IN PERSON Classes

For Any of our in person classes listed below - click here to Book Your Place

SPECIAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP: THE DYNAMICS OF PLAY

Class Type Open
Dates December 14 & 15, 2024
Times 12-4pm, Saturday and Sunday ONLY
Location Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $275

The concept of play lies at the heart of everything in the clown and theatrical universe. Join David for this deep dive into play, complicity, game, structure, and sensitivity, opening up new revelations about the performer’s process and offering amazing moments of joy and excitement. In particular, watch out for a completely original version of the children’s game Hide and Seek, which David has translated into theatrical form with remarkable results…

Ages 18 and older.

THE CLOWN SCHOOL WINTER INTENSIVE

Class Type All Comers
Dates January 2-5, 2025
Times Noon - 5pm, Thursday thru Sunday (NB Sunday class meets 11am-4pm)
Location Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $449 (discounts available for previous Clown School participants)

“One of the most euphoric experiences of my entire life.” AS, Los Angeles

It’s the Summer Intensive - in winter! Book your place now for the astounding Winter Intensive at The Clown School in January 2025. Welcoming participants from all over the country and all over the world to Los Angeles, the Intensive is rigorous, irreverent, playful, personal and profound, with a unique and transformative clown curriculum that can’t be found anywhere else! From vulnerability to a relationship with an audience; from levels of energy to physicalization and imagery; from emotional connection to archetypes and routines; this comprehensive exploration of the beauty and wonder of clowning offers a breakthrough experience for performers, comedians, artists, professionals, the curious, and the seekers of all stripes. A rare opportunity for newcomers and returners alike to go big and go bold - and release parts of the self into the creative process that have, until now, remained blocked.

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

SUNDAY NIGHT SERIES: CLOWN 1 LAS VEGAS

Class Type Foundational
Dates January 5 - February 23 (No class 2/16)
Times 6-10pm, Sundays ONLY
Location Super Summer Theater, 4340 S Valley View Blvd #206, Las Vegas, NV 89103

Instructor Erik Engman
Cost $299

“I think all people, big and small, fat and tall, outlandishly extroverted or shy and squeaky, believing or non-believing, happy or sad, beautiful or butt ugly, ready or not, should TAKE. THIS. CLASS.” KS, Los Angeles

Delve into the magical world of the clown. Learn to meet an audience on equal terms. Discover the energies inside you waiting to be tapped, relish the liberation of laughter, confront your fears and support your peers. You’ll be amazed how the clown inside you emerges into the limelight and experiences the pure pleasure of connection.

Clown 1 is our foundational class, and most popular offering. We’re delighted to offer this new section in Vegas, and to welcome a new generation of clowns into the fold!

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

SUNDAY NIGHT SERIES: CLOWN 3

Class Type Advanced
Dates January 12 - February 23, 2025
Times 6-9.30pm, Sundays ONLY
Location The Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90032
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $449 (discounts available for previous Clown School participants)

“Incredibly transformative! Clown School taught me truly life-altering skills!”CSH, Los Angeles

For participants who have come through the Clown progression, the chance to make a Clown show together. Enjoy the thrills of your clown character making material and creating beautiful routines. Everything culminates in a presentation for friends and family. Don’t miss this totally unique opportunity to be a part of a fabulous adventure!

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: Clown 2

MONDAY NIGHT SERIES: SLAPSTICK AND PHYSICAL COMEDY

Class Type Open
Dates January 13 - February 17, 2025
Times 6-9pm, Mondays ONLY
Location The Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90032
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $379 (discounts available for previous Clown School participants)

While much clown and clown-related training revels in the wide open spaces of improvisation, the skills of slapstick and physical comedy require a firm grasp of technique. Rhythm, timing, musicality, spatial awareness, physical precision, clarity of gesture, and stagecraft are critical elements of the madcap clownery that can be accomplished through a rigorous process of development. And while slapstick and physical comedy are time-honored ingredients of rough and ready street theater, outdoor buffoonery, and simple farce, their skilled application can also achieve a grace and splendor that elevates the art-form into a kind of poetry of the body, perfected by artists such as Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd - figures who will be studied as a part of the rich historical component underpinning this class.

Don’t miss this opportunity to take your clown work to the next level, connect with a vital lineage of clowning, and test yourself in art forms that require an exacting physical commitment.

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None!

SPECIAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP: PERMISSION TO TRANSFORM (CLOWN SCHOOL PHILADELPHIA)

Class Type Advanced
Dates January 18/19, 2025
Times 11am-5pm
Location Deep End Studios, 1313 S 33rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Instructor Danielle Levsky
Cost $199

A two-day advanced clown workshop exploring character development and archetypal clowning

Building on the foundational joy and discovery of Permission to Play, this intimate two-day workshop invites clowns to deepen their practice through focused character development and archetypal exploration. Under careful guidance, participants will expand their understanding of classic clown types while discovering their own unique path within the rich tradition of clowning.

