LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A group of performers — including clowns, mimes and acrobats — are staging late-night shows at the Vegas Theatre Company in the Arts District, offering locals an alternative to the Strip’s major productions.
The shows, including one called “1230 Clowns,” take place around midnight, roughly once a month. Many of the performers hold day jobs at well-known Strip productions and do the Arts District shows on the side.
“They say that they’re just fueled by passion,” FOX5 reporter Sophia Bruinsma said.
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A nonprofit keeping local arts alive
The Vegas Theatre Company is a nonprofit that has operated in Las Vegas for about two decades. It charges a small admission fee and pays its performers. The organization hosts a mix of local and outside talent across disciplines including clowning, mime and acrobatics.
“They really have a community of different performers,” Bruinsma said. “They say that they don’t make much money from these smaller shows, but they enjoy doing it and being part of their community and practicing with each other because they do have to practice for these shows a few times a week.”
A mime who speaks — and teaches
Bruinsma also interviewed a mime who performs with the company. The performer grew up in a small town in Germany, where he developed a passion for magic and began performing locally. He attended clown college but left before graduating after being recruited to perform in one of the Strip’s major shows. The school later awarded him his diploma.
“He grew up in Germany in a really small town and basically he just had a passion for magic,” Bruinsma said. “He started performing locally, and then he got good, and when he was a kid, people would pay to see him at the local library.”
The mime also runs a free weekly event called “Mime in the Park” on Saturdays. He has held the event for more than 20 years since moving to Las Vegas.
“He actually teaches mime in the park,” Bruinsma said. “People start joining in, and it’s a very inexpensive thing you can do.”
The performer told Bruinsma that the number one misconception about mimes is that they do not talk.
How to attend
Showtimes and schedules for the Vegas Theatre Company’s performances, including the “1230 Clowns” show, are available on the organization’s calendar. The venue is located in the Las Vegas Arts District.
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