for up-to-date details on all of our events.
- Class of 2008 final showcase with the Professional Aerial Program June 13 - 15
- Clown Therapy Workshop taught by Paoli Lacy May 24, 25, and 26th.
- Anne Marie Bookwalter ('03) offers Finding Movement Through Speech beginning in June. Auditions in May.
- "The Government Inspector" at A.C.T. featuring Joan Mankin and Geoff Hoyle
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::::UPCOMING SHOWS::::
The next show for the Class of 2008 – This show is the preparation for the Community Tour and promises to be wonderfully weird and surprisingly family friendly. Thursday, May 1st at 2:30 pm in the Circus Center Theater at 755 Frederick St., San Francisco, CA 94117.
"Pratfalls and Rising Stars" - A joint production of two professional programs!
The show will pair stunning aerial acts by the students of the Professional Aerial Program with the incredible comedy of the Clown Conservatory's graduating class. June 13 - June 15 in the Circus Center Gymnasium at 755 Frederick St., San Francisco, CA 94117.
:::::APPLICATION DEADLINES:::::
First Year Program:
The early application auditions have filled one third of the class of 2009!
The application deadline for the rest of the class of 2009 is May 15 with late admissions accepted after that if there is still space in the class.
Please check out
http://www.theclownconservatory.org/ for application requirements and audition details.
Advanced Program:
The audition for the 2008/2009 "Alice" cast (see below) is Wednesday, April 23 from 10 – noon at the Circus Center; contact Jeni Johnson (
rubyeverlast@yahoo.com) to secure an audition slot.
The Clown Conservatory is proud to present a wholly revamped Advanced Program. The Advanced Program provides two Circus Center Classes per term as well as ten hours of one-on-one coaching with Clown Conservatory faculty. In addition AP students can choose one of three tracks:
Clown Ensemble Performance
Social Circus
Independent Study
- Students in the Clown Ensemble Performance track will work with top professionals to create and tour a circus adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" that uses Clowning, Acting, Circus, and Music. Audition and interview required (see above).
-The Social Circus track is for students who want to make social circus an important part of their careers. Students will receive instruction in three main areas of social circus: Teaching, Hospital Clowning, and Clown Therapy. Admission by interview only.
- The Independent Study track is for performers who desire additional training and one-on-one coaching to take their performing to a higher level. Candidates for this program must have professional performance experience and be highly focused and self-motivated.
Admission by interview only.
For more information and to schedule an audition or interview please contact Jeni Johnson (
rubyeverlast@yahoo.com).
::::WORKSHOPS:::
Please contact Nancy Weiland to enroll in any of these workshops – 415.749.8123 or
nancy@circuscenter.org - Paoli Lacy, the godmother of Clown Therapy, is offering a two and a half day experiential, hands-on intensive that includes practical kinesthetic learning of Clown Therapy techniques and discussion of its use.
Memorial Day weekend, May 24th through 26th, 2008 at the Circus Center
Class fee: $175
- Finding Movement within Speech – CC grad Anne Marie Bookwalter will lead this two-week workshop using the work of Lewis Carroll to explore ensemble building and character development through the body and the text.
Auditions: From 12:00-4:00 on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25th 2007 at The Steve Silver Theater; 1101 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco
Workshop dates - June 25 – July 12
Class held at Circus Center
Tuition: $375 (scholarships available)
:::::CLOWNS IN COMMUNITY:::::
The class of 2008 recently finished their Clowns in the Community projects and have reported on their endeavors to bring Clowning and Circus arts to Social Organizations in the Bay Area. Students chose a not-for-profit to volunteer with for five hours, wrote papers and gave presentations based on their experiences. The students worked with a diverse group of organizations including the Araceli Theatre Project, Splash Circus, and the Medea project. An enterprising group of students pooled their time and organized a benefit for Clowns Without Borders that featured food, drink, and a show. The Clown Conservatory is dedicated to instilling a strong sense of social responsibility to its students.
::::MUST SEE SHOWS::::
- Joan Mankin and Geoff Hoyle play the bumbling Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky in A.C.T.'s production of "The Government Inspector" by Nikolai Golgol. Runs through April 20th at A.C.T. For tickets and more information visit
http://www.act-sf.org. - At the Climate, The Rogue Theatre's production of Samuel Beckett's "Happy Days" featuring Clown Conservatory grad and current faculty member Patty Gallagher will arrive some time in April. Check out the Climate website (
www.climatetheater.com) for more information.
Critics rave about Patty "(she) is poetry in motion. The character never said a word, but we knew what she felt and what she was thinking with the shake of a leg or a shrug of the shoulder." "an amazing bundle of precision energy and high spirits."
- Come see Pi: The Physical Comedy Troupe with Sexy Friends Alec Jones, The Magiclowns, and The Flying Heseds in a brand new show, "SEXY! " A night of magic, laughter, and something a little sexy.
The Shows are at the Boxcar Theatre in San Francisco on April 24th, 25th, and 26th at 8:00PM
Tickets are $9 - $20 at the door.
- Circus Finelli presents a slapstick spectacle with daring comedy and dangerous cutlery. All to the tune of European accordion and vaudeville ukulele.
May 2,3,4 8pm at Stage Werx, 533 Sutter St.
Tickets are $15 ($12 Students and seniors)
brownpapertickets.com 1-800-838-3006
- Circus Center Annual Showcase
Don't miss the annual showcase of the Circus Center's finest talent, including aerialists, clowns, jugglers, acrobats and Circus Center's own San Francisco Youth Circus. June 19 - June 22
::::ALUMNI NOTES::::
- Joel Baker (2002) is happy to announce his new contract with Cirque du Soleil, performing in "LOVE" in Las Vegas. He will move to Vegas April 28 and starts the show in June. His new address and telephone number will be posted on his website as soon as they are known:
www.acroclown.com - Jonas Woolverton (2002) just finished touring a 10 city tour in France with Cirque Eloize's "RAIN." In May he will begin performing his Cyr Wheel number in Cirque du Soleil's "ZUMANITY" in Las Vegas.
- Sleam (2007) got back from Guatemala and will be spending the spring teaching and performing in New Mexico and Colorado. She has started a new group called the Madrid Short Circus where new work can be performed. She is looking forward to her upcoming artist residency in Hawaii.
This E-Newsletter is from your friends at the Clown Conservatory
www.ClownConservatory.org "A Clown cannot pretend or be artificial. In the circus, laughter cannot be faked any more than a somersault."
-- Jerome Medrano of Cirque Medrano, Paris
