January 9, 2012

Matthew Pauli

Matthew Pauli, co-Producer of Clown Cabaret, is a 1991 graduate of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and has been clowning ever since. He appears regularly at corporate events, street festivals, fairs and picnics and in his stage shows. His work as a clown has taken him around the U.S. and as far as Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Since 1999, he has been proud to be part of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Program, performing at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. For 6 years he toured with The Big Apple Circus sharing the role of Grandma with creator and International Clown Hall of Fame inductee Barry Lubin.

www.matthewpauli.net

Karen Beriss

Karen Beriss, co-producer and emcee of this month's Clown Cabaret has been a professional magician for over 15 years. Performing at trade shows around the world, her magic and dry sense of humor - combined with corporate messaging skills - have captured the eyes of the press including National Public Radio, Market Place and The Wall Street Journal. She is super excited to have just joined the Big Apple Circus Clown Care program performing at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Karen is a regular at The Comedy Zone in Washington DC. She trained in improv and acting with Second City in New York. And she has performed for celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Kirstie Alley, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, the Washington Capitals and Robert Goulet. Most recently she worked with Leon Redbone. Plus, Karen’s mom thinks Karen is funny – so it must be true.

www.swellmagic.com

Rich Potter

Rich Potter is a co-producer and frequent performer for Clown Cabaret. He's studied with Ringling Bros, Maine's Celebration Barn Theater, and Nouveau Clown Institute in Barcelona, Spain, and still hasn't attained his dream of knowing anything.

His appearances on the David Letterman Show, at the Vice Presidential Mansion, in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and other venues domestically and in dozens of other countries have gotten him a laugh or two.

RichPotter.NET

Photo Credit: Izolda Trakhtenberg

Paul Hudert

Award winning entertainer Paolo Garbanzo, the First American to be an Official Jester of an English Castle, dazzles audiences all over the world with technical skill and comedy. The Paolo Garbanzo show is a juggling and fire-eating show not to be missed! Performing amazing stunts while keeping the audience laughing throughout a thirty to forty-five minute show."Paolo Garbanzo" is a Sicilian peasant who has made his way around the "knowne world" performing for lords and ladies of many realms, stunning them with his death-defying stunts of fire juggling and danger!

http://www.garbanzojuggling.com

Mandy Dalton

Photo credit: Jay Simpson

On 12/21/12, the Mayan Calendar will end, and Mandy Dalton will celebrate her 30th year as a clown. She is a graduate of the 1982 Ringling Clown College and her training includes work with the Moscow Art Theater School, Nouveau Clown Institute, and Cirque du Soleil. Her clown credits include work at the John F. Kennedy Center, Synetic Theatre’s “Black Out” series, The Central Intelligence Agency, Arena Stage, and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Mandy is the Co-Founder of the Washington DC Comedy Writers Group which will be celebrating its one year Anniversary at Riot Act Comedy Theater on February 7, 2012.

www.MandyDalton.com

Jim Frank

Jim Frank started performing magic at 13. From there he picked up every useless skill he can find. Magic, Fire Eating, Juggling, Stilts, Trick Roping, Bull Whips are all in his wheelhouse. Then there is his becoming an Accidental Craftsman. From his shop and need prop can be procured and thus the Flea Circus was built. He has a real college degree and used to be a rocket scientist. Many will know him as Nymblewyke from the Maryland Renaissance Festival where he has been performing for 26 years.

Graham Pilato

Graham Pilato got his BA in Dramatic Arts at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and after a couple years as a high school English teacher in Southern Maryland ending in 2007, has returned to acting, having now appeared in several Baltimore and Washington D.C. area theatres, including with Fells Point Corner Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, Mobtown Players, the Maryland Renaissance Festival, Molotov Theatre, and Happenstance Theater. His background in experimental theatre and improv comedy prepared him for work with Faction of Fools, DC's Commedia dell'Arte theatre group, with which he appeared in “The House with Two Doors” and “Tales of Love and Sausages” in 2010. He is an Associate Artist with Faction of Fools and always looking for new places to be silly.

www.GrahamPilato.com

Madame Onça

Madame Onça is an international performer and instructor based out of Richmond, VA. She sings, dances, and generally causes Torchsong mayhem both solo, and with her touring project, The Mezmer Society, Luscious Cabaret and Balkan Ruckus. In addition, she produces several multi-day events annually, including ABSfest, the Americana Burlesque & Sideshow Festival, now in its 6th year.

HardestWorkingWomanInShowBusiness.com