City to Offer Week-Long Clown Course in June

For those who’ve always believed there was a clown inside of them waiting to come out, the city of Hermiston will give them the opportunity to develop their silly side with the help of a professional clown.

Richard Melendy, also known as Big Top the Clown, will provide a week of clown training June 23-27 at the Hermiston Conference Center. Melendy is a former Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus clown. He will teach students about clown history, clown character development, pantomime, physical comedy, juggling, performing skits, creating a clown face and applying clown makeup. Melendy will also teach the art of the pie fight with whipped cream on paper plates.

There will be two available sessions – from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $50 for Hermiston residents and $63 for nonresidents. The classes for ages 7 and up.

The sign-up deadline is June 13. For more information, call the city of Hermiston at 541-567-5521.