I had my first day back as a hospital clown for CHOA at Scottish Rite a few days ago, and I could not have had a better start. Dr. DooHickey and I went to our first hospital unit. As soon as we stepped on the floor, we were greeted with a smile from a familiar face.
Read MoreLast week, I found myself in Lausanne, Switzerland, a 40-minute train ride from Geneva, surrounded by 650 people who, in one way or another, have chosen the strange and beautiful path of healthcare clowning. There were attendees from 45 countries and 152 healthcare clown organizations represented. It is not often that you get to be in a room where everyone understands—deeply—what it means to walk into a hospital room with a red nose and an open heart.
It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces from across the healthcare clown world, people I have known for years, some for decades. And just as meaningful, it was a chance to make new friends—people who speak different languages, come from different systems, but somehow do the same work.
Read MoreRecently, I had the honor of being an officient at a wedding. My niece, who lives in South Carolina with her now husband, asked me to officiate at their wedding ceremony. I didn't expect this at all. That said, when she made the request, my only thought was, of course, I will say yes. I considered it an honor. I got a marriage license, then I thought about my role as the officient.
Read MoreI find myself thinking about the other men in my family who were not fortunate enough to live as long as I have, my brother and my father, who passed away way too early. My brother, in his early 30s, passed away from complications with AIDS, and my father from a heart attack when he was 51. It's strange to think that I am almost a decade older than my father ever was….
Read MoreOn July 24, we gathered in the backyard of Clowns Without Borders USA President Tim Cunningham for our 2nd Annual Atlanta Backyard Fundraiser, hosted by Tim and me. It was an evening soaked in laughter, generosity, and yes, just a bit of actual rain. This gathering was not merely a fundraising event; it was a celebration of our community's dedication to bringing happiness and relief to those who need it most, particularly children facing difficult circumstances around the globe. As the late evening approached, dark clouds loomed overhead, and we were met with a rain shower that threatened to dampen our outdoor festivities. Despite the weather, we pressed on, determined to make the evening a success.
Read MoreIt takes planning and coordination to ensure the success of these tours, and I am especially thankful for our collaboration with the talented artists and dedicated staff from the Zimbabwe Theater Academy. Working alongside Teddy, Lloyd, and Tsungie was a joy. I eagerly anticipate the chance to return to Harare, Zimbabwe, and once again embrace the name Lloyd bestowed upon me during this tour: "Baba Harare," meaning "Father Harare."
Read MoreAs we wrap up this tour, I am grateful for the laughter, the lessons, and especially the people—huge thanks to Teddy and Lloyd of the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy. Teddy was the engine behind the tour's planning, and Lloyd—"Chimodho"—was our driver, road manager, and hilarious clown partner. I also want to shout out my fellow clowns Tsungie ("Pirori") and Josie ("Manhanga Kutapira"), who brought creativity, warmth, and heart to the shows.
Read MoreAfter a long six-hour drive from Harare, we finally arrived in Chimanimani, a breathtaking mountain region in Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands, with green hills, valleys, and an open sky.
Our first performance in Chimanimani took place on a football field. We watched students come down the hill toward us, walking in neat lines, their excitement buzzing. When we started, that energy took off. They clapped, laughed, and cheered. And when the show ended, the real party began.
Read MoreWe're a little over halfway through our tour of Zimbabwe with Clowns Without Borders, and I know this trip will live with me for a long time. The days have started to blur together—packed with dusty roads, vibrant smiles, connections, and spontaneous joy.
Read MoreToday was our first day of shows with the Clowns Without Borders tour in Zimbabwe. There's something magical about the first day of shows. We have a team of artists working together for the first time. — The anticipation and the nerves start and stop, ending with seeing the sheer joy of the audience.
Read MoreHello, from Harare, Zimbabwe! Just a few days ago, I left my familiar home in Decatur, Georgia (in the heart of Metro Atlanta) and started a tour that excites and humbles me. After a lengthy flight, I found myself in Johannesburg, South Africa, for an overnight layover before my final destination. As I settle into Harare,
Read MoreThis upcoming assembly provides a platform for artists and administrators from CWB chapters around the globe to unite and share insights. Participants will include representatives from England, South Africa, Brazil, Spain, France, and Sweden and others. I remember my experience at the last general assembly in Barcelona, Spain, where I made some connections. I look forward to reconnecting with familiar faces and making new friends this time around.
