The Clown Camp® Singapore staff contains many familiar international clown arts teachers and performers to share with you a wonderful blend of classroom experiences. This staff includes several International Clown Hall of Fame inductees, international competition award winners, authors of many books on clown arts, and active working clowns that appear at international festivals, state fairs, major hospitals, churches, and all other home town venues for clowns. Here is the currently confirmed staff for this program.
Brenda Ahern – La Crosse, Wisconsin
Hometown gal Brenda Ahern discovered clowning in 1983 at the Univ. of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She’s been involved with Clown Camp® ever since; first as a “Blue Vester,” and since as a staff member. After receiving her B.A. in Elementary Education, Brenda attended Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. She traveled and clowned for two years with The Greatest Show on Earth. She is now an elementary school teacher in La Crosse and still dons the motley, performing at special events and conducting educational programs for children and teachers on the art of the clown.
Kenny Ahern – La Crosse, Wisconsin
Kenny has toured the globe from Moscow to Minneapolis in theater, festivals and circus. As of late, he has been a frequent performer at state fairs. Kenny fuses inventive, contemporary artistry with classical whimsy; creating an eclectic clown style all his own. Some of his performance highlights include: The International Children’s Festival in Taiwan, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and The Moscow Circus School in Russia. Kenny has been on the staff of Clown Camp® and RBBB Clown College and has guest lectured at the University of Virginia. www.kennyahern.com
Norm Barnhart – Chisago City, Minnesota
There isn’t a more experienced school show performer than Norm Barnhart. For the past 30 years this comic entertainer has been working school shows on a full time basis. His work has taken him to 48 states and five foreign countries. He can be seen at not only schools, but corporate events, state fairs, festivals churches, and libraries. He is a past Clown Ministry director of the WCA, and has been a frequent staff member with Clown Camp.
Gigi Tokyo – Japan
Gigi began her serious study of clowning at the 1989 Ringling Clown College Japan program. It was here she met her soon to be partner, RONE. Together they developed an authentic Japanese clown duo and in 1991 went on to Moscow, where they won a special prize at the International. Clown Convention. They journeyed to Kiev where they continued their education at the Kiev Circus School and Estrada College in the Ukraine. Back in Japan they established Open Sesame a performance and training program for clowns. They have trained many new clowns and continue to do theatre clowning. They visit elementary and junior high schools to show their special skills. www.op-sesame.com
Japan Bruce Johnson – Lynnwood, Washington
Bruce Johnson, otherwise known as Charlie the Clown, brings to Singapore his experience as a circus clown for six years, and work in amusement parks for over 10 years. He is internationally recognized as a creative entertainer, instructor, clown historian and author. He has performed internationally, and has written many books on clown humor. His honors include Laugh-Makers Magazine Contributor of the Yea, WCA Clown of the Year, Clown Camp Red Nose Philosopher, and COAI Artist in Residence.
Dave Mitchell – Crossville, Tennessee
David has entertained on international television, at schools, shopping malls, civic meetings, and churches and at clubs. He is a very accomplished magician, and is an ordained minister. His charm, wit and talent in the areas of funny business, ventriloquism, magic and clown ministry stand him in good stead with all participants. He owns his own manufacturing company, which produces for resale many of the props that he utilizes. Dave is a frequent lecturer at clown events from coast to coast. His character, Mr. Magish will be sure to please Clown Camp® participants again this year. www.jammagic.com
Lee Mullally – Gainesville, Florida
Lee is currently the Assistant to the Director of Clown Camp® where he has been an instructor since 1990. The University of Florida recognized Lee’s teaching abilities by awarding him with outstanding teaching awards in 1994 and 1995. Lee is a prolific author of clown books and articles. He is a Past President of the WCA and served as its Education Director and a Past President and former Competition Director and Education Director of the South East Clown Assoc. Juggles is a sought after entertainer in the Gainesville, community and a former recipient of the Gator Exchange Club’s Book of Golden Deeds award. Lee was named the 1994 WCA Clown of the Year. http://www.jugglesprops.com/
RONE – Tokyo, Japan
Japan’s RONE, born into a traditional Kabuki actors family, was trained in the traditional Japanese theatre culture from the age of 6. Early on she became an actress in musicals and enjoyed writing humorous scripts. When Ringlng’s Clown College held its first class in Japan, she was one of the first enrollees. She and partner Gigi have gone on to work in theatres in Moscow and Kiev, as well as theatres throughout Japan. Their annual provincial tour of Japanese elementary schools and junior highs features a new show each year. RONE has lectured at the Toho Univ., performed at Alberta (Canada) Intern’l Children’s Festival, and the Flower Exposition in Osaka. www.op-sesame.com
Richard Snowberg – La Crosse, Wisconsin/Golden, Colorado
Richard has directed Clown Camp® for the past 29 years. He has written five books on clowning and over 200 magazine articles. In the past, he has been education director and served two terms as president of the WCA. Richard organized the first World Clown Summit, in Dalkeith, Scotland. He served on the board of directors of the ICHOF for nine years, and administered the Clown’s for Children program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin during 1999. He was inducted into the ICHOF in 1999. He has lead Clown Camp programming throughout North America, on cruise ships as well as in Scotland, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.
Sam Tee – Malaysia
Sam has been a Clown Camp staff member on many different occasions, and even hosted a camp program in Kahula Lampur in 2004. He does a great deal of Christian clowning and is a very creative balloon sculpturer. As Uncle Button he travels the world bringing joy to youngsters in many different cultures. This outstanding talent can blend music, comedy, magic, balloons and non-verbal entertainment to reach audiences of the very young to the very old.