"A Clown cannot pretend or be artificial. In the circus, laughter cannot be faked any more than a somersault."
- Jerome Medrano of Cirque Medrano, Paris 

The Clown Conservatory offers a First Year Program (September - June) with instruction in classic clowning, circus skills, acrobatics, mime, dance, character development, business, the creation of original clown material and more. Students also explore the history and current practice of clowning and its relationship and responsibility to society.

We also offer an Advanced Program, giving continuing students the opportunity to develop their professional material.

The Clown Conservatory also offers workshops and classes to the general public; see the Workshops page for more information.

NEW Degree Program with Coastal Carolina University

First  BFA in Physical Theater in the Country!

We are currently recruiting students to begin in the fall of 2010, graduating in the spring of 2014. Students can anticipate spending the first 3 years at Coastal Carolina University and then spend the entire senior year at The Clown Conservatory.  As students of Coastal Carolina University, students will be eligible for federal financial aid and student loan packages, and will receive a NAST accredited BFA degree upon graduation.  Interested applicants, including transfer students, should contact Ken Martin, as soon as possible 843-349-6559 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

This BFA degree is designed for talented and committed high school graduates who are ready and able to commit to professional training; please help spread the word to the many circus students and physical theatre performers looking to move directly into a college program geared to professional training in clowning and physical theater.  

San Francisco CIRCUS CENTER clowns return to Wuqiao, China!

In 2008 a successful month-long clown workshop in Nanjing for professional acrobats from all over China cemented The Clown Conservatory’s role as an international resource of clowning teachers and performers.  We are thrilled to report that we were invited to return to Nanjing in 2009,  just a few weeks after the beginning of our 10th school year,  to offer an advanced workshop culminating in performances by a troupe of San Francisco CIRCUS CENTER and Chinese clowns at the Wujiao International Circus Festival, held in beautiful Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province from October 31st through November 8th, 2009. 

What an amazing time we had! It was an incredible honor to participate as the only US representatives at this Festival, and we hope our relationship with our friends in China will continue to grow.

Read more about this amazing historic festival at www.wuqiao.org/English/main.asp

Clown Conservatory Documentary: A Peek Behind WONDERLAND

Filmmaker and teacher Marco Martinez-Galarce made a wonderful short documentary about "Wonderland", our Advanced Program Ensemble Performance track project (2008/2009).  We are currently working with Marco on a larger piece about The Clown Conservatory.  

You can watch "Through the Looking Glass: a peek behind WONDERLAND" at http://blip.tv/file/2506119

Jeff Raz returns from CORTEO!

Jeff Raz is back at school having recently completed another run playing the role of "The Dead Clown" with Cirque du Soleil's Corteo -- this time, in Japan! Corteo thrilled audiences during its United States run two years ago;  Inigo Figuracion of About.com/San Diego writes: "Jeff Raz as the Dead Clown, the show's main character, is perfectly cast, bringing both comedic and whimsical traits as he tries to cope with his death, learning how to fly, and how to confront his memories as a former clown."

Other reviews:

Variety: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934501.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

Reuters: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN2637388220070827

About.com/San Diego: http://sandiego.about.com/od/thingstodo/fr/corteo_revew.htm

"Business With Passion" Interviews Jeff Raz - Watch it Online!

 Jay Hamilton-Roth, founder of the website Many Good Ideas, interviews Jeff Raz on his "Business with Passion" television series."Business With Passion" features discussions with people who have successfully transformed their long-term passion into a successful business. 

Episodes air on Marin County Comcast Cable Channel 26 on Mondays at 8pm PST, and are also available for viewing online. Jeff's interview can be found at http://www.manygoodideas.com/2009/03/20/business-with-passion-jeff-raz/

Twelve Good Reason s to Attend the Clown Conservatory

- The Clown Conservatory is part of San Francisco Circus Center… the Clown Conservatory is now one of four Professional Training Programs at the S.F. Circus Center.  Circus Center is one of the largest and most respected circus training facilities in the country.

- Clown Conservatory graduates WORK...in Cirque Eloize, Cirque du Soleil, Circus Monti, Aga Boom, S.F. Shakespeare Company, Lunatique Fantastique, Woman’s Will, Ringling Bros. and many other great companies

- The Clown Conservatory offers a BFA in Physical Theatre…through a partnership with Coastal Carolina University, our students now have the option of applying to pursue a four-year degree.

- The Clown Conservatory is culturally inclusive...we value a diverse student body and can now accept International students through the SEVIS program

- The Clown Conservatory is artistically inclusive…we regularly accept students with backgrounds in clowning, of course, but also circus, theatre, dance, visual arts, education, and other disciplines.  We occasionally accept promising students with no clown or performance experience.

- The Clown Conservatory gets personal…with a small student body and a large faculty, our students receive individualized attention from the moment they are accepted into the program.  We continue to offer professional support throughout their careers.

- The Clown Conservatory helps graduates find work…through our alumni listserv, with letters of recommendation, audition and contract tips, career advice and through our international network of friends and colleagues in the business.

- Clowning can be a wonderful, lifelong career…good clowns are in demand around the world in circuses, theaters, hospitals, schools, puppet troupes, and more.

- Our Advanced Program...can help you focus your career.

- The Clown Conservatory is affordable...we keep tuition as low as possible and we have a generous financial assistance program.

- The Clown Conservatory has a world-class faculty...working professionals in acrobatics, circus skills, dance, body awareness, mime, circus history, physical theater and much more.

- The Clown Conservatory is unique...we are the only comprehensive clown training program in the U.S.

A majority of our 120 graduates work in circuses, theaters and other performing venues around the world, including:

• Cirque du Soleil
• Cirque Eloize
• Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
• Aga-Boom
• Winners of the Jose Soledad Aycardo Award (Top honors at the All-Mexico clown festival)
• The Broadway touring company of "My One and Only"
• Circus Monti (Switzerland)
• Circus Kaput
• Stomp
• Circus Bella
  
• Lunatique Fantastique
• Splash Circus
• Marin Shakespeare Festival
• Covent Garden Buskers, London
• Cirque Bijou (Brighton)
• Circus Minimus
• Prescott Clowns
• Berkshire Community College Circus Camp
• Fool Time Circus
• Children's Fairyland
• Earth Circus
• Velocity Circus
• Kaotica's Circus
• New Conservatory Theatre
• Encore Theatre
• Theatre Rhino
• Unconditional Theatre
• Lazer Vaudeville and others