing clown geography. I had numerous people tell me that I should check out the Ruffians, especially their holiday show Burning BlueBeard, which was a big hit when […]
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