Following the success of its January 2009 production, Ear to the Ground returns to Theatre Off Jackson with Not All Clowns Are Bozos II: Clown Harder, an evening of theatrical clowning to run January 14, 15, and 16, 2010 at 8pm.
In support of Ear to the Ground's mission to raise awareness about the finer aspects of clowning, Not All Clowns Are Bozos II presents the work of 13 award-winning clowns from around the Pacific Northwest. Returning from the original production are Nomadic Theatre Co-Artistic Director and trombone aficionado Sarah Liane Foster; clown, recording artists, and juggler Linda Severt; and the Ear to the Ground founding duo of Valerie Moseley and Cecelia Frye, also known as Chickee and Boom-Boom. Portland-based Collective of Geniuses' Jack StockLynn returns as well, this time with CoG partner Smitty Amabilis. Not All Clowns Are Bozos II: Clown Harder also features Seattle-based magician, clown, and actor Christopher Bange of The Baggy Pants; The Eastside Girls, Joy Easley and Xan Scott; Sachie Mikawa, a frequent performer on multiple Seattle stages; Luke Sayler and Garth Brewe performing as the duo Bently and Richie; and physical theatre artist Jens Wazel.
Not All Clowns Are Bozos II talent have trained at premiere institutions such as the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre, Freehold Theatre, Celebration Barn Theatre, UMO Ensemble, the Naropa University/London International School of Performing Arts, and Cornish College of the Arts, and have performed locally and internationally on stages at Annex Theatre, Balagan Theatre, Freehold Theatre, Theatre Off Jackson, the Kennedy Center, Stone Soup, On the Boards, Celebration Barn Theatre, Nomadic Theatre Company, ACT, Eclectic Theatre, Teatro ZinZanni, Open Circle Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, and Seattle Public Theatre.
Why aren't all clowns bozos? Ear to the Ground Artistic Associate and NACAB II Director Cecelia Frye states, "In our work, we encounter a surprising number of people who think clowns are scary or just for kids. We have specifically designed an evening of theatre for such folks. We hope they'll come and see that there's another brand of clowning out there that can be touching, funny, and sweet. There's nothing scary or dumbed-down about what we do. Indeed, not all clowns are Ronald McDonald, Bozo, or that creepy clown from Poltergeist." Artistic Director and Producer Valerie Moseley adds, "Work in this style can be not only gut-splittingly funny, but also pathetic and wonderful and stupid and eye-opening and more. It touches audiences including, and really, especially adults, in a way that can carry a lasting effect."
In fact, many of the show's cast are committed to using theatre and clowning as a means of positively influencing the lives of others. Eastside Girls Joy Easley and Xan Scott are also involved in Freehold Theatre's Ordinary Heroes Project, which brings theatrical training to the Washington Corrections Center for Women. Collective of Geniuses is dedicated to supporting emerging queer, trans, womyn, and minority artists. In addition, several cast members have performed with Big Apple Circus Clown Care at Children's Hospital in Seattle, and many of the clown cast regularly work as instructors of the performing arts.
With Not All Clowns Are Bozos II: Clown Harder, Ear to the Ground seeks to provide these philanthropically-minded clowns with a premiere professional environment to practice their craft while raising general awareness about clowning. Further embracing this fondness for giving, Ear to the Ground aims to fund the production through individual donations to their campaign on the fast-growing social networking and grass roots philanthropy site, Kickstarter.com. With the Kickstarter project, Ear to the Ground hopes to engage audience members and open the dialogue about clowning by rewarding donors with invitations to community-oriented, interactive events such as a post-show reception and discounted admission to its upcoming clown training series. Full project details can be found at www.kickstarter.com.
Ear to the Ground's outreach to audience members who are initially averse to clowning extends via a special 3-for-the-price-of-2 ticket deal. By bringing a friend who is scared of or doesn't like clowns, ticket buyers may get that friend in for free. To take advantage of this deal, audience members must visit the Ear to the Ground website at
www.eartothegroundtheatre.org for a special discount code which can be used at www.brownpapertickets.com or at the door.
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