Art@Work
Joel Jeske knew he wanted to be a clown when he was 12 years old. Now he can make crowds laugh with just the quirk of an eyebrow. As a professional clown, Jeske has worked with Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, and Big Apple Circus. He is also an actor, writer, and teacher.
He performs on theater stages and is the associate artistic director of the theater company Parallel Exit in New York City. He has been nominated for three Drama Desk awards, and Variety has called him “a masterful performer.”
HOW DID YOU BECOME A CLOWN?
When I was 12, I read about Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. I was determined to go. Once I got onstage with my first high school play, it
