Great Clown Adventure

The Staff list for the next Great Clown Adventure has not yet been put together.

Below is a list of some of our past instructors and staff members. This list will be updated for the next convention - please check back later!

Harry has been a friend of ours for years and we have worked with him here and abroad. He has literally written the book on magic a time or two!
For over 30 years, Harry Allen has been one of America's most popular magicians, comedians and magic dealers. His comedy books have been best sellers, his original magic effects have been published and marketed all over the world, and his lectures have been received enthusiastically by magicians everywhere
Classes Harry is teaching:
Simple Magic

Pocket Magic
Check out his website: http://www.daytonamagic.com

Joe Barney has been performing for 30 years. He comes from a show business family, with both his grandfathers working in Vaudeville. He has traveled a professional path that started with magic shows as a kid, clowning as an adult, and is still happily traveling along. Some of his stops include: Boss clown Macy's day Parade, The Sarasota Circus Festival, The Eastern States Exposition, Caesar's Palace A.C. , Foxwoods Casino, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, Time Magazine, People Magazine, to name a few.
He is well versed in clowning from the circus arena to the living room floor. In the past few years he has expanded into hospital clowning. Joe was "Stupidvisor" of The Yale -New Haven Children's Hospital Unit with the Big Apple Circus. Joe knows clowning, and he has the skills to do it in any venue.
Classes Joe is teaching:

Caring Clowns (with Leo Desilets)

Birthday Parties (with Leo Desilets)

Paula Biggio, from the Chicagoland area, is a seasoned clown performer and storyteller having worked over 20 years as a full time entertainer. She teaches at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, Clown Camp program, where she has been on staff for the past 17 years. She held the position of Education Director for the World Clown Association for 4 years. In her travels, Paula has performed and lectured throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. She has been a keynote speaker at national and international clown conventions for Clowns of America International and the World Clown Association. Paula has a bachelor's degree from Rosary College and has a strong background in both theatre and business. Her clowns arts specialties include: face-painting, balloons, walk-arounds, and storytelling. Paula has had many corporate appearances, too, ranging from McDonald's, to the Brookfield Zoo, to the White House!

Classes Paula is teaching:

Hands-On Face Painting Lab

Demo: Fabulous Face Painting

Story Telling

Birthday Parties
Check out her website: http://www.clownstuff.com

Ruth Chaddock - This Texas native became Ringling's foremost female stilt-walker, and now serves as the circus' special events manager. She attended Clown College and toured as an ambassador for the circus for years. Since 1989, Ruth has settled into a career as a Life Cast artist. She has been recording and celebrating Ringling Bros. clowning year after year by painstakingly crafting and then perfectly replicating, in a rainbow of paint, the fully made-up face of each member of the world-famous Clown Alley. It takes about eight hours to complete a Life Cast. It's a piece of art that is co-created by the artist and the performing artist, becoming a three-dimensional historical record of the clown's stint with the Greatest Show on Earth. Notably, these remarkable Life Casts have been exhibited at Rockefeller Center; the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston; Washington, D.C., Musee de la Civilisation in Quebec; the San Diego Children's Museum, and the Fan Andel Museum in Grand Rapids. On clowning, Ruth has said, "It's that inner child in you that wants to goof around and have fun."

Classes Ruth is teaching:

Life Mask Demonstration

Earl Chaney - Originally from Oklahoma City, Chaney knew he wanted to be a clown when he was only six years old. He was one of 45 applicants out of 7,200 who were accepted to Clown College, and one of only nine students who received contracts at the end of the curriculum. Chaney traveled with RBBB Circus for seven years, performing with such legends as Emmet Kelly and Otto Griebling. During his impressive career, Earl Chaney has appeared in over 8,000 clown performances as Mr. Clown, was one of the first and only clowns to play The Smithsonian Theater in Washington D.C. and performed at the White House on two separate occasions. After leaving the circus, he relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he produced and starred in the children's television show Mr. Clown's Clown Alley. After a year on the air, Chaney was asked to become Ronald McDonald, a role he would play for 20 years. Chaney's love for innovation and invention encouraged his development of promotional items, gags and props for Ronald's public performances. He set model practice standards for other Ronald McDonald clowns around the world. Earl Chaney continues to reside in Las Vegas where he owns a thriving magic shop called Planet Mirth Productions. He was inducted into the prestigious Clown Hall of Fame in 2003.

