The Clown Performance Lab: Clown and Improv Weekend Intensive

Want to make a show? In this fast-paced experimental workshop, we’ll start with a premise: a show exists if you 1) pretend it exists and then 2) step onstage.

This clown improv workshop explores how we can turn an empty stage into a place of confident action, where we make people laugh from their guts, even (and especially) when we have no idea what we’re doing there. We’ll improvise wildly while setting aside our expectations around scene work and clever lines, and instead lean on what makes each of us organically ridiculous to generate material that has legs. With an eye toward building out acts, we’ll work through exercises and prompts to get out of our heads, put our most brazen ideas directly on their feet, develop improvised gems into repeatable material, and open ourselves up to the sublime power of accidents and failures. Expect trial and error and trial and error and trial and error.

Some clown, improv, or devising experience is recommended. Participants will be given on-the-fly feedback throughout the workshop, while also being asked to work quickly and embrace moments of uncertainty—so the more ready you are to dive in, the more we can play, fail, and discover together as a group.

About the instructor:
Daniel Maseda (he/him) is a performer from Washington, DC who makes ridiculous work. He is currently touring his debut solo “BE GOOD!” WITH PAULETTE, which played at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe (★★★★, Pick of the Fringe) and was awarded the inaugural Fringie for best Clown performance at the 2025 Philadelphia Fringe. Alongside his performance work, Daniel teaches workshops on clown, improvisation, and devising. He is a graduate of École Philippe Gaulier.

About the Venue:

The Highwire Center is Highwire Improv's home base in the Highlandtown neighborhood of Baltimore! Part of Highlandtown Main Street and the Highlandtown Arts District, The Highwire Center is home to classes, free workshops, shows, community events, corporate training, and more! The Highwire Center is accessible, with ramp access available, an ADA restroom, and flat transit throughout the space.

About Highwire Improv:

Highwire Improv’s mission is to steward a community of artists committed to growth, collaboration, joy, and justice — in Baltimore and around the world — through improvisational theater.

Learn more at https://www.highwireimprov.com

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