CLOWN DROPPING: Drop-in Clown Class, the Mariko Iwasa edition

Mariko is an Award winning NY-based clown and physical comedian. Mariko spent about four years delighting crowds nationwide as a clown for the world-renowned Ringling Brothers Circus. She continues to perform in theater, orchestra, music live, children’s event and etc..both New York and Tokyo, creating original featurettes melding classical tap, juggling and slapstick comedy. She hopes to spread the joy of circus art and vaudeville to contemporary audiences of all ages.

“GET OVER HERE!” -Scorpion, MORTAL KOMBAT (1995)

“But I hate clowns!”

Like nightmare clowns? IT and John Wayne Gacy? Have no fear, that’s not what we’re doing! 

“Then why call it Clown Class?”

Let “clown” be an umbrella noun, verb, and adjective: think physical theater, comedy, and improvisation. We’re finding within ourselves a “very playful, very physical, very open, immensely stupid, very childish creature” (Christopher Bayes) whom the audience can’t take their eyes off.

“Oh yay! I love improv!”

Me too! Clown is excellent training for improvisers.  In Clown Class we acknowledge the pressure to be clever and funny and we let fear know it’s not in charge, and it’s made me a stronger (and funnier) improviser.

“But what does class actually look like?”

We introduce ourselves, we have a nice long warmup that may involve playing tag, our feet get squishy and our heads get floaty, we play with tennis balls and hats, we do group games and solo exercises, and we leave room at the end for questions. It’s active and exciting and my face hurts from laughing every time. You’ll probably leave with a new friend.

“What if I’ve never done anything like this before?”

You’ll shine. Beginners make the best clowns.