2016 Workshop: Hilary Chaplain Presents Physical Comedy from a Clown POV

Did you make a resolution that 2016 will be the year to really work on your clowning skills? We can help you with that! Moisture Festival is excited to announce that we'll be offering a workshop on physical comedy from a clown's point of view, hosted by Hilary Chaplain. This interactive event will be held on Saturday, March 26, at 12 pm. We are very delighted to be partnering with West of Lenin again this year for the use of their studio space to host this awesome workshop! They are just down the street in Fremont, at 203 N 36th Street.

What makes it funny? What makes it repeatable?
This class will tackle those two questions while we explore physical comedy from a clown point of view. Expand your physical vocabulary, develop tools for playing comedy using the techniques of slapstick, improvisation, partnership, comic timing, and accidents in solo, due and group exercises. Through active games and dynamic exercises we will build short pieces of material using these skills. Performers of all levels and disciplines are welcome! There are only 12 spots available, so buy your ticket today! 

Hilary Chaplain is one of the founding members of the New York Goofs. They performed together in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Symphony Space. She has gone on to be recognized as one of America’s foremost professional physical comediennes performing throughout North and South America and Europe. Revealing the humor in everyday life, she has been called “ferociously talented”. Read more about Hilary at www.hilarychaplain.com.

WHEN: Saturday, March 26, 12 pm
WHERE: West of Lenin, 203 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103
TICKETS: Only 12 spots available!  

2016 Educational Series: Rob Mermin and the Circus Experience

We are excited to announce the first events of our 2016 Educational Series! Moisture Festival veteran Rob Mermin will be presenting two amazing talks about his experiences in the world of circus, described below. These events are free, though we suggest a donation towards the costs of putting on the series. Rob trained in classical mime with Etienne Decroux and Marcel Marceau and has performed in European circus, theater, TV and film for forty years.  He is an author, director, university lecturer, former Dean of Ringling Bros. Clown College, and founder of the award-winning international company Circus Smirkus. 

On Monday, March 21, Rob will present "Circle of Sawdust", a multi-media one-man show featuring personal anecdotes and rare film clips that bring alive the mud, myths, mayhem, and magic of traditional tenting circus from someone who has lived the life and returned to tell the tales! Rob's own historical films, wacky adventures and engaging stories of wild characters he has known vividly recreate what life is truly like under the big top. This picturesque history illuminates the relevance of circus culture to rural life in America over the past 200 years.

Monday, March 28 brings us "Adventures in Mime & Space: The Legacy of Marcel Marceau". Rob Mermin, founder of Circus Smirkus, and student of the legendary French mimes Marcel Marceau and his teacher Etienne Decroux, presents his memories of training with the masters. Rob explores the metaphors of mime technique and shows rare film clips of Marceau and Decroux performing and teaching, bringing to life the essence what Marceau called “the eloquent art of silence.” The legacy of Marceau encompasses not only his virtuosity in mime, but also his work in the French Resistance saving Jewish children from the horrors of WWII. Marceau’s life as artist and humanitarian earned him the respect of the world.

Both presentations will be hosted at Hale's Palladium, and are appropriate for all ages. Presentation starts at 7:30 and lasts approximately 90 minutes. We'd love to see you there!

Precipitate With Us... Volunteer Orientation Feb 22!

Have you considered running away with the circus, but the pull of responsibility keeps you at home? We have a compromise! Moisture Festival is a festival powered by volunteers, and we have a lot of fun opportunities available for you to join us in creating another fabulous year of the world's largest and longest running comedy/variete festival.

Our motto “Laughter is the key” emphasizes that our volunteer team’s main mission is to have fun while we work together. Each year we seek new volunteers to join our returning teams who take care of greeting patrons at the door, box office, bartending, backstage hospitality, transportation, artist accommodations, set building, data management  – to name only a few of the areas necessary for the continued success of this annual springtime festival.

To learn more about the various roles available before, during, and after festival, we are hosting a FREE volunteer orientation on Monday, February 22. Whether you've volunteered with us since the beginning or are brand new in 2016, we would love to see you and celebrate the kick-off of the 2016 festival season! You can meet team leads, our tiny but powerful staff, the producers, and other volunteers. We'll have delicious pizza, and all those of legal drinking age can enjoy a frosty Hale's beer on us!

photo by Michelle Bates

WHEN: Monday, February 22. Doors at 6 for mingling and drinks, meeting at 6:30.
WHERE: Hale's Palladium, 4301 Leary Way NW (behind Hale's Brewery & Pub)

If you cannot attend the meeting but still wish to volunteer for the festival, fear not! While the meeting is the best place to learn about the festival and meet the team leads, we'll send a recap after the meeting with info you need to volunteer.  Be sure you are signed up on Moisture Festival's Shiftboard: www.shiftboard.com/moisture. This is our volunteer mailing list and all shifts are scheduled through Shiftboard.

Friends of Moisture: Evan's Family Variety Show!

If you're ready for some Moisture but feel like March is an eternity away, you can get your pre-festival variety fix with Evan's Family Variety Show! Presented by Angel Productions, Inc, the show features Moisture Festival's own Armitage Shanks as the MC, with performances from many talented local and national acts that are fun for the whole family. This all ages performance will be held Sunday, January 24 at 3 pm at the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center. Tickets are only $10 for adults and $5 for children under five if you buy them in advance!

Are You Covered? Healthcare Happy Hour for Artists, Musicians, and Performers!

Calling all artists, musicians, and performers! Do you need help navigating the sometimes murky waters of signing up for healthcare? Public Health Seattle King County is hosting an event to get you covered! Monday, January 25 will be Healthcare Happy Hour at Fred Wildlife Refuge. There will be people on-site from 4 to 8 pm to answer your questions and walk you through the sign-up process. Open enrollment ends January 31, 2016.