Crash the Clown, deemed a "local
legend" by the Newark Post, has been entertaining children and
families in the mid-Atlantic area for more than 25 years. His
fast-paced 40
minute clown/variety show keeps audiences on the edges of their
seats with juggling, comedy, magic, unicycling and balancing tricks,
music and outrageous physical dexterity. Whether he's balanced high atop a 6 foot unicycle,
playing the ukulele or doing battle with his arch
nemesis -- his hat
-- Crash will have the full attention of kids from 4 to 84.
The story began many years ago in a
theater course called Circus Skills and Stage Combat at the
University of Delaware, where John met another local legend -- Chris
Shelton. John discovered that creative thought combined with
athletic ability equaled potential circus talent, and after
graduation, John and Chris headed for the Ringling Bros. Clown
College. After Clown College, Chris went on tour with the
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and John joined the
smaller Royal Lichtenstein Circus. When the circus wanderlust
subsided, the dynamic duo reunited as the
Crash Brothers, and also performed
solo
 shows as Crash the Clown
(John) and Officer Offbeat the Clown (Chris).
John (Crash) has performed at The
White House (twice), the National Theater, the Philadelphia
International Children's Festival, the China International
Children's Festival, Disneyland, Circus Fantasy, The Ringling Bros.
Thrill Circus in Montreal, and Magic Land in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Crash the Clown show is available for family nights, school
assemblies, museums, theaters and libraries, and a smaller,
scaled-down version for private and in-home parties.
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Rave
Reviews |
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“The Shrieks of laughter and delight said it all. Kids and
adults in our audiences couldn’t get enough of you. You were
splendid -- crazy enough to keep us howling, sophisticated
enough to keep even the most urbane amused and charmed.” |
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Kathleen M. Berry
Director, Saturday Morning at the National Theater
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| “Silliness becomes an art form in your
hands.” |
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Meliss Bunce
Director, Cloisters Children’s Museum |
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“What can be said but Encore! Encore! Your
performance and assistance during our Santa arrival displayed
talent, professionalism and pure enjoyment. Our merchants
 and
shoppers commented very highly and asked when you would be
returning.”
Maria A. Upholtz
Market Director, Machesney Park Mall
“John, your skills as a juggler and talents
as a clown contributed positively to our new form of circus
entertainment here at Disneyland. I would like to thank you
for exhibiting the type of attitude that makes people happy
and allows us to perpetuate the very finest in family
entertainment.”
Gary Murphy
Supervisor, Entertainment Division -- Disneyland
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 "This
event brought a great deal of joy to more than 400 children.
I hope you realize how much your presence means to the
children who attend the party. For many of these
children, this party is their Christmas celebration.
Your efforts make the afternoon truly joyous."
Reverend Monsignor Timothy C. Senior
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
“I am very sincere in thanking you, and I do hope we can work together in
many future projects.”
Ron Severini
Director, Ringling Bros. Thrill Circus
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“Today I witnessed the performance of an
artist. John Hadfield made the children and adults feel a part
of every act, but most of all he made us happy.”
Barbara Y. Washam
Center Director, Wilmington YMCA
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