HEY! You want to take a clown class?
“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.
Sat 3/29 330pm: DROP-IN CLOWN Take a little $35 taste in BCC’s new classroom with me. Inaugural! Come!
Sun 4/27 - 6/15 12pm - 3pm: CLOWN LEVEL 1: WELCOME TO CLOWN TOWN I gotta say, these spring-summer clown classes are pretty special. Send your boss.
Sun 4/27 - 6/15 330-630pm: CLOWN LEVEL 3: ENSEMBLE “But Tallie, I haven’t taken Levels 1 and 2 through BCC. I only have thirty years of clown under my belt.” Hey, I hear you. Talk to me!
BROOKLYN COMEDY COLLECTIVE SUMMER CLOWN INTENSIVE: LEVELS 1 & 2 (JUNE 2025)
$450.00
This intensive is limited to 14 students.
Levels 1 & 2: Welcome to Clown Town & Unearthing Your Clown
"It's you, of course, the clown. And that's important." -Nader Farman
In the first week of this intensive, we will cover exercises from Jacques Lecoq, Jean Taylor, Merry Conway, Nader Farman, Keith Johnstone and more, aiming to move us past ego and toward our shared humanity. Class is joyful and warm! Come on out, try on the red nose.
In the second half of this intensive, we will build on the skills learned in Level 1, leaning into the most vulnerable parts of yourself and heightening them to a ridiculous extent. You’ll identify pieces of yourself and find ways to explore them that are both loving and silly. You will also learn about the status dynamics of the 1 and 2 clown and you’ll get to try on both identities. By the end, you will have the tools to begin building your own clown show.
It all culminates in a performance for the public.
1-Week Intensive: Monday, June 23rd-Saturday, June 28th
Monday - Thurs, 6:00 - 10:00 PM
Friday - See shows at the Theater!
Saturday, 12:00 - 4:00 PM (with break for lunch)
Where: The BCC Pig Pen (144 Boerum St, Brooklyn)
Class Show: Saturday, June 28 @ 7:00 PM @ Eris MainStage (167 Graham Ave)
Tech Rehearsal: Saturday, June 28th. 4:00pm - 6:00pm @ Eris MainStage
“This Intro to Clown class felt like a reintroduction to myself. And Tallie is the great equalizer. She effortlessly guided us into play and vulnerability in a way that I had never experienced before. Tallie is also a momentous teacher. If you’re not sure if there is a clown inside you, Tallie will help show you that there is. This class is exactly what I needed. It opened up a new perspective on how to approach my art and my life. The exercises were exploratory, fun, and grounding. She supplemented the class with reading, discussions, and chances to connect with each other. I could not have asked for a more enriching experience. No matter who you are, don’t think twice, take this class, you won’t regret it!”
“Tallie Medel is an absolute genius performer and a treasure of a teacher. Her experience on stage and screen gives her a unique insight into the sensitivities of all performers, and her empathy seeps into every interaction with her students. She is a lover of comedy and truth and you will learn and make discoveries in both of these areas when you take a class with her. She also loves the silly and she expertly and enthusiastically brings it out of everyone, from the most experienced and ‘serious’ performer to the absolute novice. Being in Tallie’s class is a joy, not just because of her warm and spirited presence, but because of the way in which she creates a safe and supportive environment for all to play. I loved my clown class with her so much I never wanted it to end!”
“Thank you so much for this class Tallie. It helped me rediscover the pure joy of play in performance”
“Clowning with Tallie Medel. I cannot recommend it enough. Sign up and play!”
“Taking classes with Tallie has helped me not just physically but emotionally. I’m one of the people who has found movement and exercise very challenging during the pandemic. Doing warm-ups, and clowning work with Tallie has helped me ease back into my body-mind connection, without shame. She creates a playful and non-judgemental space that is chill and invigorating at the same time. I love it.”
“Your class helped me remember to enjoy performing on my own terms, something I wasn’t sure I still had in me. Thank you.
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“Tallie, please pass on to whoever needs to know that your clown class IS THE BEST THING SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF MARIJUANA!”
“Taking Tallie’s virtual dance class was a transformative experience! Tallie is so positive and instantly put me at ease. Choreographing my opening number with her was a collaborative experience I will never forget. I wish I could bottle the feeling I felt during her class so I could spray it on myself every darn day!”