History
The mission of Los-Angeles based The Clown School is to bring laughter and joy into the world and to promote extraordinary theatrical classes and events. Our classes, productions, outreach, international partnerships and special events are all dedicated to a celebration of the expressive potential of live theater. We anchor our work in the discipline of clown because we believe that clowning embraces and celebrates the totality of human experience and offers unparallelled freedom in art. We love to play. The Clown School was formed in 2007 by David Bridel and Orlando Pabotoy; classes are currently taught by David, Zach Steel, Mike Funt, award-winning clown Phil Burgers aka Dr Brown, and Virginia Scott, a Chris Bayes certified teacher. We offer the highest quality of clown training to actors, performers, comedians, and participants from all walks of life, including doctors, teachers, healers, film-makers, and students.
Specialties
We think of the clown as a natural part of your life, but one that has often been overlooked or pushed down. We want your clown to burst out of you, to give license to your spontaneous, fearless, and playful self. We're sure that your clown is creative and generous and always alive. Our methods are ancient and modern at once. We pay tribute to everything from indigenous clown rituals to the commedia dell'arte to the great era of the silent film comedians to the clown's modern-day renaissance on stage, in film, and at the circus. The clown is an iconic figure, and it lives inside your body: silly, profound, and eternally mischievous. Our classes are suitable for clowns, comedians, actors, improv artists, and performers of all stripes and types. Also offering workshops in mask and other forms of physical comedy as well. Let go of your fears. Have some fun. Come and play with us.