Happy Birthday, Bill Irwin

 Happy 74th birthday to one of the absolute best, Mr. Bill Irwin.

Birthday Greetings by Jason & Justin Senft

Photo: Mark Seliger

Nick & Squid: Movie Act

From Nick: 

NiCK & SQUiD are a clown duo currently based out of Dallas, TX USA. Previous employers include but are not limited to: "Lone Star Circus", "Circus Espana" and the historic Italian circus "Circo Peppino Medini". NiCK & SQUiD's style of clowning is a mix of Theatre and Circus. By implementing strong visual elements, storytelling, humor and audience participation their content can be easily understood by various cultures around the world. Nick is a second generation circus clown and when he found Squid in 2015 he instantly fell in love with her!

In Memorium: Aaron Daniel Tucker

Aaron Tucker graduated from the Ringling Clown College in 1988. Here he is in the graduation performance with Eric Zander performing their lumberjack gag. 

Clown College 1988 Lumberjack Gag

Aaron performed on the Ringling Blue Unit in 1989 and then the Red Unit in 1990. Here he is performing a cowboy gag on the Blue Unit in 1989 with Kevin Thompson.

Ringling 1989 Cowboy Gag

Post Ringling Aaron studied with Avner Eisenberg, aka Avner the Eccentric and also Aitor Basauri of Spymonkey, and he was frequently involved with The Celebration Barn in Maine.

Aaron also toured with Fabulous Problemas, a trio show that he co-wrote and performed with Amanda Huotari and Daniel Orrantia. 

The Fabulous Problemas

More recently Aaron performed all over Japan with the renowned Kinoshita Circus alongside many clown partners, most recently Jessi Hoffschildt and Randy Brake. Here he is performing on Kinoshita with Sean Hartman in 2002.

Kinoshita 2002 Ring Toss

Aaron Tucker passed away on April 2nd.

More information from Aaron’s longtime friend, Jay Stewart:

“Not mentioned here are that Tucker was a founding member of The Seaside Clowns in Myrtle Beach, SC, as well as a powerhouse member of The Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, in Providence, RI.  And, it should be noted that Tucker was an accomplished musician, fronting his own band, The Sleepwalkers, as well as walking stilts all over New England for Bravo Brothers Entertainment.

Tucker showed that the word “Clown” is a big umbrella, covering a lot of disciplines, skills and outreach.

Rest in Peace, brother”

Please feel free to share your memories or photos of Aaron in the comments.

Cirque Du Soleil: "Best of Clowning"

Over an hour of Cirque Du Soleil clowning from the shows Totem, O, Luzia, Alegria, Saltimbanco, Volta, Kurios, Dralion, Kooza, Le Cirque Reinvente, Luzia, and Novelle Experience.

Clown College 1993: Edge and Trick

Edge (Edzui Szumowski) and Trick Kelly performing a Greg DeSanto directed gag in the 1993 Ringling Clown College graduation performance.

Tickey the Clown

"Tickey the clown was South Africas premier clown from 1960s onwards and become a household name in South African entertainment. He was named after the smallest coin in circulation, the tickey. He is seen here performing with his long time partner Lew Mitchem, circus performer and impresario."

Los Pepín León Trio

The Spanish trio, Los Pepín León performing in the Cirque Achille Zavatta in Paris for the 1982/1983 season.