Classes Earl is teaching:

Funny Impressions and other Silly Stuff (with Jim Howle)

Birthday Parties-A Life time of Proven Methods
Check out his Castle Gallery page: http://www.cnr.edu/CG/about-ec.html

Ed Chee, CBA of DiamondStorm Inc. is an internationally renown balloon artist for his innovative, detailed twisting style. He has won world-wide acclaim as an innovator, an instructor, an artist, and an entertainer. He is the author of an instructional DVD series on his approach to balloon entertainment.
Classes Ed is teaching:
Event Decorating with Balloons

Beginning Balloons

Improve Your Skills with Balloons
Check out his website: http://www.diamondstorm.com/EdCheeCBA.htm

Leo Desilets - Better known to sick kids and employees around Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital as "Dr. Chester Drawers," Leo Desilets was honored in 2005 with the first Clown of the Year award from the Annual Professional Development Conference of the Big Apple Circus Clown CareTM program. Desilets has been clowning for over 23 years. He's served as COAI Regional Vice President and currently is the organizations Competition Chairman. Desilets works as supervisor of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care unit at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, and won the unit's Red Nose Award in 1997. He has lectured at regional and national clowning venues. Compassion and a desire to be funny are qualities he believes essential to being a clown. Desilets' areas of expertise include hospital clowning (all aspects, from training, hospital hygiene, and routines), character development, improvisation, and he has great tips on how to pose for a picture and how to win at competitions.

Classes Leo is teaching:

Caring Clown (with Joe Barney)

Walk-Around Clowning

Classes the Grahams are teaching:
Fun with Skits

Working Together-Clowning with a Partner

Dave Hill - Performing for over 20 years, Dave has gone from novice clown to full-time business owner, speaker, and notorious comedy performer. A long time member of the Berkeley Civitan Clowns, Dave donates countless hours both to entertain & raise money for the mentally & developmentally disabled. He is instrumental in keeping fellow clowns abreast of the latest news in the clowning industry. In addition to entertaining, Dave also shares his experience through teaching. Dave is a featured speaker at magic and clown conventions across the US & Canada. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians, Clowns of America Intl., & World Clown Association, he has presented at national and regional events. With 2 presentations on video and a book to his credit, he works to maintain high standards in the performance arts. Dave's motto: "If you can't have fun, you might as well stay at home."

Classes Dave is teaching:

Magic on the Move

Fun and Games with Balloons

Jim Howle - While a student at the Ringling School of Art, he learned of the formation of the RBB&B Clown College. He applied, was accepted, and was graduated from the original class in 1968. Touring with RBB&B for seven years as a tramp clown, he was selected as the show's official artist. He left the show in 1974 to pursue his painting career. Howle has recorded forever the beauty, dignity and love which abounds in the clown world, and he is regarded as America's premier clown portrait artist. His works number over 200 original canvases. His work is included in the Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute and the Leningrad Gallery. A popular instructor, Jim has taught at RBB&B Clown College and the University of Wisconsin Clown Camp. He is excellent at makeup design and has developed his own line of clown makeup. Jim was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 1994.

Classes Jim is teaching:

Make-up Magic of Jim Howle

Funny Impressions and other Silly Stuff (with Earl Chaney)

Christopher Hudert - Christopher is a versatile artist whose skills include script writing, sculpting, set and puppet construction, puppetry, clowning, stilt walking, juggling and much more. He began his career in theater at an early age, performing with The Children's Theater of Children and Puppetfest Productions. Christopher soon put his Theater Education studies on hold to attend Clown College. A 9-year veteran of Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus, Christopher has performed live for millions and appeared in all forms of media. He was Boss Clown for Ringling Bros. before leaving the show to found his company, Applause Unlimited. He has returned to Clown College as an instructor and has given lectures and workshops on both clowning and puppetry throughout the country. As a professional entertainer specializing in puppetry and comedy, in the circus and off, Christopher has many different views to share about the world of performing.

