Working in the Theatre: Clowning

This episode of Working in the Theatre was featured in our new book, "American Theatre Wing, an oral history: 100 Years, 100 Voices, 100 Million Miracles." Learn more about the book at a.co/d/9A5qc9a.
"If there is someone who is going to reach out, shake your hand and befriend you at the circus, it's going to be the clown." says Big Apple Circus clown Joel Jeske. "Clowns fall down so we don't have to."
An ancient form of theatrics rooted in physical comedy, clowning transcends language and cultural barriers by finding the absurd in the everyday. Follow clowns Brent McBeth, Joel Jeske and David Shiner through routines. Look inside Slava Polunin's famed Snowshow and his Academy of Fools.
For more information on Slava Polunin, please visit www.academyoffo....
For more information on Big Apple Circus, please visit www.bigapplecir....
American Theatre Wing’s Working in the Theatre documentary series features the most fascinating people on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience. From Tony Awards® and Obie Awards® winning artists to the next generation of theatre makers, we capture theatre’s inner-workings, industry luminaries, and unique stories that surround important work.
American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards® and home of and the Obie Awards®: for more information visit americantheatr....
#WorkingInTheTheatre #Season38
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[@RachelSofaer]

Wow, this video really opened my eyes to the art of clowning. As a long time theatre performer, I never even considered this as part of theatre, more circus. But these men seem to really have an art and long time tradition working for them.

[@nutanub9255]

i didnt ask

[@LuigiDeFrenza]

beautiful doc! Slava is a poet of life....

[@nikkihorvath993]

I for one thank you for this video . I have a love for clown and clownettees . I feel like one

[@ALFirebird]

This was so enjoyable thank you so much for creating this mini documentary 🥸🤓❤️

[@darbyzworld]

Wanted to join the circus at age 3 and finally did after college. I joined Ringling Bros clown college. The experience was brilliant....the company itself was tragic. The clowns were a mix of drug addicts, drunks and very strange behavior patterns. Clowns were used for set changes and 'filler' and commanded little to no respect. Talent was replaced with bigger props and obvious sight gags. It was a total disaster for me and very depressing. I decided that theatre was the best bet for me. Musical comedy roles were ideal for my personality and talent. I started teaching, writing and designing but never forgot what the intense education at Ringling taught me, THAT was worth it all. It was sad to see the circus decay as the audience slowly died and no longer interested in the traditions and detailed work of the true clown. The audience has become more educated, well traveled and exposed to so much more of the world today. The circus today has to reach a smarter audience, even playing the buffoon, the buffoon should know that a big wig and over sized feet are just not enough....be clever. Provoke thought, empathy and touch the heart. It is a delicate chemistry and one that cannot be taught. You, yourself, have to feel it. . . . . . .

[@ALFirebird]

Wow thank you for sharing 😮

[@spasticpug5209]

id love to be a clown I enjoy teaching history that repeats itself through irony and laughter right now I'm working on comics

[@Ronclown]

Great video on clowning. Thanks for sharing this philosophical piece.

[@danielconnor624]

The art of clowning is way deeper than I thought

[@LuisRivera-vf9pk]

Real clowns shall frown upon the creepy clown sightings. Ridi Pagliaccio!

[@davidmonzonisquailty.4597]

Nice clownings...and kinggsss....falling for...more. Laughs.

[@JuanPedrazaxXXjk]

Fantastic

[@miguelcarvalho1960]

Van Gogh is expressionistic. :P

[@hatrick316]

I watched a 22 minute video and never REALLY heard a good definition of what clowning is.

[@bobbymastroianni4208]

have you ever heard of dictionaries? Or google? you can search word + definition = answer. hohohoho

[@mielimedina3146]

I think part of the point is that the clown defies definition