Clown Townby
Peter Burg
Water Color Painting by Melissa Adkison
Performances on
July 11,12, & 13 2008
At the Playhouse
2099 Main St,
Rye, CO. 81069
Where Clowns go after the show? The year is 1958 and just southeast of Pueblo there is a haven. It is late summer and on a few acres of windblown chamisa infested high desert the magic of friendship electrifies the wind. The place is Clown Town. A place of the past and present and the possibilities of the future for six clowns living the lives of men. Men doing double duty in the circus of life singing the melody of laughter, but time is fading fast and on the horizon the specter of change is imminent.
Share the whimsical ramblings and comical camaraderie of Rusty, Bobo, Suds, Zappy, Nod and Scamper, the inhabitants of Clown Town, before the wind carries them off into a distance memory.
The Pueblo Chieftain
Lonely end of circus era
explored in ‘Clown Town’
Posted: Friday, July 4, 2008 12:00 am
It's 1958 and life is about to change for Rusty, Suds, Nod, Bobo, Zappy and Scamper.
They're circus clowns in an era when their various talents are no longer in demand, living in a place called Clown Town in Southeastern Colorado. They're also the subject of a new play, "Clown Town," written by well-known area musician Peter Burg. "Clown Town" will be presented by the Greenhorn Valley Players July 11-13 at The Playhouse in Rye.
"I got the idea when I was playing at the Saddle Saloon (in Pueblo) in the early 1990s," said Burg. "We were talking to some people and someone mentioned ‘up by Clown Town.’ That immediately caught my imagination. The seed had settled."
Clown Town apparently was a real thing, an area inhabited by former circus and carnival performers. Burg started jotting down ideas and took about two years to complete the play once he began writing.
"The (real) story is mixed with my imagination in the play," Burg said.
Rusty, a World War II veteran, is the owner and honorary mayor of the failing Clown Town. The play takes place on the group's final night together, before everyone scatters to new lives.
Dick Greet, Jeff Garman, Lange Simmons, Brian Weisz, Justin Jaynes and Cliff Pattison portray the clowns. Burg is co-director with Pattison and helped with costumes, props and set design. He also wrote original music to go with the play.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. July 11 and 12 and 2:30 p.m. July 13. Ticket prices range from $6 to $8; call 489-2099 for information.
- Amy Matthew
IF YOU GO
WHAT: "Clown Town," presented by the Greenhorn Valley Players
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. July 11 and 12, 2:30 p.m. July 13
WHERE: The Playhouse, 2090 Main St., Rye
TICKETS: $8 adults, $7 seniors (62 and older), $6 kids (17 and younger). Call 489-2099.
5 comments:
Is your play about the clown town south of Pueblo? Who are your charactors based on?
Yes, the play was based on the place known as Clown Town south of Pueblo, Colorado. The characters are fictional. Although I used Rusty's name his character is from my imagination.
Peter -
How might I contact you? "Rusty" was my grandfather and I would love to hear more
you can e-mail me at pbbluesuburban@hotmail.com
I live on a property that still has one of the original clown houses.
Post a Comment