Clown Chronicles: April 2025
BE SURE TO JOIN US FOR OUR APRIL MEETING: MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025 AT 6:30 PM
GEORGIA FARROW REC CENTER
530 DAVIS DR, IRVING, TX 75061
The DFW Clowns “R” Us meeting was held on Monday, March 10th at Georgia Farrow Recreation Center. It was another lively evening filled with updates, performances, and exciting plans for the year ahead. The meeting kicked off at 6:43pm, and members were eager to share their recent clowning adventures.
First on the agenda was Stand & Share. Members were invited to share events that happened during the past month and visitors were invited to introduce themselves to the members. Ed Gonzales was first up giving a big shoutout to Cinde, whom he saw perform at Magic in the Living Room in Richardson. Ed's passion for the circus world runs deep! He also attended part of the WCA event. We also welcomed Leopoldo and Ana Carolina, guests invited by Juan. Ana is finishing up high school, and Leopoldo hails from Argentina. We're always thrilled to have new faces join our community!
Tony Winiecki shared that he and Juliana recently hosted a juggling workshop at an elementary school carnival.
The duo worked with balls, spinning plates, and more as part of their effort to grow their entertainment business
and reach more families with joy.
Moving on to business: Posie and Miss Cookie moved to approve the previous meeting’s minutes and treasurers report, which passed without fuss. A quick reminder: Club dues are now due! They run from January to December, so if you haven’t renewed yet, now’s the time.
Several members attended the WCA convention held in Dallas the first week of March. Cinde, Susan, Andy and Toty performed a Tex-Mex Lecture which received high praise. The discussion focused on the unique differences between Anglo and Latino clowning styles. We also helped with the auction and hosted one of the hospitality suites
Looking ahead, Tony Winiecki reminded everyone that the American Circusfest is coming up March 25–26 in Frisco. It’s a full 3-hour show, and tickets are just $15—a steal for an evening of circus magic!
Margaret shared exciting news about the International Ventriloquist Convention in Erlanger, Kentucky. The event promises a packed schedule of lectures and yes, Margaret will also be lecturing.
Closer to home, the Texas Clown Association (TCA) will host its annual convention September 11–14 at the Radisson in Fort Worth. Mark your calendars!
The DFW CRU Board met last week to brainstorm educational programming for the remainder of the year. More workshops and learning opportunities are in the works, so stay tuned!
Our GLOW performance was a delightful skit from Wilie and Rudie, performing a fun and energetic food skit.
The meeting wrapped up at 7:16pm and the program was introduced. We celebrated the talents of Ray Walsh as he instructed us on how to make balloon animals. He had a good mix of beginner designs and more advanced designs. Everyone learned, contributed and had fun.
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A Word from Our Clown-in-Chief
Cinde “Boopsie” The Clown
What is a clown alley?
A clown alley is the backstage home base for circus clowns, a lively hub where they transform into colorful characters. Traditionally set up near the animal pens and big top, this space is packed with props, costume trunks, and all the magic clowns need to bring joy to the audience. It’s also where clowns collaborate, share updates on performances, and prepare for the unexpected.
During a show, even when they are not in the ring, clowns stay ready. If something goes wrong mid-performance, the ringmaster calls out, “Clowns Allez!”—French for “Clowns, go!” That’s their cue to rush in with a well rehearsed routine, turning mishaps into laughter. The ultimate signal? The song "Stars and Stripes Forever" is a musical SOS that means clowns must hit the ring ASAP to keep the audience entertained.
Over time, Clown Alley has come to mean any group of clowns, whether in a circus, carnival, or local community. Today, clown alleys are like fun-loving clubs, bringing clowns together for parades, social events, charity work, and skill building workshops. Many meet each other monthly — either in person or online — to learn, perform, and grow their craft.
The DFW Clowns “R” Us is an amazing clown alley that embodies everything a great clown community should be. I’m proud to be a member and excited to see our Alley thrive, spread joy, and keep the art of clowning alive!
