The Coney Island Clown Skool, now a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, welcomes its 2025 cohort from September 14–21 with an intensive week of training and performances at the Brooklyn landmark. This designation solidifies its mission to preserve, celebrate, and advance clowning as both a performance art and a cultural legacy, building on the success of its inaugural year which demonstrated a growing public appetite for the joyful, time-honored craft.
Clowning, rooted in vulnerability, physical storytelling, and improvisation, teaches artists to connect deeply with audiences through humor and surprise. As one of the oldest and most versatile performance forms, its skills influence theater, street performance, cabaret, and even corporate public speaking, shaping timing, character, and engagement techniques. The Skool aims to honor this tradition while equipping a new generation to bring clowning into fresh contexts, blending world-class instruction with public performance opportunities to showcase its evolving vitality.
Founded by veteran clown Glen Heroy, the program has rapidly grown from an experimental vision into a lasting home for clown arts in America. Heroy emphasizes the inclusive space for laughter and training, now enhanced by the nonprofit status that ensures broader accessibility and sustainability. The Skool's location in Coney Island is intentional, as the area has long been a proving ground for performers who shaped American comedy and vaudeville, with historic ties to acts like the Three Stooges and Marx Brothers.
With guidance from Coney Island USA, the nonprofit behind attractions like the Coney Island Circus Sideshow and Mermaid Parade, the Clown Skool advances the neighborhood's legacy of showmanship and spectacle. Adam Rinn, Artistic Director of Coney Island USA, notes that the program brings creativity and energy to the area, keeping the art form alive in its natural home. Participants in the 2025 session will engage in hands-on training led by renowned experts, including workshops on clown fundamentals, puppetry, mime arts, and comedic techniques, with instructors from prestigious backgrounds such as the Jim Henson Company, Sesame Workshop, and Cirque Du Soleil.
Additional activities include a field trip to UniverSoul Circus to study circus arts in action, performances on the Coney Island Sideshow Stage, and one-on-one mentoring. The public can join through events like Flavors of Magic on September 18, with tickets via FlavorsOfMagic.com, and a student showcase on September 20 with suggested donations supporting Coney Island USA. This expansion underscores clowning's role in bridging entertainment and emotional truth, ensuring its relevance for future generations.
