Clown Chronicles: August ‘26
What Happened in July?
The meeting was called to order at 6:45. We had 18 members and three guests in attendance. Welcome Hannah Sligar, Uncle “Wooly,” and Damian Pecina.
Stand and Share
Hannah Sligar recently returned from an exciting week-long clown intensive in Paris! She attended three classes each day focusing on movement, games, and clown performance. They were provided costumes and spent the week exploring movement, improvisation, and character work. Hannah shared that the entire experience had a wonderful European style and atmosphere.
Susan Keys entertained everyone with a classic joke:
Why did the chicken cross the road?
“Be-CAWS!”
After faithfully preserving the Mid-Cities Clown Alley history and archives for more than 30 years, Susan Keys is passing the collection on to a new caretaker. Cinde Sanders has volunteered to house and preserve the archives for the time being. Susan also brought several boxes of collectible Calliope magazines, which were made available for members to take home.
Old Business
Last month’s meeting was packed with fun! We enjoyed the many clown performances during GLOW, followed by an entertaining presentation from Ely Sellers and the FLOP School of Clown.
A big thank you goes to Debbie Davis, Cinde Sanders, and William Beaty for volunteering to create balloon art at the Lively Pointe Youth Center summer event on June 12. Our volunteer service helps provide the meeting space we use through a community partnership.
Our next Alley meeting will be August 10, when we will be stuffing registration bags for the Texas Clown Association Convention and rehearsing skits. As the host alley for this year’s TCA Convention, we are encouraging everyone to participate. We are looking for volunteers for a group skit, Paradeability, or both. Let’s represent our alley with pride!
Convention Charity Selected
Members discussed several worthy organizations to support during the Texas Clown Association Convention, including the Richardson Adult Literacy Center, Hope Kids, Mission Arlington, and The Archway. After discussion and a vote, Hope Kids was selected as the official convention charity.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05pm.
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Stagecraft & Character Tips for Clowns
Ace delivers his lecture on stagecraft and character tips.
A lecture by Ace
Understanding your performance space helps you connect with your audience. There are four common stage types:
Proscenium – the traditional theater stage.
Thrust – extends into the audience, with seating on three sides.
In the Round – audience surrounds the performers on all sides.
Black Box – a flexible performance space that can be arranged in many ways.
Clowns most often perform on thrust stages (birthday parties, magic shows) or in the round (circuses).
Every stage also has a “fourth wall.” It is the imaginary wall between the performers and the audience. Depending on your act, you may ignore it, acknowledge the audience directly, or keep the wall intact. Magic shows often break the fourth wall, while theatrical clown performances may choose to maintain it.
A few performance reminders:
Learn your stage directions. For instance, stage right is the performer’s right, not the audience’s.
Face the audience whenever possible and avoid showing your back.
Project your voice without shouting.
Move with purpose, and don’t rush. Give your jokes and reactions time to build.
When creating your clown character:
Your face is your greatest communication tool—make eye contact with your audience.
Adjust your performance to fit the venue, using bigger movements for large crowds and subtler expressions for intimate settings.
Build your character by amplifying your natural personality traits. Even your flaws can become strengths on stage.
Plan your entrances and exits, establish your blocking first, and then let improvisation grow naturally.
The class also introduced the Stanislavski Method, an acting approach that encourages performers to understand their character’s motivations, emotions, and objectives. Rather than simply pretending to be a character, performers ask questions like Who am I? What do I want? Why am I here? By creating truthful reactions and believable behavior, clowns can make even the silliest moments feel genuine and connect more deeply with their audience.
The best clowns combine strong stagecraft with authentic character, creating performances that are engaging, believable, and memorable.
A Word from Our Clown in Chief
10, 9, 8, 7, 6… Honk those Noses and Fluff those Wigs
We are down to the countdown, and the countdown is on!! Are you clowns all ready for the big fun that is coming this week? It is almost time for the Texas Clown Association Convention 2026, and it is almost here!!!!
At our meeting this month, we have a whole clown list of several important things to get ready and prepare for the convention. We will be stuffing attendee bags, sharing smiles, and getting everything packed with plenty of “Clowns R Us” spirit. Margaret Clauder will also share the games she has planned for our TCA Theme Party Night. She will walk us through her ideas, and then we will get the chance to jump in, play along, test them out, and enjoy the silliness fun together. I can’t wait!
Another great opportunity at our alley meeting will also be a perfect time to toss around ideas and work on skits. Whether you have a solo skit, or group skit, a funny gag, or just the start of an idea, bring it with you. Let’s laugh, brainstorm, practice, and maybe we could perform a skit or paradeability together. Let’s bring our ideas, talk them through, and if you would like to perform a skit, the meeting will be a wonderful time to practice and get feedback before the convention.
