2008 Instructional Staff

Kenny Ahern
La Crosse, Wisconsin

Kenny has toured the globe from Moscow to Minneapolis in theater, festivals and circus. Kenny fuses inventive, contemporary artistry with classical whimsy; creating an eclectic clown style all his own. Some of his performance highlights include: The International Children's Festival in Taiwan, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and The Moscow Circus School in Russia. Kenny has been on the staff of Clown Camp® and RBBB Clown College and has guest lectured at the University of Virginia.

Paula Biggio
Park Ridge, Illinois

Paula is a veteran clown performer, having worked over fifteen years as a full time entertainer. Working alone as either a whiteface or auguste, she makes over 450 appearances annually at malls, restaurants, theaters, picnics, birthday parties and promotions. She has a bachelor's degree from Rosary College and a strong background in both theater and business. She was the Education Director for the World Clown Association for three years, and is a frequent lecturer at regional and national clown events.

Don Burda
Sunnyvale, California

Don began his professional entertainment career in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1962 appearing in over 2000 performances as a theatrical actor. In 1970, Don entered the clowning world by creating Homer, and for the past 30+ years-together with his wife and assistant "Dee" have performed in over 10,000 performances, on television, in theaters, at trade shows, corporate events and private parties. He also books frequent lectures on the Art of Clowning. Homer has won numerous awards, and in 1995 received the prestigious honor of being inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame. The Burdas have been instructors at Clown Camp® since 1986.

Betty Cash
St. Paul, Minnesota

St. Paul, Minnesota's Betty Cash has been teaching costuming, makeup, and basic clown arts across the nation since 1966. Clowns everywhere seek after her abilities in costume construction. Her high professional standards and winsome smile have made her a favorite staff member since Clown Camp®’s first program in 1981-when she was a first year instructor. She is an award-winning clown who for many years served as one of the top executive officers in the Clowns of America, International organization. She has also been active as an officer and an instructor in the St. Paul and general Minnesota area.

Angel Contreras
Mokena, Illinois

Caricaturist and cartoonist Angel Contreras is the creator of the wonderful logo artwork Clown Camp® has employed for the past several years. He is a well-respected artist that was commissioned to create the award statues for persons being inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame. Many camp participants have enjoyed his creation of their own clown faces for publicity artwork on business cards, coloring pages, and other promotional pieces.

Gigi
Tokyo, Japan

Gigi began her serious study of clowning at the 1989 Ringling Clown College Japan program. It was here she met her soon to be partner, RONE. Together they developed an authentic Japanese clown duo and in 1991 went on to Moscow, where they won a special prize at the Int'l. Clown Convention. They journeyed to Kiev where they continued their education at the Kiev Circus School and Estrada College in the Ukraine. Back in Japan they established Open Sesame a performance and training program for clowns. They have trained many new clowns and continue to do theatre clowning. They visit elementary and junior high schools to show their special skills.

Jim Howle
Hartsville, South Carolina

America's premier clown portrait artist is once again with us at Clown Camp® this year. His works number over 200 original canvases, which are today being seen in museums and private collections throughout the world. Jim received his training at Ringling's Art School, and Ringlings Clown College, where he was a member of the very first class. He clowned with the Greatest Show On Earth for many years, and was Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey's official circus artist. He is excellent at makeup design assistance and has developed his own line of clown makeup. Jim was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 1994.

Bruce Johnson
Lynnwood, Washington

Bruce, as Charlie, has been clowning since 1974. His experience includes six seasons with circuses, and eleven years with amusement parks. Internationally recognized as a creative entertainer, instructor, clown historian, and author, he has lectured and performed in Europe four times at international clown conferences. His honors include Laugh-Makers Magazine Contributor of the Year, WCA Clown of the Year, Clown Camp® Red Nose Philosopher, and COAI Artist in Residence. For many years he wrote and published The Clown In Times, a quarterly journal devoted to clown history.

Carol Johnson
Lynnwood, Washington

Carole Johnson has been appearing as Pookie since 1990. She specializes in clowning for preschool audiences, the elderly, and caring clowning. She is a clown at Stevens Hospital (Lynnwood, WA) and makes weekly rounds of the outpatient clinics of Seattle’s Children’s Hospital. In the winter she appears as Mrs. Claus. Carole believes in the therapeutic benefits of humor and laughter. She is also involved in nursing home pet therapy programs. Carole has taught at regional conventions in the Northwest, at Clown Camp® and at several World Clown Association conventions.

