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When Joshua Safford graduated from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, he said he walked away with the most concentrated education he had ever had.
For much of the two months he was a student, Safford spend almost 14 hours a day crafting his clown character and sculpting his skills.
But at the end of what Safford called a boot camp for clowns, the instructors told him he would be better suited for individual work. From there he created traveling performances incorporating both illusion and storytelling.
As a visual storyteller, Safford will bring his act to Eisenhower Junior High School, 1410 W. 75th St., Darien, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday sponsored by the Darien Woman’s Club.
His “Trickster Tales and Magic” show introduces Native American, German and Pakistani culture to audiences, and he dresses up as two of the stories’ characters.
“Children like jokers because they are the underdogs who somehow come out on top,” Safford said. “In almost every culture, there’s a trickster hero who tests peoples’ boundaries.”
The 50-minute show is interactive and captivating for a diverse audience, said Anne Drennan, head of the health and wellness committee for the Woman’s Club and co-chair for the show.
“It’s something different because he’s hands-on and it’s not just the same old magician doing tricks,” Drennan said. “We haven’t seen something like this in the area before and it’s definitely for everyone.”
For Safford, performing for children educates younger generations on a world that fascinated him as a kid and the reason he was drawn into reading books.
“The show is designed to creatively empower children through myths,” Safford said. “I was inspired as a kid by mythology and that led to applications and hobbies and I want to give that back.”
When Joshua Safford graduated from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, he said he walked away with the most concentrated education he had ever had.
For much of the two months he was a student, Safford spend almost 14 hours a day crafting his clown character and sculpting his skills.
But at the end of what Safford called a boot camp for clowns, the instructors told him he would be better suited for individual work. From there he created traveling performances incorporating both illusion and storytelling.
As a visual storyteller, Safford will bring his act to Eisenhower Junior High School, 1410 W. 75th St., Darien, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday sponsored by the Darien Woman’s Club.
His “Trickster Tales and Magic” show introduces Native American, German and Pakistani culture to audiences, and he dresses up as two of the stories’ characters.
“Children like jokers because they are the underdogs who somehow come out on top,” Safford said. “In almost every culture, there’s a trickster hero who tests peoples’ boundaries.”
The 50-minute show is interactive and captivating for a diverse audience, said Anne Drennan, head of the health and wellness committee for the Woman’s Club and co-chair for the show.
“It’s something different because he’s hands-on and it’s not just the same old magician doing tricks,” Drennan said. “We haven’t seen something like this in the area before and it’s definitely for everyone.”
For Safford, performing for children educates younger generations on a world that fascinated him as a kid and the reason he was drawn into reading books.
“The show is designed to creatively empower children through myths,” Safford said. “I was inspired as a kid by mythology and that led to applications and hobbies and I want to give that back.”