Classes Christopher is teaching:

Clowning with a Puppet Partner

Business is not a Four Letter Word

Physical comedy and Bits O' Business

ABC's of Skit and Gag Writing
Check out his website: http://www.applauseunlimited.com

Duane Laflin's showmanship, slight of hand, and dynamic style have put him on stage in forty-seven of the fifty states of the USA, and fourteen other countries. Duane has lectured/performed for nearly all of the major magic conventions in America, for several large European conventions, and also in Hong Kong Singapore, and Japan. Magicians appreciate his practical thinking, professionalism, and visually appealing style. Some have called him the modern "king of silk magic". Although he is first and foremost a performer who makes his living by doing magic shows, Duane also is an inventor of tricks and an author. He has written books such as Greater Gospel Magic, Practical Magic For Kids Show and School Show Entertainers, and Laflin's Laugh Lines. Silk Magic is Duane's specialty. Expect to see a lot of it in the lecture. Also expect routine ideas for kid shows, comedy effects, concepts that work for close up, and trick themes that can be applied to a variety of props. Magicians will enjoy the handling of gimmicks and unusual effects. Clowns and comedy entertainers will enjoy the gags and comedy material.

Classes Duane is teaching:

Comedy Props, Laugh-Lines, and Sight Gags

Magically Delightful Tricks and Routines
Check out his website: http://www.laflinmagic.com

John McClenahan - Dr. Magic specializes in bringing cheer to the bedsides of children in the hospital. John and his wife spend about five hours a week at Sunrise Hospital and 2 - 4 hours at University Medical Center's children's trauma ward. The McClenahans don't not make a cent from their visits -- just having an appreciative audience and seeing their smiles is reward enough. When they appear at special functions, they only request a donation be given to Candlelighters, a foundation that assists children with cancer. Johjn has a large repertoire of tricks and knows how to gear each one toward both age group and mental alertness. Be sure to take note of John's practical approach to magic on a shoestring and his great hospital clowning tips.

Classes John is teaching:
Magic on a Budget

Tricia Manuel is the unmistakable Pricilla Mooseburger. She got her clowning start with Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1982. She spent three years on the road, and 5 more doing odd jobs like Circus at Disney and RBB&B Clown College gag costumes.
She also moved not so smoothly into the birthday clowning market. She quickly realized the living room was a whole new world. As she learned new skills she acquired a healthy respect for "Hometown Clowns" that remains with her today.
In 1988 She started Pricilla Mooseburger Originals. Now, 13 years later her costumes are worn around the globe. She is founder of Mooseburger Camp , Moose Camp on the Road, and now one of the founders of The Great Clown Adventure.
She devotes much of her life to Clown Arts education, touring the country, teaching, selling, and performing.
Classes Pricilla is teaching:
Kazoo Band Class and Lab

New Light Auguste Costume and Make-up

Winning combinations - Costumes that Really Work!

Mark Renfro passionately believes that laughing matters!
As a clown performer he has appeared in a variety of venues, from the kid next door's birthday party to the stage of Radio City Music Hall.
Other stops along the way include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Walt Disney World Resort, and Tokyo Disneyland.
As a designer, Marks work has been seen in festivals, theme parks and theaters throughout the U.S. and Japan Mark is also the most accomplished make-up artist we know! You can put your face in his hands!

Classes Mark is teaching:
The Gentle Art of Doing Nothing

Hands-On Lab! Make-up Design and Technique

Terry M. Ricketts - born in 1955 the same year Disneyland opened its gates. He began clowning in 1969 at carnivals and parades. Luckily, he met Happy Kellems, ICHOF member, who brought years of vaudeville and circus knowledge - and taught Terry about makeup and performance. Terry performed in the Air Force 1975-79 with a Hospital Visitation Program. In 1980, he began working with a nationally recognized food service. Currently, Terry works for the Arizona Public Service (APS), the states largest utility in the Communications/Creative Services Department. He functions as Head of the APS Volunteer Clown Troupe - some 125 volunteer clowns participating in parades and special events statewide.
Classes Terry is teaching:
Manic Mania- Props Made from Everyday Objects

On Parade!

Mark Smith - Here is your chance to see some of the wild and crazy costumes from some of the hottest shows in Las Vegas. Mark Smith will be bringing in some of the most fabulous creations ever to hit a Vegas stage. Also Mark is a one of a kind comedy designer. You will get tons of ideas for new characters for this professional. And be ready to move and groove when you show up in the mornings for his comic warm-ups!

Classes Mark is teaching:
Viva Las Vegas Costume Up Close!

Warm-up, Dance and Comic Movement