---

LaVahn Hoh's Home Page!
LaVahn grew up in the State of Wisconsin, the "state of circuses."  He is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a Masters in scene design and theatre history and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in scene design and theatre technology.

LaVahn is a professor of drama at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.  He has taught courses in theatre technology, special effects, scene design and lighting.  He recently received the Outstanding Educator in Theatrical Design and Technology, Founder's Award from the United States Institute of Theatre Technology, Southeastern Section.

LaVahn is a nationally known circus historian and teaches the only accredited course in America on the history of the American circus at theUniversity of Virginia. He co-authored a book entitled Step Right Up! The Adventure of Circus in America and has produced a video on the Clyde Beatty Circus. LaVahn teaches circus history and is also an archivist for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. He has appeared on a two-hour documentary on the Arts and Entertainment Network commemorating 200 years of circus in America.

1996 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College Graduates 

 
 

Class of 1997   Lea Abiera**Tuomo Aho**Ashley Banks**Allegra Barnett**Carissa Barnett**Ian Beck**Sandra Bergamin**Lance Brown**Madeleine Sierra Carrascal**Patrick Cashin**Charles Cortese**Eric Eaton**Mark Gindick**Steve Glover**Aziz Espinoza Gual**Gerrit Hagen**Benjamin Johnson**Adam Kleinberger**Dan LeGare**Kirk Marsh**Ambrose Martos**Matthew Morgan**Travis Nodurft**Sean O'Hara**Todd Obuchowski**Caitlin Reilly**Brad Reiss**Ben Schave**Mark smith**Marni Sussman**Matt Walker**Elliot Witherspoon**Joshua Zehner

 

1997 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College Graduates

 

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College holds sessions each year from July through September at the Sarasota Opera House, Sarasota Fl. If you have always dreamed about a career in this age-old art, here's a step-by-step guide to the application process:

• You must be 17 years or older, a high school graduate and a citizen of the United states. 

  ---

• Auditions are mandatory and are held in most of the 80 to 90 cities that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey visits during its year-round national tour. At these auditions you'll be able to talk to Clown college veterans, find out about life on the road and get an insider's look at clowning as a career. If you are unable to attend a scheduled audition, every attempt will be made by clown college staff or alumni to schedule a personal audition. For specifics on the date, time and location of the audition nearest you, please check your local media listing, or write to: 

  ---

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College

P.O. Box 39040

Sarasota, FL 34238-0041

or call 1-800-755-9637

• During your audition, you'll be asked to perform a series of simple improvisational exercises, individually and in a group. Since the main interest is in your clowning potential, a costume, makeup or general clowning skills are not needed for this audition. If you do possess a circus skill or theatrical ability, such as juggling, playing an instrument or acrobatics, there will be a short time at the end of the audition to present this. 

  ---

• Prior experience in clowning is not necessary for admission. The admissions committee will use the following criteria to evaluate you: evidence of motivation, sincerity, raw talent, improvisational ability, sense of timing and perceived aptitude for hard work. 

  ---

• Kenneth Feld, Chairman and Producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, attends the graduation ceremonies of clown College each year. Mr. Feld evaluates the performance of each graduate and offers contracts to selected students to tour with The Greatest Show On Earth. While the number of apprentice clowns needed each year varies, usually one third of the graduates are offered contracts. You may be a successful graduate of the training program and receive a contract at a later date. If an agreement is reached, apprentice clowns start rehearsals during December and begin their 11-month tour in January. New clowns must serve an apprenticeship of a least one year. 

  ---

• Whether your dream of becoming a performing circus clown is realized or not, to be an alumnus of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College is an honor and an experience you'll always cherish. You will leave Clown College with special knowledge of the great traditions of clowning and as an apprentice member of a sacred fraternity dedicated to bringing joy to others.

• ---


Famed Alumni of Clown College®
• Since its formation in 1968, Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Clown College® has been a valuable talent pool for the famed Ringling Bros. Clown Alley. For close to 30 years it has afforded more than 1400 graduates the opportunity to pursue a career in this age-old profession. Prior to 1968, clowns had to be "born" into the circus.
• A quick glance at the alumni list reveals that some of the great names in American entertainment graduated from Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Clown College®. Distinguished alumni/ae have starred on stage as well as worked behind the scenes.
• Clown college graduates have performed in the hit musical Barnum, produced the acclaimed Ain’t Misbehavin’ on Broadway and appeared on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, Northern Exposure, and The Late Show with David Letterman.
• Graduates have also produced and appeared in numerous television commercials and have been seen in films such as The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Under the Rainbow, Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye, and True Lies.
• Bill Irwin, a 1974 Clown College graduate who has performed in numerous theatrical productions around the country, has the notable distinction of being the first performing artist to receive the coveted MacArthur Fellowship. Designed to "free creative people from the necessity of seeking a conventional income," the Fellowship was awarded to Irwin in 1984. Irwin wrote, produced and performed In Regard of Flight, Largely New York and starred in the Broadway hit Fool Moon.
• Most graduates have gained valuable skills and expertise at Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Clown College®, enabling them to pursue their career interests in the performing arts. One graduate summed it up this way: "In an intense eight-week period, I was exposed to clowning, pantomime, stiltwalking, choreography, acrobatics, rope-twirling, hat tricks… That’s just skimming the surface. I tested my limits, found out what I liked and what I didn’t, explored my ambitions. It was an unforgettable educational experience."

Circus related links:
 

David Larible -Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

email: lgh2b@virginia.edu

hits since 9-26-97