Clown News September

Funny or Scary?

Clowns in the News: Silly Lilly and Q-Ball, aka Sarah and John Brown, have been entertaining crowds for the past eight years. During that time, they've encountered plenty of people who have a clown phobia, but say they've been able to help many overcome that fear.

Clowns have been around for thousands of years; there reportedly is a record of a clown as court jester in Egypt around 2500 B.C. China was another place they could be found, around 1800 B.C., according to The International Clown Hall of Fame Web site.

The ICHOF describes white-face clowns as the most common type. They usually are the more serious ones in a skit and their makeup highlights their natural features rather than exaggerating them.

Auguste clowns have a flesh-tone base as their makeup. They're the silly ones, more cartoonish in appearance and action than white-face clowns.

Good luck finding a circus, or even a rodeo, without its own clowns. They cause trouble, play the fool and, in the case of rodeo clowns, they can save lives. The desired result always is the same, though: laughs. Why is it, then, that so many people have negative reactions to these painted comedians? Fear - or at least dislike - of clowns is so recognizable that it even has its own name: coulrophobia.

Alice Cooper went so far as to write a song that supposedly is based on a line uttered by Bart Simpson on an episode of "The Simpsons":

"Can't sleep, clown will eat me."The chorus:
It happens to me every night
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me
They always want to take a bite
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me

And if you think this isn't real
I'll show you wounds that never heal
To them I'm just a happy meal
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me.

He wasn't the first to do it, but author Stephen King made a terrifying impression on thousands, if not millions, of readers with the character Pennywise in his 1986 book, "It." This child-killing clown was all the more horrifying precisely because he was a clown.

"It's taking something that's supposed to be innocent and making it scary," said John Brown, a Puebloan who makes his living as a professional clown.

Clowns in the News: Q-Ball demonstrates his balloon-sculpting talents for a young fan at the Pueblo School for the Arts and Sciences Harvest Fest.CHIEFTAIN PHOTOS/BRYAN KELSEN

Brown, 31, and his wife, Sarah, 29, started Mrs. Brown's Clowns eight years ago. They had no strong feelings about clowns one way or the other when they went into business - Sarah has never even been to a circus - but have become happy ambassadors for the art. They perform as Q-Ball and Silly Lilly.

"There have been people we've met who obviously have a fear of clowns," John said. "We try to diffuse the phobia (but) I think we've gotten pretty good at recognizing when it's not going to happen."

Silly Lilly actually started out as Penny, but "some people asked if I was Pennywise's wife," she said. Time for a name change.

The Browns' characters are "amplified versions of us," said John. "Q-Ball is the carnival barker, always moving."

"Silly Lilly is more introverted. She's quiet, friendly and likes to dance - which is not me," Sarah said. "Lilly will twirl and spin all over the place."

Their other talents - face painting and balloon sculpting - are effective ice-breakers for children (and adults) who are wary of clowns.

Sarah makes a point of getting herself down to kid level so she doesn't appear intimidating. The goal of every appearance, they say, is to leave everyone with a positive experience.

"We're bringing happiness," Sarah said. "People want to be happy despite all the negative things going on - to take a moment and have fun."

Off they go in their bright colors and oversized shoes, ready to do their part to rid Pueblo of coulrophobia.

"I tell people it's a lot like being a superhero," said John. "If you see us, don't be afraid. We're on your side."

Even in Quarantine,
the Space Clown's Enthusiasm is Infectious

Two days before he is to blast off for the International Space Station, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte on Monday cracked jokes, donned his trademark red nose and flashed with enthusiasm over the venture that he wants to be both entertaining and educational.

"In my life I have been doing a lot of fun, crazy and adventurous things, but this is totally the biggest adventure I have ever embarked on," the Canadian told The Associated Press by telephone from behind the glass wall protecting him and two other astronauts from contamination at Russia's Baiknour Cosmodrome.

"Like many kids, I grew up in the generation of space exploration. But I remember that back then, what overcame me was not the desire to travel in space, but the belief that fairy tales were possible, and that kind of shaped my way of seeing life," he said.

Other space tourists have used their time at the ISS to conduct scientific experiments, but Laliberte has different aims for his 12 days aboard the orbiting lab.

