Many hats (performing and teaching artist, clown, comedian, entertainer, writer...)

I’ve worn many hats over the course of my lifetime, including that of a professional clown with Cirque du Soleil (2014-2020), middle school US History teacher (1999-2004), and have spent the past 16 years making my living as a full-time professional clown, educator, writer and working actor.

Up until the Covid-19 pandemic I was on tour with Cirque du Soleil and performing the role of Valentino Clown in the international touring show TOTEM (2014-2020). I also performed as a clown for Cirque du Soleil (2010 – 2012) in special events for the Cirque show IRIS at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

I’ve performed in four different productions with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Disney Concert Hall (The Composer is Dead 2x, The Spirit of the Cello and Holst: The Planets), and was part of a world music for children program at the Hollywood Bowl. I received critical acclaim for my role as Harlequin at the Mark Taper Forum and have generally “trod the boards” of live theatre since 2005.

I am part of the critically acclaimed and beloved comedy team, TEN WEST, co-founder of Los Angeles’s only commedia dell’Arte troupe STUDIO ZANNI, and creator and owner of LIVING HISTORY IN THE CLASSROOM – an arts and education program that has been performed in schools all over Southern California, as well as being on the roster of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Arts Teach roster, which led to the creation and performance of pre and post show arts and education for the international touring show WAR HORSE.

Throughout this time, I created, taught and conducted workshops in a variety of performing arts disciplines, including, clown, improvisation, commedia dell’Arte, acting, physical comedy and movement at USC, Pepperdine, Cal Arts, Plaza de la Raza, Center Theatre Group, Improv Olympic, M.I. Westside Comedy Club, and a host of other schools, universities, comedy centers, theaters and venues.

From March 2020 until January 2021 I was unemployed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. My official separation from performing as an artist with Cirque du Soleil was July 1, 2020 but it really began mid-March when Cirque was forced by the government of Germany to cease operations by forbidding large gatherings of people. 2,500 people inside a circus tent was apparently a little risky with a novel virus circulating the planet. Time will tell as far as a return to the circus goes. I dreamed of being a clown with Cirque du Soleil. I performed over 2,000 times as Valentino clown (a role I did not create) and in front of literally millions of people in that capacity, and probably that many again with Ten West, and as an actor and solo performer before I signed my first contract with Cirque du Soleil. I love to share laughter with people. I love to be a clown. I have always been in some way - whether it was trying to cheer up my mother, or entertaining her and her friends, striving to make my maternal grandmother pee her pants, throwing myself down flights of stairs at school or slo-mo tumbling down the bleachers at Dodger stadium, running into walls, doors, lampposts and trees for my daughter, niece and nephew, or performing hundreds of clown “magic” shows at birthday parties, shopping malls and libraries.

Being a clown has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ll find a way to continue. I always have. It’s finding the ridiculous absurdity in myself (especially after having taken things way too seriously) that’s kept me alive. And so…on we go to the next adventure!