Photo Flash: 500 CLOWN CHRISTMAS At North Central College's Madden Theater

500 Clown, a nonprofit theater, presents its holiday hit 500 Clown Christmas for a limited holiday 2009 engagement at North Central College's Madden Theater. Three Clowns welcome the audience into a musical celebration of action-based performance and improvisation that would make Fezziwig proud, complete with a holiday toast, gift-giving and original live music written by John Fournier. A three-piece band cranks out Fournier's songs of family, commercialism and peace on earth, while the Clowns clamor through their holiday party in search of the meaning of Christmas. The show runs about 70 minutes with no intermission, and contains mature language and themes (recommended for ages 14 and up). 500 Clown Christmas premiered in 2005 at Chicago's Storefront Theater (remounted in 2006), went to New York City's legendary PS 122 in 2007, then to North Central College's Meiley-Swallow Hall in 2008.

WHERE: Madden Theater at North Central College, http://finearts.northcentralcollege.edu
171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, IL 60540

WHEN: Runs at 8 p.m. on December 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23, 2009
Runs at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, 2009

TICKETS: 630-637-7469 (SHOW) or http://tickets.noctrl.edu
$30 for adults
$20 for students (with ID)

WITH: 500 Clown company members Molly Brennan (as Kevin), Adrian Danzig (as Bruce) and Paul Kalina (as Shank). Directed by Leslie Buxbaum Danzig. The band is led by composer John Fournier (piano, sax, vocals), with drummer Gerald Dowd.

ALSO LIST: The Madame Barker Holiday Variety Show on Fridays, November 27, December 4 and 11, 10:30 pm, at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston, Chicago. $10 at the door; info only at molly@500clown.com and 773-383-9429 (no reservations). Featuring Molly Brennan as 500 Clown's lusty lunatic Madame Barker, singing original songs by John Fournier, including cuts from 500 Clown Christmas and 500 Clown and the Elephant Deal. Barker and Fournier welcome some of Chicago's finest variety talent, including David Kovac, Tim Simeone, and the Galaxie Girls for 75 minutes of holiday-themed music, comedy, magic and dancing gals! Award-winning Chicago chef-restaurateur Rick Bayless will create concoctions at the December 4 and 11 shows.

STAFF: John Horan (Lighting Design), Jeremy Gerard (Sound Design), Jim Moore
(Technical Design), and Dawn Wilson (Stage Manager).

ALSO LIST: 500 Clown creates and sells RISKwear, one-of-a-kind recycled clothing designs.

NEXT: 500 Clown Frankenstein:
January 20 - 23, 2010, International Performing Arts for Youth, Pittsburgh, PA www.ipayweb.org
February 2, 2010, SUNY Oswego, NY www.oswego.edu/academics/opportunities/artswego/arts/0910season/500_clown_frankenstein.html
February 5, 2010, The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College, NY www.rvccarts.org
500 Clown Macbeth:
March 18 - 21, 2010, Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD, www.creativealliance.org

HISTORY: Founded in 2000, 500 Clown, a Chicago nonprofit, uses action-based
performance, improvisation, and circus arts to produce theater that catapults the performers into extreme physical and emotional risk. The work shifts the audience from passive to active observers and creates a charged environment that celebrates the unpredictable power of the moment. Complete production history available on request. "Life is worth the risk."

SUPPORT: 500 Clown has received funding from The Boeing Company, The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, the Nathan E. Cummings Foundation, and the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, as well as many individuals. In 2008, 500 Clown received a commission from the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center to develop 500 Clown and the Elephant Deal, as well as a grant from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Ensemble Theatre Collaborations Grant Program, a component of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, which recognized 500 Clown for doing leading ensemble work in the country.

INFO: 500 Clown, 312-498-3665, leslie@500clown.com, www.500clown.com

Photos 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 by Yi Zhao. Photos 3 and 7 by Michael Brosilow.

Brennan Barker

Adrian Danzig, Paul Kalina

Adrian Danzig, Paul Kalina, and Molly Brennan

Adrian Danzig, Paul Kalina

Adrian Danzig, Paul Kalina, and Molly Brennan

Adrian Danzig, Paul Kalina, and Molly Brennan

Adrian Danzig, Paul Kalina, and Molly Brennan

Adrian Danzig, Paul Kalina, and Molly Brennan