Clown Legend AVNER THE ECCENTRIC

My second time around the clown-versation block with AVNER, this is also a chance to get excited about his forthcoming ClownX masterclass on March 5.

No doubt he'll talk about his eccentric principles, but I also want to ask him about the time he ran naked into a freezing cold lake in Finland pursued by Petra Massey (a story she told in last week's clown-versation).

If you don't know who Avner is, you are probably new to the clown world, because he is a legend in this field. Hailed as one of the greatest clowns of all time, Avner Eisenberg is often a featured performer in comedy, magic, clown, and theatre festivals. Here are some highlights of his career:

-Avner studied in Paris with Jacques Lecoq for two years, and once, while street performing in Paris was arrested for buffoonery in public.
-On returning to the United States Avner taught at Carlo Mazzone Clementi’s Dell’Arte School of Physical Comedy in California.
-Avner is probably best known for his endearing portrayal of The Jewel, the scene-stealing holy man, in The Jewel of the Nile, co-starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
-Avner’s one-man show, Avner the Eccentric, was a hit of the 1984–1985 Broadway season.
-Avner’s new show, Exceptions to Gravity, defies the barriers of language and culture and has toured extensively all over the US and abroad.
-Avner is regularly featured on television specials throughout the world, including the Paul Daniels Show and Packing Them In in Great Britain.
-Avner lives on an island off the coast of Maine and would really rather be sailing.
-Avner has practiced Aikido for many years and holds the rank of shodan, first degree black belt.
-Avner is a certified Ericksonian Hypnotherapistist, and NLP Master Practitioner, and is also a Certified Trainer in Ericksonian Hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming.