STAFF
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Albert Alter: Since 1984 Albert has conducted hundreds of workshops and residencies throughout the U.S. and Canada, and in Japan, Cambodia, and Vietnam. He toured as a clown with Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus and has performed in film and on television. He was co-founder of the Portland Mime Theater and was awarded the Sunburst award by Young Audiences of Oregon for his commitment to arts education. He is committed to taking time out from performing to share his talents with students of all ages. Credentials: Albert Alter, actor, physical comedian, "Clem" the clown, mime, fire eater, funny guy, professional fool. Bachelor of Science, University of Notre Dame. National Board member of the Clowns of America International, Inc. When not performing Albert take time out to share his art froms in schools, colleges, men's and woman's prisons, mental hospitals, juvenille centers, churches and theaters. Albert works as an Artist-in-Healthcare at Legacy Emanuel Hospital, doing "clown rounds" clowing room to room. Young Audiences of Oregon and Southwest Washington honored Albert with the Sun Burst Award for his commitment to arts in education.
Mike
Bednarek:
An
experienced trainer of children and adults Mike, has taught the art of
clowning at the community college level, and has served on the staff at
Clown Camp™ at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, NW Comedifest, NW
Festival of Clowns, and Clowns of America International (COAI) regional and
international conventions.
Mary
Pat McCoy:
With 20 years of performing and a college degree in Theatre Arts/Dance, Mary
Pat continues to study and perform in character roles, most often as
"Lucky." She performed five years with Mobius Stageworks, a multi-media
dance-theatre company as well as several other years with other dance
companies. Falling quite naturally into clowning in 1991 (literally
after a broken foot), Mary Pat has brought a variety of talents to the
Northwest through her creative comedic movement and characters. Mary Pat has
been on the Comedy Sportz-Portland since 2003 performing competitive
improvisational theatre. Outside of performing, Mary Pat is a full-time
Administrative Assistant supporting three college kids (that’s funny all by
itself!).
Trudi Sang: An award winning clown who has a Master in Education from the University of Oregon, a Bachelor of Science in Humanities, an Associates in Early Childhood Education and a Diploma in Bible Studies. Trudi has taken top honors in clown make-up, skit and paradabilty competitions at various clown conventions throughout the United States. Trudi, whose clown persona goes by Nellie, started clowning in 1990 under Gerry Ackley, the founder of the Rose City Clowns. Later she mentored under Angel Ocasio, founder and director of the Comedifest. Trudi has joined Angel to help train the Portland Rose Festival Character Clown Corps since its inception in 2008. Trudi brings a wide variety of skills to her clowning, from magic to storytelling. On a close-up level she creates wonderful sculptures out of balloons, and brilliant facial designs and characters when she face paints. She delights audiences of all ages with her comedy show at schools, fairs, festivals, church programs, special needs events and early childhood programs. Her clowning has reached people across the United States and Internationally. Trudi has performed in Romania on several occasions, and most recently performed in Mexico.
Angel Ocasio: Angel is the founder, creator and director of the Comedifest. He has made a name for himself over the past 25 plus years as a top physical comedian and clown in the Pacific Northwest. Angel performs and teaches comedy & clowning skills throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Bermuda, Malaysia, China and Mexico. Angel also produces, directs and writes for variety, vaudeville & USO style shows. He was hired to write, produce, direct and perform in several vaudeville shows featuring local artists for the Portland Rose Festival Foundation’s Centennial Celebration in 2007. The following year, Angel created the award winning Portland Rose Festival Character Clown Corps program, now in its fourth year. Also, for this season of the Rose Festival, Angel helped develope and perform as the new Portland Rose Festival Mascot, "The Clown Prince." Angel is also an actor who has appeared in several commercials, from Harley-Davidson to Figaro's Pizza. He has appeared in various local television shows and in a Disney-NBC made for television movie "A Gift To My Daughter" playing the role of a mime interacting with the lead actor (Ricky Schroder). Angel has warmed up the audiences as a strolling act for such top performers as Willie Nelson, James Taylor, John Mayer, and Counting Crows. He has performed as an opening act for Wayne Newton, Patrick Lamb and Pink Martini. Angel is a graduate of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus "Clown College." He was also a featured clown for the "Culpepper & Merriweather Great Combined Circus" and entertained at a V.I.P. Cirque du Soleil premiere party for cirque performers & guests. In 2003 Angel was selected as the Clowns of America International "Clown of the Year."
Gina Wollrabe & Tina Flores (Hernadez): Gina Wollrabe and Tina Flores —who are sisters in real life, as well as the wacky Ina Sisters on stage—have been actively involved in the creative arts since 1973. They love to take the stage, as well as teach, in the areas of clown & circus skills, mime, music, dance and drama. Both bring a rich background of experience to their work with children. Gina is a former preschool teacher and children’s choir director. She has been clowning since 1989 and is well known in the Portland area as Cha Cha the Clown. She is the proud mom of four boys who are also musicians, performers and artists. Her oldest son is a clown for the prestigious Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Tina earned a degree in early childhood education and performed in various theatre and music groups prior to becoming a professional clown in 2000. She has also worked with several children’s performing arts groups as writer, director and choreographer. The Ina Sisters have been teaching circus skills to children at the Clowns of America International NW Festival of Clowns for the last three years.
Bruce Johnson is a family entertainer, instructor, author, and variety arts historian. He has been performing as Charlie the Juggling Clown since 1974. His experience includes six seasons with outdoor circuses and eleven years at the Raging Waters amusement park where he performed on stage and did strolling entertainment. He also performed strolling entertainment for special events at the Disneyland Resort including the grand opening of Toontown. He is a popular instructor and has lectured and performed in eight countries on three continents. He was on the staff of Clown Camp ® for twenty consecutive years. A prolific author he has had magazine articles published in many variety arts publications and is currently writing a history column for Clowning Around magazine, published by the World Clown Association. One of his articles in that column won second place in the 2010 WCA Author’s Award. He has written the Creativity for Entertainers book trilogy, Comedy Techniques for Entertainers, and many lecture note pamphlets. He has an internet newsletter titled Thought For The Week that is subscribed to by readers around the world. He is known for his creativity. He is the inventor of Three Color Book Monte, Ledger of Life, and other magic routines used by entertainers around the world. His honors include Laugh-Makers Magazine Contributor of the Year, Clown Camp Red Nose Philosopher, World Clown Association Clown of the Year, the Clown Impact Award, and the 2004 Comedifest Funny Bone Award. He will be conducting sessions on Comedy Magic and Strolling Entertainment.
Merrily Schultz has been performing as a clown for over 14 years. She has performed on stage and at numerous venues from the east coast to the west coast of the United States. Merrily's love for clowning has it's roots in Sacramento, CA, where she stood in line with all the little kids to get a balloon animal (Merrily was in her 20s at the time). Her training began in Vancouver, WA in 1997 and she has, since, been to many conventions and workshops both to learn and to teach. An award winning clown, Merrily, recently took home 5 trophies from the Mid Atlantic Clown Association convention, for face painting, balloon sculptures, and skit competition. Merrily has been a part of the Comedifest Staff since 2003, serving as Director of Public Relations, Assistant Director, Co-director, and an instructor. Merrily is looking forward to sharing her growth in clowning since the last time she was at Comedifest, four years ago.
The French Toast Family Circus
Gina Wollrabe and
Tina Flores
—who are sisters in real life, as well as the wacky Ina Sisters on stage—have
been actively involved in the creative arts since 1973. They love to take the
stage, as well as teach, in the areas of clown & circus skills, mime, music,
dance and drama. Both bring a rich background of experience to their work with
children. Gina is a former preschool teacher and children’s choir director. She
has been clowning since 1989 and is well known in the Portland area as Cha Cha
the Clown. She is the proud mom of four boys who are also musicians, performers
and artists. Her oldest son is a clown for the prestigious Ringling Bros. and
Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Teo Wollrabe
a recent high school graduate was born 1993 a son of Gina and Waldo Wollrabe
“artist parents”. He tried clowning and performing but at the young age of 3
told his mom that he didn’t like the audience watching him. He found that he is
an artist of another kind. He began playing the cello at age 12. And grew in his
love for stringed instruments, including guitar, base, and ukulele.
He also plays the piano, a melodica and dreams
to one day own and play an accordion.
He has grown in the art of photography and
drawing. He is an excellent sound man for his clown performer mom and also for
his dad who plays worship and concerts for church and other events.
He is a singer and songwriter and has hopes to
go to art school one day and follow his dreams to be a musician/ recording
artist/ photographer/ film maker/ and artist.
Eddie Wollrabe,
born in 1996 to a musician dad and clown mom, has been clowning, dancing and
performing as soon as he could stand up and walk. Soon to follow was his love of
music, singing, dancing, costumes and special effects make up. He started making
his own movies at the age of four and by the age of ten he was a professionally
paid performer. He started as a clown for the Wilsonville fun in the park and an
Elf for Christmas events. He is now a steady performer at Fred Meyer Grand
openings and several annual events. In 2010 he was one of the youngest
moviemakers to enter the Youth Silent Film Festival. His 3-minute movie in which
he directed, edited and starred in as Charlie Chaplin took first place winning
him a whopping $1000.00. He has dreams of being an actor and director in
Hollywood.
Dre Wollrabe,
born in 2001, has been in clown make-up since he was six months old. His mom
“Cha Cha” took him to every clown event she performed at. When he was two years
old, he recognized his gift and said…”I make people happy” and thus a performer
was well on his way. As soon as he could tie a balloon he was working with
his mom and being paid as a professional. His dad is a musician songwriter, and
all of his older brothers play instruments as well so he has known nothing else
but entertaining. Dre also loves to act and sing and is a talented
songwriter. He wants to put his music online so that people can buy it and help
him fill up his bank account. Weather he is clowning, helping mom with sound and
music or performing his original songs, his desire is to make people laugh and
feel happy.