Canal Park Playhouse Welcomes Avner the Eccentric, 3/1-25

Canal Park Playhouse has announced Avner the Eccentric's return to New York with his show EXCEPTIONS TO GRAVITY, EXCEPTIONS TO GRAVITY begins performances on Friday, March 1 for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 25. Performances take place at Canal Park Playhouse (508 Canal Street, between Greenwich and West Streets in Tribeca). The performance schedule is Fridays at 7 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM and 7 PM; and Sundays at 1 PM & 4 PM. The regular ticket price is $20. For tickets or more information, call OvationTix on 1-866-811-4111 or visit www.canalparkplayhouse.com.

One the most accomplished physical comedy performers in the United States, Avner the Eccentric comes to Canal Park Playhouse with a spectacular show that upends the laws of physics! A master of the art of physical comedy, Avner weaves a spell of poetic simplicity in a show of hilarious predicaments. EXCEPTIONS TO GRAVITY is a reminder of the theatrical power that can reside in a single charismatic performer who touches the heart.

Avner Eisenberg's (Avner the Eccentric) one-man show, Avner the Eccentric, was a hit of the 1984-1985 Broadway season. He co-starred in Lincoln Center's production of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, and returned to Broadway in 1989 in a principal role in Ghetto. In regional theatre Avner has played both Estragon and Vladimir in Waiting For Godot, played the title role in R. Crumb Comix, and co-starred with his wife, Julie Goell, in the world premier of Zoo of Tranquility.

Avner's new show, Exceptions to Gravity has toured extensively all over the US and abroad. Avner has often played on subscription at regional theaters including Arena Stage, Trinity Rep, Actor's Theater of Louisville, The Empty Space, Indiana Rep, The Goodman Theater, Portland Stage, Merrimack Rep, Virginia Stage Company, Dallas Theater Center, Seacoast Rep, and San Jose Rep.

Avner is probably best known for his endearing portrayal of The Jewel, the scene-stealing holy man, in The Jewel of the Nile, co-starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. He was also featured in the film Brenda Starr and the television series Webster and Mathnet.

Avner is often a featured performer at comedy, magic and theatre festivals, including The Edinburgh Festival, the Israel Festival, and the Montreal International Comedy Festival. He has also appeared at the London International Mime Festival, the Festival of American Mime, the New York Clown Theatre Festival, the Fool's Festival, the New York Magic Symposium, the Hudson Clearwater Revival, and the International Movement Theatre Festival. Avner has won special jury awards at The International Festival du Cirque in Monte Carlo, Arosa International Humor Festival, Barcelona International Clown Festival, Leipzig Lach Messe, St Gervais International Theater Festival where he won both the public and the jury awards. Avner was recently inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame.

Avner is regularly featured on television specials throughout the world. He has been seen on the Paul Daniels Show and Packing Them In in Great Britain, on the NTV 35th Anniversary Special as well as numerous appearances on NHK in Japan, Sebastian C'est Fou, Le Plus Grande Cabaret du Monde, and Cabaret Sauvage in France, Un Dos Tres and theJuan Tamariz Special in Spain, Martes 13 in Chile, Ritmo de la Noche in Argentina, UNICEF Comedy Special in Italy, the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival on Showtime, and many more.

In 2004 Avner appeared for three months in a sold out run at Theatre Fontaine in Paris, and for a four week run at Teatro Alfil in Madrid in 2009-2010.

In addition to a busy performance schedule, Avner has taught master classes in clowning and Eccentric Performing in the United States, France, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Japan and Spain. He has developed silent theatre skills as a therapeutic tool and also teaches workshops for students and professionals in health care, education and counseling, as well as theatre.

Avner is the artistic director of Phyzgig, an annual festival of physical comedy, former President of the Board of Directors of the Celebration Barn Theater, and is on the Boards of Directors of Acorn Productions, and Etz Chaim Synagogue.

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