Read MoreAs we wrap up February, which is African-American history month, I wanted to look back on one of my favorite recent shows this month. I had the pleasure of performing for the Roswell Roots Kids Family Celebration Art at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. During that show, I did my usual routine of juggling, music, and humor. I also took the opportunity to talk about three artists who have always inspired me and my work. These artists are the Mills Brothers, Josephine Baker, and Bert Williams. Each of these artists deserves their share of attention. However, I wanted to include all three of them for the show.
Read MoreI saw picks like this everywhere, especially in back pockets as a child. …The pick would go in your back pocket, and the fist could be seen just above the edge of your pocket, showing a sense of pride to anyone who saw it. Although my hair is a little shorter now, in the 1970s, I used a pick like this to comb my afro.
Read MoreI am thrilled to perform in "What Are You?", created by Nicolette Emmanuel, at 7 Stages Theater. The show previews on November 7 and opens on November 9.
This production is the third installment of this project I've enjoyed contributing to over the past several years. The opportunity to present this piece in front of a live audience at 7 Stages adds a dimension to the experience, making it feel even more impactful, and we have the opportunity to perform a longer run of the show.
Read MoreI find great joy in the work of hospital clowning, especially because of the wonderful support we receive from the hospital staff, including the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. It's heartwarming to see the smiles on their faces when we arrive, and it's even more fulfilling when they join us in our activities, such as singing and playing music. In a previous post (link here), I shared about the time Dr. Levine joined us in singing a lullaby to the patients in the NICU.
During my recent visit to the hospital, I was delighted to encounter Dr. Levine once again, this time wearing a bowtie similar to mine. We both looked rather dapper. dr. tiny and I took a moment to capture the memory with a photo by dr. tiny in the NICU.
On the same day, we also had the pleasure of interacting with a group of young interns who were training to become doctors.
Read MoreCelebrating 25 Years as a Hospital Clown
This fall, I will begin my 25th year of working as a hospital clown.
It's hard to believe that 25 years have passed since I first started doing this work as Squeeze the Clown. As I mark the beginning of my 25th year, I want to take a moment to think about my history as a hospital clown.
I was excited to be hired by the Big Apple Circus and to be one of the original members of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit in Atlanta. Michael Christensen of the Big Apple Circus created the modern idea of hospital clowning. I’m proud to have that connection to Michael and the BIg Apple Circus. As a new hire, I was one of eight members who traveled from Atlanta to New York for weeks of training in hospitals and studio rehearsals. These rehearsals were artistically inspiring, and the hospital work was emotionally challenging. I was drawn to using humor to lift spirits, and children's hospitals were new to me. At the time, I didn't realize the impact a clown could have in a setting like a hospital. But I did know that I wanted to make people laugh.
Read MoreThis Summer, I’m Inspired by the Great Ones
Over the past few weeks, I've enjoyed entertaining audiences at various libraries and camps. I really enjoy doing these shows. I'm eagerly anticipating my upcoming hospital clowning performances in Columbus this autumn. In the meantime, I've been keeping busy with shows at camps and libraries this summer.
I do some comedy, music, and juggling during my summer show. It's the skills I've learned mixed with some basic performing skills. While I'm doing all of this, I also take time to talk about some of the artists who have inspired me. While the list of those who have inspired me is long, for these shows, I focus on three artists: Bert Williams, the Mills Brothers, and Josephine Baker. These performers were all Black artists who were internationally renowned when they were in their prime…
Read MoreThe topic for the panel was "How is a clowning agent of social change? Should that be the role of the clown? How can clowns help society?
I thought about this topic a lot, and I felt some extra pressure because I was expected to comment on it. Clowns can be agents of social change, and our organizations should play a role in that. That said, during the panel, I focused on how difficult change can be.
Read MoreWe walked past where we were supposed to go.
We had the address, but somehow, we misread the signs on the street. After walking through the streets of Montreal, we finally found the right address. We had missed it once or twice before. We walked right by without recognizing that this was the address where the show was. That said, after we found the right address. We opened the door and saw a narrow staircase. Just as we reached the top of the stairs, I looked around the room. There were a few sofas, a ticket booth, and several people milling around before the show started. Then, I gazed across the room and caught the eyes of a woman sitting at a table; she looked at me and loudly said, "Meredith!" The woman was Vanessa Rigaux from the Montreal Clown Festival. After that, we knew we were in the right place. Gina and I made ourselves at home before the show.
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