For immediate release January 9, 2009

Media contact: Anne Lefter 443-840-2836

CCBC SENDS IN THE CLOWNS FOR PERFORMING ARTS FUNDRAISER!
It’s ‘Circus Silliness’ Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at CCBC Essex

Baltimore County, Md. – “Circus Silliness,” a rollicking family fun show featuring some of the best physical and visual comedians in America today, is this year’s benefit for the Community College of Baltimore County Performing Arts scholarships and programs. The show features headliners, who have studied clowning with the renowned Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and worked with circuses and cruise ships here and abroad.

Produced by Michael Rosman, “Circus Silliness” will be performed 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 in the B Building Theatre at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd. Tickets are $15 for all seats and are available through the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787).

“Circus Silliness” will bring a host of comedic talent to the CCBC Essex stage including:

• Michael Rosman is an incredible physical comedian who excels at comedy juggling and unicyling. The Reisterstown resident and veteran circus performer has performed on Letterman and Leno, “Cirque-style” shows and cruise ships all over the world.
• Philadelphia native Andrew Scharff has spent the last 11 years performing with circuses around the world and even gave a command performance for His Holiness Pope John Paul II. This year, Scharff has traveled to China twice to take part in International Clowns festivals.
• Veteran circus performer Pat Cashin is a classic clown complete with an orange fright wig, white face paint, big red rubber nose and super-sized shoes. His slapstick routines are hilarious. Cashin is the official historian to the International Clown Hall of Fame and official historian and international goodwill ambassador for Clowns of America.
• “Bucky & Gigi” are really Chris and Gina Allison. Chris, who graduated from RBBB Clown College “with a major in pie throwing and a minor in pratfalls,“ spent 11 years as a clown with the Greatest Show on Earth®. Today, he clowns with the Big Apple’s Clown Care Unit ®, performs solo and duo shows with partner Gigi. Gigi spent two years being a dancer with the Greatest Show on Earth® before she decided to attend the RBBB Clown College for the career of a lifetime. Today she does solo shows and duos with her partner Chris.
• According to his Web site, Mark Lohr “juggles, eats fire and spins plates and can leap tall shrubbery in a single bound. He’s a super vaudevillian!” With almost two decades of performing experience, Lohr now is performing locally in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.
• The “All Star Kids Circus” features the circus world’s next generation of jugglers, acrobats, wirewalkers and clowns. Its members include: Sophia (12) and Ethan (9) Rosman of Reisterstown, Md.; Grace (9) and Genevieve (11) Lohr of Frederick, Md.; Hunter Allison (9); Shane Cashin (5) and “The V-Girls:” sisters Veronica (19), Vonya (17), Valeria (14), Vayla (12) and Viahna (8) LaMarra. All are children of the headliners, except “The V-Girls,” who are former participants in Michael Rosman’s circus camp.

Join us 8 p.m. Jan. 31 or 2 p.m. Feb. 1 in the B Building Theatre at CCBC Essex. All seats are $15. Call the CCBC Box Office -- 443-840-ARTS (2787) -- to reserve your seats today. For additional information, contact Anne Lefter, director of Performing Arts@CCBC, at 443-840-2836 or visit www.ccbcmd.edu/performingarts/ for upcoming events and programs.

LINK TO HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTO OF MICHAEL ROSMAN -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccbcmedia/

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About CCBC (www.ccbcmd.edu)
Rooted in the community since 1957, CCBC educates nearly 65,000 students each year, including half of all Baltimore County residents attending college in Maryland as undergraduates. Offering more than 50 associate degree and 100 certificate programs, CCBC is ranked among the best in providing undergraduate education, work force development, technology, health care training and life enrichment options to citizens throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan area. CCBC also provides customized employee development training to more than 100 companies annually.

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