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Theatre Wed Feb 11 2009
500 Clown Goes Cabaret
500 Clown Theater, founded in 2000 and made a non-profit in 2007, presents "500 Clown Madame Barker's Cabaret," a celebration of Chicago talent hosted by Molly Brennan as Madame Barker of "500 Clown and the Elephant Deal," as a lead-up to the full production opening at Steppenwolf in June.
Those of you with coulrophobia can relax, as there are NOT 500 clowns in in a 500 Clown show. Generally performing feats of derring-do with an ensemble of three(ish), this cabaret evening brings a variety of new performers into the crazy 500 Clown world, including: John Fournier (piano/vocals), Dennis Watkins (magic), Happenstance (DC vaudeville), Jessica Hudson (burlesque), Cliff Chamberlain (guitar/voice), Tim Simeone (clown solo), Marika Mashburn (torch song), Pam Chermansky (original music), Galaxie Girls (dance), and Joseph Schupbach (as JonBenet Ramsey).
In most of their shows, 500 Clown uses action-based performance, improvisation, and circus arts to produce theatre that (quite literally) catapults the performers into extreme physical and emotional risk. The work shifts the audience from passive to active observers and creates a charged environment that celebrates the unpredictable power of the moment. It'll be interesting to see what happens when you throw in burlesque dancers and musicians into the mix.
The cabaret takes place one night only on Saturday, Feb. 28, 10:00 p.m. at the Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are $5 at the door.