The La Crosse Clown Camp® 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
Betty Cash – St. Paul, Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota’s Betty Cash has been teaching costuming, makeup, and basic clown arts across the nation since 1966. Clowns everywhere seek after her abilities in costume construction. Her high professional standards and winsome smile have made her a favorite staff member since Clown Camp®’s first program in 1981-when she was a first year instructor. She is an award-winning clown who for many years served as one of the top executive officers in the Clowns of America, International organization.
www.bettycash.com
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
Jim Howle – Hartsville, South Carolina
America’s premier clown portrait artist is once again with us at Clown Camp® this year. His works number over 200 original canvases, which are today being seen in museums and private collections throughout the world. Jim received his training at Ringling’s Art School, and Ringlings Clown College, where he was a member of the very first class. He clowned with the Greatest Show On Earth for many years, and was Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey’s official circus artist. He is excellent at makeup design assistance and has developed his own line of clown makeup. Jim was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 1994.
Aurora Krause – San Antonio, Texas
This all well rounded clown, who in her other life is disguised as a bank vice president, is the winner of the 2004 World Clown Association’s best All Around Clown. She has competed and won competitions in makeup and skit competition at international events. She is a member of COAI, WCA, AATH, TSA, and Jolly Joeys Clown Alley (San Antonio). As her clown character, BeBop, she enjoys clowning at parties, festivals, parades, nursing homes, hospice, gospel ministry, children’s camps, museum shows and anywhere she can bring joy and delight to her audience. She is a dynamic teacher filled with knowledge, inspiration and great ideas to help you develop your clown personal.
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
Chris Montross – Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Chris is a Recreation Therapist, Certified Leisure Associate employed by St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Aside from her profession Chris is also an active volunteer and coordinates the hospital’s Clown Connection program that functions out of the hospital’s Pastoral CareDept. As Americlown, Chris spreads a lot of joy through clown ministry and music in a healing environment. Having twice been on staff at a Recreation Leadership Laboratory in Alaska , Chris recently created a new critter clown character, Seemore the Moose, who also visits in the hospital. Chris is a member of COAI, WCA, and Iowa’s Korn Patch Klowns, Alley 189.
Pam Moody – Altoona, Iowa
Pam is a national leader in community safety education. She is very active in a variety of fire safety organizations, and is a frequent speaker at conferences throughout the United States. Her clown namesake, Sparky partners with the Des Moines, Fire Department teaching vital safety and self-esteem messages to kids of all ages. She has a non profit organization, L.A.F.S. for Life and annually presents around 300 shows in schools, libraries, fairs, festivals and churches. She is president of Korn Patch Klowns, in Des Moines, Iowa, is the NE regional director for S.M.I.L.E., and directs a ministry troupe-ACTS Clowns.
www.actsentertainment.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/
Randy Munson – Rochester, Minnesota
Randy is a gifted performer and exceptional teacher who has been entertaining professionally since 1972. Besides being a great clown, he is a master magician, ventriloquist, professional speaker, and best selling author. He is one of America’s most sought after speakers in these fields. He has been the recipient of over 40 national and international awards for his performances. His live performances have taken him to over 30 countries for groups including the Minnesota Vikings, Emmett Kelley Jr. Circus, Bally’s Grand in Las Vegas, Disney World and the White House.
www.randallmunson.com
Bob Neil – Des Plaines, Illinois
Kiwi has been clowning since 1972. As a police officer, Robert started clowning to help teach safety lessons to children. He now appears in school shows, trade shows, parties, parades and many charity events. He has recently started to do Christian Clowning in several churches in the Chicago area. Bob is a great circus fan and has made many friends on circuses that show in and around Chicago. He has won awards for skits and recently won first prize in a major Chicago area parade. He is one of those staff members that really likes to assist camp participants, and is always available to lend assistance. Bob lives with his wife and daughter in Des Plaines, Illinois. Annually Bob is a staff member at Clown Camp®.
Arthur Pedlar – Southport, England
Arthur Pedlar has been successfully performing as a clown artist for the past 60 years. His appearances have taken him to Russian, Sweden, Canada, the United States, Singapore, England, France, Denmark, Scotland and countless other places throughout the world. He was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1992, and is also a past president of the World Clown Association. His multiple clown characters have worked in schools, hospitals, churches, circuses, theaters, night clubs, and on stages of all types and sizes. He had the honor of also working in Paris with the great Buster Keaton. Arthur has more tales to tell and techniques to share than any other two clown arts instructors.
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 to Scotland, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.
Janet Tucker – Hammond, Indiana
Jelly Bean has been clowning since 1977 and does about 250 performances each year. She is a Past President of the World Clown Association, and currently holds that organization’s position as Vice President. She was also the WCA’s Clown of the Year for 2001/2002. She is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Midwest Clown Association and has written books on clown ministry as well as regular articles for several clown publications. Her organizational skills, as well as her work as either a solo performer or as a member of a team stand her in good stead. She began coming to Clown Camp® in the early 1980’s and has been an instructor for the program for over 16 years.
Alan Whiteley - Southport, England
Alan began accompanying Arthur Pedlar at the keyboard in 1995. This partnership has blossomed into a great comedy duo, in no small part to Alan’s artistic talents. His clown character, Professor Forte, is a highly talented keyboard performer. His background includes a career as a significantly important British organ player in churches and other locations. He had lead major choirs, and more recently has been traveling around the world with Arthur Pedlar as they perform their delightful evening performances.
Patty Wooten – Santa Cruz, California
Often called the Queen of Jest, Patty is a nurse, clown and a leader in the field of therapeutic humor. For over the past 25+ years she has traveled across the USA and around the world helping health professionals, patients and clowns understand the benefits of humor and laughter for the body, mind, and spirit. She’s tickled the funny bones of over a quarter million happy people. She is a founding member of the American Association for Therapeutic Humor, and the author of Compassionate Laughter and other valuable books for caring clowns.
www.jesthealth.com