Aurora Krause
San Antonio, Texas

This all well rounded clown, who in her other life is disguised as a bank vice president, is the winner of the 2004 World Clown Association's best All Around Clown. She has competed and won competitions in makeup and skit competition at international events. She is a member of COAI, WCA, AATH, TSA, and Jolley Joeys Clown Alley (San Antonio). BeBop enjoys clowning at parties, festivals, parades, nursing homes, hospice, gospel ministry, children's camps, museum shows and anywhere she can bring joy and delight to her audience.

Dave Mitchell
Crossville, Tennessee

David has entertained on international television, at schools, shopping malls, civic meetings, and churches and at clubs. He is a very accomplished magician, and is an ordained minister. His charm, wit and talent in the areas of funny business, ventriloquism, magic and clown ministry stand him in good stead with all participants. He owns his own manufacturing company, which produces for resale many of the props that he utilizes. Dave is a frequent lecturer at clown events from coast to coast. His character, Mr. Magish will be sure to please Clown Camp® participants again this year.

Chris Montross
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Chris is a Recreation Therapist, Certified Leisure Associate employed by St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Aside from her profession Chris is also an active volunteer and coordinates the hospital's Clown Connection program that functions out of the hospital's Pastoral CareDept. As Americlown, Chris spreads a lot of joy through clown ministry and music in a healing environment. Having twice been on staff at a Recreation Leadership Laboratory in Alaska , Chris recently created a new critter clown character, Seemore the Moose, who also visits in the hospital. Chris is a member of COAI, WCA, and Iowa's Korn Patch Klowns, Alley 189.

Pam Moody
Altoona, Iowa

Pam is a national leader in community safety education. She is very active in a variety of fire safety organizations, and is a frequent speaker at conferences throughout the United States. Her clown namesake, Sparky partners with the Des Moines, Fire Department teaching vital safety and self-esteem messages to kids of all ages. She has a non profit organization, L.A.F.S. for Life and annually presents around 300 shows in schools, libraries, fairs, festivals and churches. She is president of Korn Patch Klowns, in Des Moines, Iowa, is the NE regional director for S.M.I.L.E., and directs a ministry troupe-ACTS Clowns.

Lee Mullally

Gainesville, Florida

Lee is currently the Assistant to the Director of Clown Camp® where he has been an instructor since 1990. The University of Florida recognized Lee's teaching abilities by awarding him with outstanding teaching awards in 1994 and 1995. Lee is a prolific author of clown books and articles. He is a Past President of the WCA and served as its Education Director and a Past President and former Competition Director and Education Director of the South East Clown Assoc. Juggles is a sought after entertainer in the Gainesville, community and a former recipient of the Gator Exchange Club's Book of Golden Deeds award. Lee was named the 1994 WCA Clown of the Year.

RONE
Tokyo, Japan

Japan's RONE, born into a traditional Kabuki actors family, was trained in the traditional Japanese theatre culture from the age of 6. Early on she became an actress in musicals and enjoyed writing humorous scripts. When Ringlng's Clown College held its first class in Japan, she was one of the first enrollees. She and partner Gigi have gone on to work in theatres in Moscow and Kiev, as well as theatres throughout Japan. Their annual provincial tour of Japanese elementary schools and junior highs features a new show each year. RONE has lectured at the Toho Univ., performed at Alberta (Canada) Intern'l Children's Festival, and the Flower Exposition in Osaka.

Richard Snowberg
La Crosse, Wisconsin

Richard has directed Clown Camp® for the past 26 years. He has written five books on clowning and over 100 magazine articles. In the past, he has been education director and served two terms as president of the WCA. Richard organized the first World Clown Summit, in Dalkeith, Scotland. He served on the board of directors of the ICHOF for nine years, and administered the Clown's for Children program at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin during 1999. He was inducted into the ICHOF in 1999. He has lead Clown Camp programming throughout North America, as well as to Scotland, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Mary Lou Stasiek
Harvard, Illinois

Mary Lou is that lady with the winsome smile who owns and manages the business, Clown Wear, Plus. Her clown spirit comes through via this business's practice of donating a portion of all sales to hospice needs. She is a professional clown, a member of Clowns of America International and a member of World Clown Association. She has entertained countless numbers of people in the United States and Puerto Rico by working over 200 tradeshows. She also spent two weeks in Bosnia entertaining in orphanages and refugee camps.

Anita Thies
State College, Pennsylvania

Anita is a 25-year veteran of clowning, and is the proud author of the just released, The Joyful Journey of Nursing Home Clowning. Additionally she is the co-author of The Joyful Journey of Hospital Clowning. Besides her literary contributions, she clowns in a variety of venues from Schools and community programs, to hospitals, hospice programs, churches and nursing homes. She has previously taught at Clown Camp®, and has provided other educational programs at national programs, as well as started the WCA’s Happy Valley Alley in Pennsylvania. She is a member of WCA and the COAI clown organizations.