Now, one of the greatest strengths of DFW Clowns “R” Us clown alley is its incredible community of unique and creative individuals. Each of us brings our own ideas, perspectives and aspirations. There is only one YOU, and that makes YOU truly one of a kind.
Speaking of ideas, I want to hear yours! As we continue to grow this alley, what do you envision!? When you are chatting with friends and family about clowning, what excites you? How do you think we can improve? What are we already doing that makes you proud to be part of this Alley?
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Our April Program!
Meet Brenda Marshall - better known in the clowning world as “Flower the Clown”!
Since 1981, she’s been sharing the joy of the laughter and gospel with kids of all ages, wrapped in love and a whole lot of color. Brenda literally wrote the book on it - Sharing God’s Love Through Laughter – A Guide to Christian Clowning - to inspire others to take part in this one-of-a-kind ministry.
A true trailblazer, Brenda was the first woman president of Clowns of America International and served on the COAI board for ten years. She’s a life member of COAI, the Texas Clown Association, and the Cowtown Clowns, and her red nose has traveled all across the U.S. and in thirteen other countries! She’s not just a performer, but a passionate teacher too, bringing her workshops to festivals and conferences from Fort Worth to Singapore. And get this, she still signs up for clown school any chance she gets. Always learning, always growing!
Birthday parties have always held a special place in Flower’s heart. She started performing at them early on and is now entertaining the second generation of some of those original party kids. Her favorite part? Creating magical memories that last a lifetime.
In this joyful class, Flower will show you how every clown can have their own unique birthday party style. You’ll see her in action, get some inspiration, and brainstorm ideas for your own party-packed performance. Because putting together a show that’s fun from start to finish? That’s where the real magic begins!
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JOINT ALLEY WORKSHOP
Thursday, May 8, 2025 6-8:30pm Georgia Farrow Recreation Center …
…AND IT’S FREE!
We’re thrilled to share this exciting news. For those of you who are newer to the alley, you might not know that we used to hold a joint alley meeting each May to celebrate clowning and family enter- tainment. Each year, the three alleys would take turns hosting, and it was always a blast, with dinner, entertainment, and plenty of laughs.
Well… this May, we have an amazing opportunity to bring that tradition back! Even better, we’re teaming up with Cowtown Clowns to share the costs and bring in top-notch entertainment for a Two and a half hour workshop. This is exactly the kind of educational fun the DFW alley merger was all about, and I believe it’s going to be EPIC!
Meet Neal Skoy: Comedy in Motion, Heart in Art
When it comes to performance, Neal Skoy does it all—and then some. A Minnesota-based dynamo with roots in both circus clowning and serious theater, Neal has carved out a one-of-a-kind path that’s as heartfelt as it is hilarious. From red noses to standing ovations, he’s mastered the art of keeping audiences laughing, thinking, and coming back for more. Neal’s journey took off with The Greatest Show on Earth—literally. After two unfor- gettable years touring with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, he hit the ground running (and tumbling, juggling, and improving) across the globe. He’s performed vaudeville-style clowning throughout the Midwest, wowed audiences at a major clown festival in China, and made appearances at some of the most beloved venues in the biz: Circus World Museum, The Jungle Theater, State Theater, Park Square Theater, Open Eye Figure Theatre, Minnesota Renaissance Festival, and even Jimmy Kimmel Live! With his back- ground in comedy and deep theatrical training, Neal brings energy, adaptability, and an infectious sense of joy to every project. Whether he's making kids giggle, helping actors find their voice, or crafting the perfect punchline, he’s all in.
The Workshop
Neal Skoy has been walking the tightrope between theatre and clowning his entire life. Having performed with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, Big Apple Circus, and Circus World Museum, he has established himself as a renowned circus comedian. He also has extensive experience with interactive street theatre and professional stage theatre performance. The even- ing workshop will involve playful theatre games*, discussions about comedy and the audience experience, as well as how to generate your own material from scratch. The goal of the evening is for everyone to become not just mentally flexible, but to tap into what is essential at the core of all clowning. What are the truths that have been hiding under our (clown) noses this whole time.
*Movement and gameplay are not required/expected of everyone. Observing and discussing are equally as vital.
