MARK GINDICK

"Clown un-plugged” or "I'd Rather Be Somewhere Else"

Written and Performed by Mark Gindick

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A workshop performance 

 

March 2017

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Mark Gindick, lifelong professional clown (Ringling, Big Apple, Happy Hour Trio), celebrates the day he knows or at least thinks he is going to die. Mark's father died at 51 years old May 29th. Ten years later on the day, Mark's uncle, his dad's brother died May 29th, he was also 51. Mark's grandparents, their parents did not die at 51, thank goodness right? Broken curse right? No,  they both died on the 29th. So here we are, the day is May 29th, 2026, is Mark going to die.  Using story telling, song, dance, and physical comedy Mark shares his family's story while exploring themes of death, celebration, and the magic of coincidence.

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MARK GINDICK (Playwright/Performer) is a professional actor, writer, dancer and clown. Currently he is performing with the Bessie award-winning dance company Doug Elkins, and developing and performing his own one-man show Wing-Man, which won BEST ONE MAN SHOW at the United Solo Theatre Festival in 2011.  Mark has appeared in major feature films, including the Nora Ephron comedy “Julie & Julia”; on television, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night w/Conan O’Brien, and was featured on the acclaimed PBS documentary “CIRCUS!”; starred Off-Broadway and at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival in The Comedy Trio Happy Hour. Mark has clowned on circuses such as Ringling Brothers and the Big Apple Circus as well as teaching clowning at SUNY Purchase College and Esper Studios. A graduate of both Ringling Brothers Clown College and SUNY Purchase, Mark’s unique blend of vaudeville, dance, and physical comedy has earned him three Golden Nose Awards.

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JESSI D. HILL (Director) is a theatre director based in New York City where she has directed new work at New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater/Joe’s Pub, The Playwrights’ Center, Primary Stages, Labyrinth, The Women’s Project, 59E59, The New Group, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Culture Project, The Acting Company, The Barrow Group, PS122, Baruch Performing Arts Center, New Dramatists, The Lark, The Playwrights Realm, New Georges, The Wild Project, and others.  She has been a director in professional training programs at Yale School of Drama, Fordham University, Long Island University, Powerhouse/NY Stage & Film, NYU/Tisch, Strasberg, CAP21, The Atlantic School, Playwrights Horizons Theatre School, Hunter College and others. Her work has been seen internationally in Edinburgh, London, New Zealand, Berlin and Hamburg. She is currently Associate Artistic Director terraNOVA Collective and a former Artistic Director of Stage Left Theatre Company in Chicago.  MFA: Yale. Member SDC. Current projects: www.jessidhill.com

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