{{Short description|Comedy school}} '''Contemporary clowning''' (also called '''modern clowning''') is a school of physical comedy that emphasizes interactivity with the audience and surroundings, use of props and a level of absurdity.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Dieffenbacher |first=Joe |title=Clown: The Physical Comedian |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2021 |isbn=9781350141407 |pages=1–3 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Miriam |date=2023-08-08 |title=Courtney Pauroso's one-woman sex robot clown show is a live comedy trust fall |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-08-08/courtney-pauroso-one-woman-clowning-show |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> While it can overlap with the classic white-face school of [[clowning]], the term also refers to a form of experimental comedy that is considered distinct.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="auto1"/>
In 21st century comedy, clowning exists alongside [[Stand-up comedy|stand up]], [[sketch comedy]], [[improvisational theatre|improv]], and [[slapstick]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dieffenbacher |first=Joe |title= Clown: The Physical Comedian |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2021 |isbn=9781350141407 |pages=4–5 |language=English}}</ref> It is one of the major formats at comedy festivals around the world, including the [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harms |first=Talaura |date=25 August 2023 |title=Playbill Pick: The Ice Hole: A Cardboard Comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe |work=[[Playbill]] |url=https://playbill.com/article/playbill-pick-the-ice-hole-a-cardboard-comedy-at-the-edinburgh-festival-fringe |access-date=29 August 2023}}</ref>
==Characteristics== Clowning is highly visual with an extensive use of [[costumes]], [[makeup]] and [[props]] that are largely absent from the other popular styles of live comedy performance of improv and stand-up.<ref name="auto1"/> While many contemporary clown performers do wear makeup and costumes as part of their act, they do not generally don the “red nose” clown persona.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dieffenbacher |first=Joe |title= Clown: The Physical Comedian |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2021 |isbn=9781350141407 |pages=4 |language=English}}</ref>
In addition, clowning is notably less verbal than stand-up, improv or sketch with a notable use of [[silence]] as a technique.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dang |first=Vi |date=27 August 2023 |title=Clown Bonnie He Shares the Road to Edinburgh Fringe for Her Terrible Show for Terrible People |work=[[Playbill]] |url=https://playbill.com/article/clown-bonnie-he-shares-the-road-to-edinburgh-fringe-for-her-terrible-show-for-terrible-people |access-date=29 August 2023}}</ref> Clowning is distinctive for its lack of a [[fourth wall]], featuring high audience engagement.<ref name="auto1"/> Many acts can have vulgar and carnal moments, including full nudity.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zinoman |first=Jason |date=2019-11-15 |title=Make Way for the Carnal Clowns of Stand-Up |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/arts/television/clowns-comedy.html |access-date=2023-08-28 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
Clowning also emphasizes [[vulnerability]] as a way for the performer to connect with the audience, as well as the development of the performer's individual voice.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Hilton |first=Emily |date=2020-12-21 |title="It's Absolutely Part of My Acting All the Time": A Look Inside L.A.'s Top Clown Schools |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/its-absolutely-part-of-my-acting-all-the-time-a-look-inside-l-a-s-top-clown-schools-4106994/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
Some performers have cited they were drawn to clowning because of the flexibility and lack of rules in the experimental form, in contrast to improv or sketch, which have become more rigid in format as the disciplines have matured.<ref name="auto"/>
==Schools== While traditional clown schools like [[École Philippe Gaulier]] in France have drawn students from around the world for decades, regional programs like the [[Lyric Hyperion]], [[The Clown School]] and the [[Idiot Workshop]] have made [[Los Angeles]] a regional hub for clown education.<ref name="auto"/>
The Los Angeles clown schools have emerged as alternatives to local comedy training centers such as the [[Groundlings]] and [[Upright Citizens Brigade]], which focus more on sketch comedy and stand-up.<ref name="auto1" /> Some note that the lack of a dominant theater industry in Los Angeles, as compared to New York or London, has given clowning the freedom to more quickly in the city as it allows for more greater risk-taking.<ref name="auto" /> The [[Pig Iron Theatre Company]] and their school have contributed to Philadelphia becoming a hub of contemporary clowning.<ref name="billypenn">{{cite news |last1=Bergen |first1=Jane M. Von |title=Philadelphia is a national center for clowns. No, really. |url=https://billypenn.com/2023/09/13/clowns-philadelphia-history-pig-iron-circus-arts-fringe-festival/ |access-date=28 February 2026 |work=Billy Penn at WHYY |publisher=WHYY |date=13 September 2023}}</ref>
==Notable performers== [[File:Natalie Palamides (WEER) at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2.jpg|thumb|Natalie Palamides clowning for her show, ''WEER'', at [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] in 2024]] Many of the top awards and nominations at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival have gone to clown performances in recent years. Among the fringe winners is [[Natalie Palamides]], who won a [[Total Theatre Award]] in 2018 with ''[[Nate – A One Man Show|Nate: A One Man Show]]'' that was later produced for [[Netflix]] by [[Amy Poehler]].<ref name="auto"/>
In 2023, [[Julia Masli]], an Estonian-born clown, was considered a breakout performer for her show ''[[Julia Masli|ha ha ha ha ha ha ha]],'' which featured Masli in [[Victorian fashion|Victorian]] costume asking audience members about their problems, which she then proceeded to try to solve.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=Alex |date=2023-08-24 |title=It's 1:30 a.m., and a Clown Wants to Fix You |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/24/theater/julia-masli-clown-edinburgh-fringe.html |access-date=2023-08-28 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
Many [[Philippe Gaulier#Alumni|alumni]] of the École Philippe Gaulier have become notable actors, directors, and comedians. Alumni practicing as clowns include Masli, [[Zach Zucker]], and [[Phil Burgers]].<ref name="Zinoman22">{{cite news |last1=Zinoman |first1=Jason |title=The Dumbledore of Clowning |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/arts/television/philippe-gaulier-clowns.html |access-date=28 February 2026 |work=The New York Times |date=18 January 2022}}</ref>
Clown and performance artist [[Alex Tatarsky]] has toured their solo clown shows ''Sad Boys in Harpy Land'', which ran at [[Playwrights Horizons]] in 2023, and ''Americana Psychobabble'', which had stops at the Edinburgh Fringe and at [[Jacob's Pillow]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Naveen |title=Full Exposure? Four Solo Shows Ponder the Art of True Nature. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/21/theater/solo-shows-lameece-issaq-playwrights-horizon.html |access-date=1 March 2026 |work=The New York Times |date=21 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Janine |title=Jacob's Pillow kicks off the 2022 season with provocative 'America(na) to Me' - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/23/arts/jacobs-pillow-kicks-off-2022-season-with-provocative-americana-me/ |access-date=1 March 2026 |work=BostonGlobe.com |date=June 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Theatre review: Americana Psychobabble |url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/theatre-review-americana-psychobabble-1442532 |access-date=1 March 2026 |work=The Scotsman |date=15 August 2017 |language=en}}</ref> Tatarsky was included in the 2024 [[Whitney Biennial]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Material |url=https://whitney.org/events/material-tatarsky |website=whitney.org |access-date=1 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Clowns}}
[[Category:Clowning]] [[Category:Comedy genres]] [[Category:Comedy]]