"I am not a scientist, I'm not a doctor, I'm not an engineer," he said. "I'm an organizer, a showman, and a creator - I have an entertaining personality, so that is really what I am bringing here."

Laliberte has promised to bring each crew member of the International Space Station their own clown nose to wear, but plans to take two along for himself: one red, one yellow - "the yellow one I will wear when I am a little grumpy, and the red one I will wear when I am happy and joyful."

The voyage to the space station begins Wednesday, when Laliberte blasts off for the two-day trip aboard a Soyuz space capsule with astronauts Maxim Surayev of Russia and American Jeffrey Williams from the Kazakh steppes. The rocket and capsule were hoisted onto the launch pad Monday - the same launch pad from which Yuri Gagarin left in 1961 on the first human trip into orbit.

Laliberte, 50, started as a street performer and rose to an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion after founding the innovative and globally popular Cirque du Soleil. The trip to the International Space Station is costing him $35 million.

"I am the type of person who is always trying to maximize an investment, and this is the 25th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil, which will be a celebration for us," he said.

But along with that, Laliberte also aims to use the trip to promote awareness of world water supply problems.

On Oct. 9, he will lead a "poetical social" performance from aboard the International Space Station for the One Drop Foundation, an organization he set up in 2007.

"I start with the simple idea of reading a poem, which will involve characters like the sun, the moon and a drop of water," he explains. "Those characters will then engage in a discussion, which will take the form of a little poetic story that we will read to the population of earth."

Activists and celebrities, including former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore and Colombian pop star Shakira, are to contribute to the performance from 14 cities worldwide, and all of it is to be shown on the foundation's Web site.

Ringling Brothers Returns to Bridgeport for Eight Shows Starting October 29th

BRIDGEPORT - Bridgeport native Alex Barney will be one of the clowns performing at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performances in Bridgeport next month.

Barney, the son of Ann and Joseph Barney, went to Hooker School and then Notre Dame High School in Fairfield. While growing up in the Park City, he regularly attended Ringling Bros. shows in the area. His father also has performed as a professional clown.

Clowns Descend on Seaside Heights for Annual Parade

By Graelyn Brashear • Staff Writer • Asbury Park Press•September 20, 2009

SEASIDE HEIGHTS — Goofy grins, rubber noses and neon wigs were everywhere Sunday on the boardwalk as thousands gathered for the 28th annual Clownfest parade.

The procession is the culminating event in a five-day festival that attracts professional and amateur clowns from around the country.

This year, more than 135 clowns gathered here for lessons in everything from makeup to magic and for the chance to swap ideas, meet up with old friends and just generally have a good time, said Leo Desilets of the National Clown Arts Project, which presents the event.

"It's about sharing knowledge and giving people the chance to grow as performers," said Desilets, who has been performing as a clown for 32 years.

A sea of spectators gathered on the boardwalk between Sampson and Franklin avenues at 2 p.m. to watch the procession of costumed cavorters and marching bands from all three Toms River high schools close out the festival.

For many in the crowd, the event has become a beloved tradition. Friends Barbara Ortmann of Woodbridge and Lavern Gzemski of Milltown said they were returning fans. "We came out for the fun of it," said Ortmann, 70. "People just throw everything to the wind and come out to make kids laugh."

Adults were not the only ones delivering smiles on Sunday. Youngsters from around the state and beyond turned out in elaborate costumes to march and compete for prizes. A panel of judges picked the best-dressed child clowns from three age groups.

Skye Giacobe of Jersey City took first place in the 10-to-14 age group. The 10-year-old, who wore layered black and purple tutus, striped leggings, platform shoes and white face paint, said her favorite part of the day was "going through the crowd" during the parade.

It was only her second year attending the event, she said, but she is hooked. Her costume took two weeks to make, she said."We'll definitely be back," said mom Angelina Torres.

SBI!

Clown News September 2009

Funny or Scary?

Even in Quarantine, the Space Clown's Enthusiasm is Infectious

Ringling Brothers Returns to Bridgeport for Eight Shows Starting October 29th

Clowns Descend on Seaside Heights for Annual Parade

Even in Quarantine,
the Space Clown's Enthusiasm is Infectious