So come and get ready to help, play, laugh, honk, share ideas, and get your clown shoes pointed toward excitement for the convention week ahead!
President Tricia “Jolly” / “Hanky” Gregory
The 9 Questions
A Stanislavski checklist for stepping into any character
Who am I?
Where am I from? My family? My relationships?
Where am I?
How do I feel about this place?
What time is it?
What did I do just before?
What do I want?
My objective in the scene.
Why do I want it?
The need beneath the objective.
Why do I want it now?
What makes this moment urgent?
What if I don’t get it?
The stakes if I fail.
How will I get it?
Physical, verbal & psychological actions.
What is in my way?
The obstacles I must overcome.
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2026 International Clown Week!
Article taken from July 2026 The New Calliope
— Teresa Gretton, Clown Week Chair
Clown Week is upon us! EXCITED! Less than a month away but not too late to schedule some planning and tie up any loose ends. What about Proclamations? If you have already set up getting Proclamations, you are ahead of the game. If you are waiting to receive them, perhaps check in with your state, county, city officials. How are you coming along with days scheduled from August 1–7?
COAI has new members who may not be aware of this special week, so a little history: On October 8, 1970, Congress approved a joint resolution to designate the week of August 1 through August 7 as National Clown Week. “…therefore, I, Richard Nixon, President of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of August 1 through August 7, 1971, as Clown Week. I invite the Governors of the States and the appropriate officials of other areas under the United States flag to issue similar proclamations.” Several years later, under a further recommendation by Stephanie Richardson and the COAI Board of Directors, the week was deemed COAI International Clown Week to include our international countries.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Whether you represent yourself or contribute with an alley, there are so many people and places who would love to have you at their events. Have you plans to visit libraries, day cares, hospitals, nursing homes, shopping centers, parties? Promote with handouts such as clown noses, stickers, balloons, face painting, pocket magic, or birthday parties.
There is no limit to the ideas and locations to express clowning. Take a sign proudly proclaiming 2026 International Clown Week. Take pictures (selfies are GREAT). Be proud of our clown organization and Clown Week. Be a participant whenever and wherever you can promote Clown Week. Tap into the new COAI website (mycoai.com). Take some time out to read about Clown Week and The Charlie Award. The full presentation is due by October 1. Reach out to the board for more information.
HAPPY 2026 INTERNATIONAL CLOWN WEEK TO ALL OF YOU!
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Stars of the TCA Toybox 2026 Convention
HEADLINER – Danny Kollaja – “Lanky” — Lanky brings his signature energy, creativity and playful spirit and is a proud TCA member who travels the world with inspiration and joy of play to think boldly outside the box.
Brenda Marshall – “Flower” — Brenda will share How to Put a Show Together, filled with practical ideas to help you build engaging performances.
Derrel Allen – AI and Marketing — Derrel Allen will show us how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to simplify marketing, save time, and grow your entertainment business.
Nicole Hodges – Yo-Yo – The Toybox Classic! — Grab a yo-yo (they are provided) and come play!
Brittany Allen – “Zoe” Wake Up Wiggles — Silly Songs & Even Sillier Dance Moves and also her special presentation on bringing joy through hospital clowning.
Bernadette Kelly – “Sparkles” — Learn practical techniques, brush control, blending, line work, and design tips for face painting.
Ray Walsh Balloon art – Roundabouts Class — Learn a versatile modular design using 5-inch round balloons.
The Lesters – “Blades and Shotzie” — Tips on running a clown school.
Matty Spraggins – “Magical Matty” — Learn how to transform your puppet from a prop into a true performance partner.
Tony Winiecki “Bluey Tails” – Circus Juggling — Learn the fundamentals of juggling.
Michelle Moerbe “Bubbles” — Bringing bubbles to your audience.
Alberto Lira Rotto — Spanish/English Lunch Workshop.
Margaret Clauder – “Maggie the Magical Clown” — Will share creative ideas and practical tips for building memorable holiday-themed and birthday party performances that you can easily add to your repertoire.
Bruce Chadwick — Using magic as a meaningful tool to communicate faith, engage audiences, and enhance ministry programs for churches, outreach events, and community gatherings.
Sunday Worship with Rudie and Matty — You are in for a wonderful meal, an uplifting worship service, and plenty of fun as Rudie and Matty lead us on a memorable adventure filled with faith, laughter, and inspiration.
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Register for the TCA Convention
August 12–16, 2026 • Irving, TX
Westin DFW Airport Hotel
4545 W. John Carpenter Fwy, Irving, Texas
Book your group rate for Texas Clown Association August 2026
Ask for the Texas Clown Association Block
