RAT Clown in Washington Post!

["Adam" <kafclown@well.com>]

I was featured in today's edition of the Washington post!


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6004-2001Mar28.html

Greenbelt Names Clown Laureate
 Appointee to Preside Over Arts Festivities

By Natalie Hopkinson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 29, 2001;
Page PG23

Adam Gertsacov was by no means the class comedian, but he had his moments,
sneaking in a wisecrack or two during lessons.

"There is a place for people like you," a high school teacher once told him.
"It's called Clown College."

Others may have thought that a corny rebuke. But to Gertsacov, it sounded
like a dare.

Today, forget about the 36-year-old's Ivy League undergraduate degree, or
his master's degree in theater.

Having been accepted to the now-defunct Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Clown
College is his crowning achievement, he said.

"It's more competitive than getting into Harvard," Gertsacov said.

And it was all the schooling he'd need for his latest coup: jesting his way
into an appointment as "clown laureate" of Greenbelt.

On Sunday, Greenbelt Mayor Judith F. Davis will anoint Gertsacov the city's
first clown laureate. In his official capacity, the Providence, R.I.-based
clown will preside over Acme Clown Month, six weeks of performances, film
series and workshops at the Greenbelt Arts Center.

"It's going to be done in a sort of a seriously formal but not-so-formal
manner," Davis said of the ceremony.

"There will be a city proclamation," she said. "I will be giving the clown
laureate a green belt to signify his position. And his official reign will
begin."

After completing the three-month program in Clown College in 1989, Gertsacov
founded the Acme Clown Company, its name an homage to Warner Bros. animation
great Chuck Jones, creator of Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote and many others.

Gertsacov considers clowning a fine art. That means this clown doesn't do
birthday parties.

"The work that I do is not about baby-sitting," he said. "It's not like,
'Let's go see Bozo; let's get some balloon animals.' It's a little more like
theater through a clowning lens."

Gertsacov will organize a variety of programs in celebration of Acme Clown
Month, including a mixed-media exhibit of clown art from all over the world,
screenings of movies featuring clowns and lectures and discussions about
clowns in society.

The clown laureate will also present a series of three one-man shows.

In one show, he becomes "flea-trainer extraordinaire," ringmaster of the
Acme Miniature Circus, featuring fleas named Midge and Madge that race and
perform high-wire stunts.

Although they were prevalent in the Victorian era, flea circuses are all but
obsolete, and Gertsacov believes his is one of only three in operation.

Another is "The Puppet Tragedies," a series of spoofs of classic tragedies,
including "The Barbie Oedipus," the Greek tragedy enacted with dolls, and
"Vegetable Macbeth," starring animated vegetables.

The most personal is "Buffoon Anonymous: 12 Steps to Inanity," an
autobiographical work about a man who is addicted to being a clown.

"It's about a guy that is searching for himself," Gertsacov said. "What is
interesting about being a clown is that you are your own script. I go out
there not knowing what I want to do, and things suggest themselves."

Although Gertsacov also works as an actor, director and teacher, "Anonymous"
illustrates his acceptance of clowning and its role in his life.

"Part of 'Buffoon Anonymous' is learning that I'll never be able to give up
clowning," he said. "Kind of a 12-step program. 'My name is Adam and I'm a
clown.' It's an interesting circle -- a realization that it's not a problem.
It's who I am."

Acme Clown Month is April 1 through May 13. For a schedule of related films,
lectures and performances, call 301-441-8770, or visit the Greenbelt Arts
Center Web site at www.greenbelt.com/artscenter.

© 2001 The Washington Post Company




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