Return of the Clowns

On Friday, September 5th, hundreds of clowns will take over the rush hour subway commute as The Brick Theater kicks off its third annual NEW YORK CLOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL.

This world-class festival brings New York audiences some of the top clowns and buffoons from Brazil, France, Australia and Denmark as well as from across the United States. With over 20 main-stage productions, several one-night-only cabaret performances, and a series of lectures and workshops led by the world’s most respected clown performers, this is the largest and most eclectic gathering of clowns to hit New York City.

The Clown Festival runs through Sunday, September 28th and performances take place at Williamsburg’s Brick Theater. On Friday, September 5, New Yorkers are invited to join the CLOWN SUBWAY PARADE, the official launch of the festival. Kicking off at 4:30PM at Union Square, the Clown Parade proceeds on the L train to the Bedford stop in Brooklyn. Volunteers will be handing out free clown noses at stations along the L line. Participants will get out at the Bedford stop in Brooklyn, and march 10 blocks to The Brick Theater along with a marching band and over a hundred Clowns. Upon arriving at the Brick, participants can jump into a free and fun pie fight, followed by the chaos of an all-evening clown cabaret.

These events are all FREE and open to the public; seating for the Clown Cabaret is limited.

The festival concludes on with the Clown Funeral Procession and Closing Night Party. Theatre Group Dzieci will lead the Clown Funeral Procession through the streets of Williamsburg with morbid buffoonery, audience participation and the choral singing of sacred hymns. As clown mourners follow the casket to its final destination at The Brick Theater, the bereaved are likely to cry out in anguish to unsuspecting passersby. At the funeral rite following, clown widows and widowers will remember with great passion the achievements of the festival in its four short weeks of life. Be sure to stay after the funeral rite for the traditional Closing Night Party. Both events are FREE and open to the public.

Tickets to the main stage and cabaret performances are $15; lectures and workshop prices vary. Tickets are available by calling Theatermania at 212-352-3101 (or toll-free at 1-866-811-4111) or on line at http://www.theatermania.com/. For more details on the festival, visit www.bricktheater.com.

The Brick Theater
575 Metropolitan Avenue
(718) 907-6189