Alternative Circus Examiner

Merry Christmas!

So I just started writing online about Alternative Circus. Reviews on shows, books, movies, as well as local happenings. I'll be updating a couple times a week. Let me know if there is something you want me to write on! You can always get a hold of me at BenComedy.com@gmail.com

There are already a couple of articles up. The latest discusses the recent TEDx conference in Rochester, NY. PUSH just happened to be the closer! (...and I work for them!)

The video was just posted online and you can view it and read my articles at:
http://www.examiner.com/alternative-circus-in-new-york/ben-christensen

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving was great and so was my Black Friday shopping. As I was out finding the deals I realized that I could offer my own. So here's the scoop. For the rest of December I decided to throw in a free Cross and the Clown magazine (featuring yours truly) for any orders from www.bencomedy.com/store.

Sadly this offer does not include the t-shirts and only lasts through December 31, 2010.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and that you will have a merry Christmas! Perhaps I'll see you at a show this December or in the coming year.

Ben

Minnesota Shows in October and What's New for November

So I've just put up a couple of new pictures on the facebook page. You can see my favorite here as well. I had a great time being able to see friends and family again as well as hit the stage in front of a group of new people.

This next week I will have my PUSH debut at Penn State. I have been training and rehearsing with the group for almost 2 months now, so we will see how it goes. Today the lighting designer for the show sat in on rehearsal. A little more tweaking and we should be good to go.

If you happen to be reading this and you are in the Pennsylvania area the evening show is open to the public. It will be the evening of the 9th.

PUSH

So here's the update. You probably read all of the circus posts (and if you didn't, I auditioned for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Baily Circus in August). The audition went well and I made it through Clown College (with a bunch of others), but got cut out in the contract negotiation phase of the auditions.

Instead I have officially moved out to New York where I am working with PUSH Physical Theatre. By doing this I am able to continue to offer all the past programming previously available when I was not with PUSH (although most of my time is now spent training and performing with PUSH).

So what does PUSH do? That's tough to say. Modern dance, gymnastics, mime, and a blend of other physical disciplines all under the banner or theater. You can see video and pictures at www.pushtheatre.org

Sick!

So I have an interesting story. I mean, hopefully most of what you read on the blog is interesting, but this was too.

My friend Don Bursell, who you may have seen perform with the LOL Show that my father and I were also apart of, was scheduled to do a show in Wisconsin this past week. In fact he had been scheduled in this particular spot for the past 17 years. That means I was 6 years old the first time he did a program for them!

Anyway, Don called me the day of his show, because he got the flu, and he got it bad. Now if Don could have done it I know he would have. In fact, I don't know if he has had to cancel a show in the last 20 years. Luckily I was available and was able to fill in. We had a great night, but even though we were able to work everything out with the hosts, the audience wasn't exactly sure why I was there. In the end I won them over and we all had a great time.

So Don. Get well!

New T-Shirt

These new t-shirts have just been released. Order by Wednesday and enter the promo code: SEPTSHIPFREE to receive free shipping! A total of only $12.95!

BenComedy.com T-Shirt Design by BenComedy
Shop zazzle for a different tee zazzle

Lifelight!

I just got home from Lifelight in Sioux Falls, SD. If you are not familiar with Lifelight they run one of the largest music festivals in the world. Check them out at www.lifelight.org.

I did a show and packed the tent. Thank you everyone who came out and saw the show! The fun part was that my whole family was there. A good time for a family reunion at the farm. Maybe I'll see some more of you there in the years to come.