What to Expect:

Intensive ensemble work that builds on basic clown principles
Exploration of classic clown archetypes including Joey and Auguste
Guided costume work to discover your clown's physical expression
Deep dive into character development and sustained clown presence
Organic discovery of your unique clown voice and style

Prerequisites:

While all dedicated students are welcome, this workshop will be most impactful for those with some introductory clown experience.

Workshop Outcomes:

Participants will leave with:

A deeper understanding of clown character construction
Practical tools for developing their unique clown persona
Enhanced ability to sustain presence in the nose
Expanded awareness of clown archetypes and their applications
Strengthened ensemble skills and performance confidence

As a recent Permission to Play student shared:

"Permission to Play felt transformational! Danielle taught us that clowning is all about connection- to oneself, to the audience, to the fellow clowns. I feel that connection more deeply throughout my life in my personal relationships as well as my work in healthcare." - Rebecca Begonias, Therapist

This advanced workshop continues that journey of connection while providing concrete tools for character development. Whether you're a performer looking to deepen your practice or someone seeking to further explore the transformative power of clowning, this workshop offers a safe, supportive environment for serious play and discovery.

Limited to 12 participants to ensure individual attention

SPECIAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP: SHAKESPEARE’S CLOWNS

Class Type Open
Dates January 25/26, 2025
Times Saturday & Sunday 11am-5pm
Location Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601
Instructors David Bridel & Christopher Earl
Cost $299 (no discounts available)

The hit workshop returns! A popular Clown School offering that gives you the chance to dig into The Bard's remarkable range of clowns, from nitwits to dreamers, dummies to jesters. Join us for an intense weekend exploring the extraordinary range of Shakespeare's fools - from the hilarity of Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream, to the pathos of Lear's Fool, among some four dozen characters across the 37 plays. We will explore through a series of fast-moving exercises some of Shakespeare's most entertaining and revelatory scenes, emphasizing his wit, wordplay and whimsy. You'll get precious insights into Shakespeare's world and the chance to make mayhem with many of his most beloved characters!

Ages: 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

SPECIAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP: INTRODUCTION TO ECCENTRIC PErfoRMING PRINCIPLES WITH AVNER THE ECCENTRIC

Class Type Open
Dates January 25&26, 2025
Times 12-4pm, Saturday and Sunday only
Location JJGym, Valley Glen, CA 91401
Instructors Avner Eisenberg
Cost $299 participant (no returning student discounts for this class)

Auditors pay $200 - write to administrator@theclownschool.com

Wow! The legendary clown Avner the Eccentric teaches for The Clown School for the third year in succession. Amazing!

Avner is often a featured performer at comedy, magic and theatre festivals, which in past years have included The Edinburgh Festival, where he won the New Faces of 1991 Award, and was a finalist for the Perrier Award, the Israel Festival, the Montreal International Comedy Festival. He has also appeared at the London International Mime Festival, the Festival of American Mime, the New York Clown Theatre Festival, the Fool’s Festival, the New York Magic Symposium, the Hudson Clearwater Revival, and the International Movement Theatre Festival. Avner has won special jury awards at The International Festival du Cirque in Monte Carlo, Arosa International Humor Festival, Barcelona International Clown Festival, Leipzig Lach Messe, St Gervais International Theater Festival where he won both the public and the jury awards. Avner was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 2002.

Avner is regularly featured on television specials throughout the world. He has been seen on the Paul Daniels Show and Packing Them In in Great Britain, on the NTV 35th Anniversary Special as well as numerous appearances on NHK in Japan, Sebastian C’est Fou, Le Plus Grande Cabaret du Monde, and Cabaret Sauvage in France, Un Dos Tres and the Juan Tamariz Special in Spain, Martes 13 in Chile, Ritmo de la Noche in Argentina, UNICEF Comedy Special in Italy, the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival on Showtime, and many more.

In addition to a busy performance schedule, Avner has taught master classes in clowning and Eccentric Performing in the United States, France, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Japan and Spain. He has developed silent theatre skills as a therapeutic tool and also teaches workshops for students and professionals in health care, education and counseling, as well as theatre. He lives on an island off the coast of Maine and would really rather be sailing. Avner has practiced Aikido for many years and holds the rank of shodan, first degree black belt.

Ages: 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

SPECIAL FEBRUARY FRIDAY MORNING WORKSHOP: Popular Theater As Political Theater - Clowning, Agitprop, and the Art of Revolt

Dates February 7, 14, 21, 28 2025
Times 10am-1pm, Fridays ONLY
Location Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $249

From commedia to cabaret, from Brecht to Bread and Puppet, from the San Francisco Mime Troupe to Extinction Rebellion, the spirit of the clown has driven the popular art of agitprop (agitation and propaganda) for centuries. Forget about comfy theaters and intellectual plays! We’re talking about street disturbance here - broad, crude, and very exciting. In this four-Friday workshop, learn how to grab an audience, craft a message, and drive home your material with comedy, satire, audience engagement, and a whole lot of fun, all in the service of blatantly political ends.

Ages 18 and older.

SPECIAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP: PUNCH AND JUDY

Class Type Open
Dates February 15 & 16, 2025
Times 12-5pm, Saturday and Sunday ONLY
Location The Industry Loft, 755 Highland Ave, LA CA 90038
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $299

Join David for another magical weekend, this time delving deep into the mysterious world of Punch and Judy! From the origins of Punch as the character of Pulcinella in the Commedia dell’Arte, follow Punch and Judy through the ages as they transform every society they meet and perennially win in the battle of the underdogs versus the authorities. As well as the traditional slapstick, sausages, and policemen, you will encounter increasingly mysterious characters in Punch’s world, including the Devil, and you will tap into the mythic potential of this most potent clown archetype. In a messed-up world, we need the most messed-up of clowns to put things to rights - and Punch is just the figure. Don’t miss this incredibly unusual opportunity!

Ages 18 and older.

SPECIAL 3 DAY INTENSIVE: CLOWN WARRIOR/CLOWN FOOL

Class Type Open
Dates February 21-23, 2025
Times 12-5pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday ONLY
Location Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601
Instructor Shannan Calcutt
Cost $399

Unleash Your Inner Warrior - Embrace Your Inner Fool!

This workshop inspires tremendous confidence, a full commitment to wholehearted play and a joyful shortcut to discovering your personal clown.

When we think of our favorite comedy duos, they’re all made up of a Boss & his (her/their) ever devoted Idiot Sidekick: French and Sanders, George and Gracie, Lucy and Ricardo, Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, Martin and Lewis, The Smothers Brothers, and so on…

In this workshop you’ll play both roles: The Boss who thinks she knows best, has extraordinary confidence, immense knowledge, gives constant orders, lives to delegate & loves to be worshiped. And the Idiot Sidekick, who aims to please, follows every impulse, worships his boss, is vulnerable, plays with innocence, is easily manipulated, easily distracted & takes everything at face value. While you might find you have more fun in one role versus the other, ultimately you’ll discover that your personal clown embodies both roles, as within all of us is the leader & follower, the planner & the impulsive, the thinker & the idiot.

Shannan Calcutt is sought after globally as a show creator, performer, instructor, director, and writer. She has played an eclectic range of venues worldwide from Saskatoon's Wash 'n Slosh Pub to the Sydney Opera House. She is best-known for performing her iconic breast implant routine - Scotch Baggies - for millions of spectators at Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity. Currently, audiences can catch Calcutt’s signature shenanigans as a featured comedic performer in Cirque du Soleil’s latest Vegas production, Mad Apple. One of the world’s leading instructors in clown and play, her work is profiled in the book Clowns: In Conversation with Modern Masters. Calcutt has designed and directed comic acts for Cirque du Soleil, Spiegelworld, and Berlin’s Friedrichstadt-Palast. She is the Director of Spiegelworld’s Superfrico, Associate Director of The Hook and was Resident Director at The Atomic Saloon Show from 2021-2024. Shannan is fluent in English, sarcasm and sophisticated silliness. More about her here: shannancalcutt.com

SPECIAL MARCH FRIDAY MORNING WORKSHOP: HUMANITARIAN CLOWNING

Class Type Open
Dates March 7, 14, 21, 28
Times 10am-1pm, Fridays ONLY
Location Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $249

Join David for a four-Friday exploration of humanitarian clowning. Modeling the class around his publication Send in the Clowns: Humanitarian Clowning in Crisis Zones, and referencing The Clown School’s new Humanitarian Clowning Award, there will be lecture, exercises, and targeted discussions exploring the application of clowning in non-theatrical contexts, as a means to empower others, alleviate suffering, and bring relief and joy to communities in need. Want to make a difference? Learn the art of humanitarian clowning and become an agent of change.

SUNDAY NIGHT SERIES: CLOWN 1

Class Type Open
Dates March 2 - April 20, 2025
Times 6-9.30pm, Sundays ONLY
Location The Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90032
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $449 (discounts available for previous Clown School participants)

Clown 1 is our foundational class, and most popular offering.

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

SPECIAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP: DEVELOPING YOUR CLOWN CHARACTER

Class Type Open
Dates March 15/16, 2025
Times 12-5pm, Saturday and Sunday ONLY
Location Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601
Instructor Carlos Gallegos
Cost $299

“Carlos Gallegos is simply magnificent and moving.” Frequence Mistral, France

Discover and evolve the unique properties of your clown character in this workshop with a master clown and teacher. From the fundamentals to special touches, your clown will emerge from this workshop emotionally, physically, and comically enhanced!

The remarkable Carlos Gallegos is a clown, actor, pedagogue, playwright and theatre director. He has studied in the United States (Dell'Arte International School), France (Ecole Internationale Jacques Lecoq and Ecole de Clown Le Samovar) and in Ecuador (Laboratorio Malayerba and Teatro del Cronopio) among others. In 2002, after working with several groups combining theatre, circus and gestural theatre, he created his company Teatro de la Vuelta. He has acted, directed and taught on all five continents.

Ages 18 and older.