Welcome to Clowntown

Written and Performed by Tanya Perez
Directed by Lorca Peress

April 21st - May 13th, 2023

A solo performance that dives into the bizarre and cantankerous mind of Pixie the Clown. Part birthday party, part therapy session, this live show shares the real-life tales of being a party entertainer in America.

Picture this: the audience rolls into a seemly delightful birthday party filled with bright colors and balloons. The sounds of children laughing with glee are heard as Pixie rolls onto center stage. With her sweet smile beaming, she pops a balloon with a hint of murderous rage: "Awwww, may it rest in pieces". This begins the rock 'n' roll ride through outlandish personal stories of working as a party clown in NYC and Hollywood.

Join Pixie/me in our NSFW interactive experience, as I spit stories (like the time I was run down by gang members) while playing fun party games that consenting audience members can participate in!

This mad-capped adventure blends oral storytelling about a Latina just trying to make ends meet with Pixie the Clown's irascible inner monologues about how to change the world.

TANYA PEREZ
PLAYWRIGHT & PERFORMER

Tanya Perez Born in NYC, and raised in the South, Tanya Perez is a performer, writer & filmmaker specializing in  comedy. Perez has excelled as a creator on both stage and screen and her stand-out work has received many awards and mentionsglobally. She has appeared on several networks and streaming series like Paramount+’s Evil, Orange Is the New Black & Jessica Jones. Stage credits include performances at Laguna Playhouse, Seattle Rep, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and touring throughout Italy. Her first solo show, Honor & Fidelity, premiered to a sold out audience at the Cherry Lane Theater for the Downtown Urban Arts Festival. Awards and Fellowships include an Audioverse Award nomination for her audio play, Rincon. Winner of the New Circle Theater’s LB Williams Playwriting Award 2022. Her comedy film, Peep Show, was a finalist at the Women in Comedy HBO Insider Competition. With over 22 screenings around the world, her film, Veronica, won ‘Best Actress’ at Story Mode Shorts Festival, ‘Best Screenplay’ and ‘Best Actress’ at Outlanta Con, and ‘Best Latinx Short’ at IndieFest. She is a featured writer for The Light Ahead podcast, a Greenhouse Lab artist with The Orchard Project, and a spotlight artist with Conch Shell Productions. Proud member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA, and the Latinx Playwrights Circle. Forever a clown.

LORCA PERESS
DIRECTOR & CO-PRODUCER

Lorca Peress is a freelance theatre, opera and musical theatre director, and the Founder and Artistic Director of MultiStages in NYC. She is an advocate for women in theatre and an equity diversity activist. Peress is a Union member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, and SDC; a member of the National Theatre Conference, Women in Arts and Media Coalition, NYWA (New York Women Agenda), and the League of Professional Theatre Women (past co-president 2011-14). She identifies as a multicultural woman with a Puerto Rican, Sephardic Iraqi and Polish background. Peress has directed new works at Joe's Pub at the Public Theatre, The Acorn at Theatre Row, HERE, International NY Fringe Festival at the Soho Playhouse, Hudson Guild Theatre, Theatre for the New City, NJ Repertory, La MaMa, Repertorio Español, Urban Stages, and others. She directed a special music event for the Lincoln Bicentennial at Riverside Church with Ruby Dee and Sam Waterston, and a concert of the Aids Quilt Song Book at Cooper Union. She has directed university theatre for NYU Tisch, Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and operas at Queens College for the Aaron Copland School of Music and Drama/Dance Depts. She has also directed three 24 hour plays for her alma mater, Bennington College for the Spencer Cox Memorial Fund and Nicolas Martin Scholarship Fund at the Signature Theatre, Lucille Lortel, and the Public Theatre.

KAI LIEBENSTEIN
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

Kai Liebenstein (she/her) graduated from SUNY Purchase College, Conservatory of Theatre Arts, BFA Design/Technology Program last year. Broadway: New York, New York, Ohio State Murders, and POTUS. Off Broadway: Once Upon A (korean) Time. Milwaukee Repertory Theater: Everybody, the World Premiere of Lost Girl, and Toni Stone. Purchase Repertory Theater: Purgatorio Wonderland, Everything You Love, The Laramie Project, Bastille Day, and Earthquakes in London. She would like to thank her family, friends, and educators for all their endless support. @Kailiebe_

CHRISTIAN MASINSIN
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER & PUPPETEER

Christian Masinsin (he/him) is an actor-writer-comedian-ASM-fan of hyphens. He is a graduate of NYU Tisch where he received a BFA in Theatre. He has studied acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and comedy at Magnet Theater where he performs every month with his sketch team Mood Light. He has previously worked as an assistant stage manager for productions with The Hearth, New Place Players, and Manhattan Repertory Theatre. He’s ecstatic that you are reading this, it warms his heart. @christianmasinsin

KATIE WHITTEMORE
LIGHTING DESIGNER

Katie Whittemore (she/her) is a freelance lighting designer and lighting associate located in NYC. Recently, she has designed shows at Blackrock Theater, The Greater Boston Stage Company, The Wick Theatre, The Lee Strasberg Institute, and The New Ohio Theatre. She is frequently an Associate Lighting Designer to Jose Santiago and Rich Latta. She was also the Assistant Lighting Designer to Kirk Bookman on the An American in Paris National Tour. Katie received her BFA at Salem State University. katiewhittemoredesign.com

LISA RENEE JORDAN
COSTUME DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Lisa Renee Jordan. Selected design credits include: Fetes de la Nuit (Ohio Theatre);* Drama Desk Nomination – Outstanding Theatrical Experience; Shesh Yak (Rattlestick); Ominous Men, Speak Out, Temple of the Souls, Comida de Puta (MultiStages); World Premiere of Jose Rivera’s Lovesong, Imperfect (Theater at 14th St Y); The Plantation (Brave New World - Governor’s Island); Romeo & Juliet (Bryant Park Shakespeare); Beloved (Scandinavian American Theatre Company); Heloise (Lion Theatre)The Great Pie Robbery (Electra Theatre); Twelfth Night, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Love’s Labours Lost (Shakespeare in the Parking Lot); Boy in the Bathroom, Castronauts (NYMF); Witching Hour, and Triangle (Williamstown Theatre Festival); Holy Land (HERE Arts); The Myth Project (Noor Theatre); Useless (IRT); Ms.Oriental (Barnard); Neglect, and Thicker than Water (EST); Lysystrata (Edinburgh Fringe); Film/TV Credits include: Assistant Costume Designer for Greatest Beer Run Ever (Film), Plot Against America (HBO Series) Member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. www.lisareneejordandesigns.com

RYAN BASHAM
PRODUCER

Ryan Basham (he/him) is an award-winning film, television and theatre producer who moonlights as a political advisor and grassroots activist. His first political act was existing while queer. You can hear his voice weekly on Audacy’s Channel Q, the largest nationwide LGBTQ+ talk radio network in America, as their Director of Political Programming. He believes that collectively improving our society is a lifelong effort, so we might as well make it fun when we can. He would very much like you to follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ryanbasham.