THEY WALK AMONG US

If you are a follower of The Brick, you have to have spent the summer hoeing permafrost in Franz Joseph Land to be unaware that we are nearly ready to open the third annual New York Clown Theatre Festival. However, on the off chance you actually have just returned from the Land of the Midnight Sunniness, let us give you a brief primer:

1. The Festival runs from September 5 through September 28

2. On Friday 9/5 we kick off with a Clown Parade that starts at Union Square and wends its way to The Brick via the L Train.

3. This Parade is followed by a participatory, interactive Pie Fight.

4. If you participate in the Pie Fight, you will get very dirty.

5. You will also have a kind of jaw-droppingly good time.

6. You will not have time to go home and take a shower before the Free Preview Cabaret, which highlights a number of shows that can be seen in full later in the Festival - so bring your own shampoo.

7. We are not talking about circus clowns here, but Theatre Clowns.

8. Yes, they can be scary sometimes, but only on purpose.

9. They do not do children's birthday parties, so don't ask.

10. If you see enough shows, you will develop washboard abs from all the laughter.

11. We have shows from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, and France.

12. Not to mention the entire U.S. from Hawaii to Maine.

13. Any lingering you prejudice you may have towards clowns will be shattered like some sort of tiny glass unicorn.

14. The shows are like $15 - more than a movie, sure, but do movies talk back to you?

15. There are also classes and workshops you can take to become more clownlike!

Okay, there will be more tips and tricks in future blog posts, but this is probably more than enough for you to handle. Come one, come all! And as you walk down Metropolitan Avenue, keep your eyes open - you never know who might be a clown...