Geoff Sobelle
Clown Show (open dress rehearsal)
Clown Show makes its world premiere at PS21 July 3, 4, and 5. If you can’t make the premiere, join us for an open dress rehearsal on July 2 at 8 pm. Tickets are available on a donation basis.
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” – Turkish Proverb
A threadbare curtain opens on a circus that’s seen a million audiences or more. The acrobats and jugglers have long ago walked off the job. The only ones left to run the show are the clowns—scrambling, playing crumbling instruments, and struggling to keep the boat afloat, until the entire show falls apart in a spectacle of total catastrophe.
Join us for the world premiere of Geoff Sobelle’s Clown Show Friday, July 3 – Sunday, July 5. Tickets are flying out of our box office fast. Reserve your spot for the weekend asap.
Geoff Sobelle (Creator, Director, Performer) is an actor, director and creator of original performance works. A dedicated absurdist, he uses illusion, installation and home-spun mechanics to create surreal, poetic pieces that look for humanity where you least expect it. His most recent works include: FOOD (BAM Next Wave ’23), HOME (BAM Next Wave ’17, Bessie Award) and The Object Lesson (BAM Next Wave ’14, Bessie Award). His creative practice is grounded in longtime collaborative efforts with old and new pals and sometimes family. For twelve years he was part of the Pig Iron Theatre company in Philadelphia. His partnership with Trey Lyford as Rainpan 43 includes: all wear bowlers, Amnesia Curiosa, machines machines machines machines machines machines, The Elephant Room (created with Steve Cuiffo), and its follow up, Dust from the Stars. Geoff is a Pew fellow, a Creative Capital grantee and a United States Artists fellow. He is a graduate of Stanford University and trained in collaborative physical theater at the Lecoq school in Paris. He dedicates this performance to the two small French-American clowns keeping chaos alive at home.
Performed and Co-Created by Sophie Bortolussi, Nikki Calonge, Mike Dobson, Domenica Fossati, Leo Gurevich, Gideon Irving, Jenn Kidwell, Elvis Perkins & Geoff Sobelle
Created & Directed by Geoff Sobelle
Scenic & Lighting Design: Maruti Evans
Sound Design: Tei Blow
Costume Design: Suzanne Bocanegra
Props Design: Thomas Jenkeleit
Creative Producer: Jecca Barry
Music Direction: Mike Dobson
Original Music by Elvis Perkins, Mike Dobsob, Leo Gurevich, and Gideon Irving
Performed and Co-Created by Sophie Bortolussi, Nikki Calonge, Mike Dobson, Domenica Fossati, Leo Gurevich, Gideon Irving, Jenn Kidwell, Elvis Perkins & Geoff Sobelle
Stage Management: Lisa McGinn & Kelsey Vivian
Technical Director: Chris Swetcky
Production Manager: Brian Freeland
Developed & Produced by Fin Productions
CLOWN SHOW was commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival. Additional commissioning support provided by Stanford University, PS21 Chatham, Arizona State University — Gammage, Stanley Kim, Diane Max, Laurie Oki, and Garth Patil. Developmental support provided by Brooklyn Academy of Music, Monira Foundation/MANA Contemporary, and PS21 Chatham.
