Led by Master Clown Teacher Michael F. Toomey, May 9 – 11 in Lenox, Mass.
This spring, Shakespeare & Company invites actors of all backgrounds and experience levels to take a bold, hilarious leap into the world of Clown with Clowning For Actors, a three-day workshop led by renowned faculty member and master clown teacher Michael F. Toomey.
Running Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11, this workshop blends physical theater, improvisation, and personal exploration to help actors reconnect with their Clown—the most human, vulnerable, and ridiculous version of themselves. Participants will be guided through a journey of presence, play, and authentic connection, rediscovering the joy of performance through laughter and mischief.
“Across cultures, the Clown has always served as a mirror—revealing what is most honest and deeply human in all of us,” says Toomey. “This work is about inviting the audience to laugh with us, at us, and ultimately at themselves.”
The workshop schedule is as follows:
- Friday, May 9: 7:00 – 10:00 PM
- Saturday, May 10: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday, May 11: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Held on the Shakespeare & Company campus in Lenox, Massachusetts, Clowning For Actors is open to performers of all abilities and backgrounds. Tuition is $395, with discounted rates available for alumni (15%), union members (10%), BIPOC artists, and students ($345).
For more information and to apply, visit shakespeare.org or email training@shakespeare.org.
Photo Caption: Matt Harper participates in 2023’s Clowning for Actors workshop at Shakespeare & Company.
About Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training
The aesthetic of Shakespeare & Company was devised by Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer, Founding Director of Training Kristin Linklater, and a cadre of expert teachers. The Center for Actor Training’s approach is continually investigated, redefined, and reinvigorated, and welcomes actors, directors, writers, and teachers worldwide to work with the Company’s faculty.
