I first saw Robert perform in a dark corner of San Francisco’s Pier 39 in 1979, just after it had opened. There was no stage, no lights, few tourists – with an audience of about six drunks held at bay by a torch juggler. My film partner, Kim Hoeg, and I were amazed at how well he handled the non-stop …
Brad Weston’s Stagecraft: Clown
NOTE: While most articles on eJuggle are free to the public, this exclusive content is for IJA members only. If you're a member, Log In on the top to read the full article. If you're not a member, read about the benefits of IJA membership in the "Join the IJA" menu at the top of the page and register today!
————————————————
————————————————
This column explores different art-forms and the creatives who work in them. We look at how choreographers approach their work, what an improviser needs in his tool kit to do well, and how a painter sees the world. In each case I will apply the techniques of each specific art-form to juggling and demonstrate ways in which we can apply the creativity of other disciplines to our own.
This month I interviewed one of the world’s greatest clowns, Avner the Eccentric. I first met Avner Eisenberg in 1995 when I was studying theater at Dell Arte. He had a huge impact on me because he had challenged many of the things that made up the artistic rules I had acquired as a self-taught juggler and street performer.
The thing that makes his work such a standout is the way in which he connects to his audience, allowing them to not only be entertained but also to feel moved emotionally. In addition to performing, Avner is a master teacher, so he excels at articulating the artistic principles that make the up the framework of what he does.
In 2002, Avner was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame. He has performed at Lincoln Center and had two long runs on Broadway. He was also cast as The Jewel in the feature film The Jewel of the Nile.
YOU MUST BE AN IJA MEMBER TO READ THE INTERVIEW…
————————————————
This exclusive article is for IJA members only. Go to https://ezine.juggle.org/membership-options-page/ to join the IJA for this and other benefits.
5
The passing of Robert Nelson
My heart has joined the thousand… My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped juggling today. Sadly, it is time to retire IJA Life Member Number 83. Robert Nelson, the Butterfly Man, died on August 27, 2012. His passing leaves a void on stages and pitches around the world. I first met Robert at the 1980 IJA convention …
The Madcap Master….Ladies and Gentlemen…..Woodhead!
To watch Mark “Woody” Keppel on stage today is to see a master of his craft. Woodhead is unpredictable, hilarious, charming and above all exceedingly talented. He throws himself, sometimes literally, with reckless abandon into his character and you would never guess that he froze on stage in his very first public appearance. If you don’t know Woody, stop reading …
A Career of Creativity: Jay Gilligan
Jay Gilligan has accomplished a great deal in the world of juggling, and is a very busy man. Originally a hobby juggler from Ohio, Gilligan now resides in Stockholm, Sweden where he heads the juggling program at the Circus School there. When he is not teaching at the University, releasing juggling videos, and playing big shows all over Europe, he’s …
Circus Pages 2012 Show Review
On June 6th, 2012, touring circus show Circus Pages returned to the Lenawee County fairgrounds in Adrian, MI. They have been coming to this location to perform for many years. This year however, marked a little bit of a change up for the show, as instead of performing inside one of the usual fair buildings, they performed entirely outside. The …
FKBs in Israel
The Flying Karamazov Brothers were in town recently for the Israel Festival, and I was fortunate to see this classic troupe of comedy jugglers. For the uninitiated, the FKB’s show is a zany combination of juggling, musical instrument playing, terrible puns, and hilarious physical humor and stunts. The Boston Globe got it right when they called it “The Marx Brothers …
The Original Object, Redux
For jugglers, a sphere can be considered the simplest or most complex of objects. Two acts recently challenged limits and created beauty with these objects. Dmitry Chernov, having already won a bronze medal at Cirque de Demain in Paris as a teenager, performed his shaman routine in the Big Apple Circus. Les Objets Volants, a 5-person ensemble that started as …
Shoebox Tour 2012 Review and Interview
On Thursday May 10th 2012, the Shoebox Tour came to Hazel Park, MI to perform at a venue known as TANK. The touring cast for this year’s U.S. tour is Jay Gilligan and Wes Peden doing a two person juggling act with Erik Nilsson providing musical accompaniment. The venue was a small area that was part of a factory. It …