JOHN GILKEY OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TO PRESENT IDIOTS AT 2013 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL

WET THE HIPPO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Gilkey
email: [email protected]

April 30, 2013, Los Angeles, CA — John Gilkey, longtime Cirque du Soleil lead clown, will present “Wet the Hippo,” an edgy, often improvised show featuring an irreverent troupe of comedy misfits from Gilkey’s ongoing Idiot Workshop, at this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival. The troupe includes Los Angeles actors, improvisers, comedians, and one uninvited performance artist who refuses to leave.

“Wet The Hippo is a collection of rather twisted and unabashed performers who can’t find a home anywhere else,” says Gilkey. “In fact, a requirement for entry is that you must have been kicked out of at least one other comedy or improv group.”

“I founded The Idiot Workshop last year,” said Gilkey. “We seek to build a community of highly creative and boldly comedic performers by providing provocative classes and performance opportunities that support fresh, innovative and visceral comedy. With the archetype of the idiot as our platform we push students towards the ridiculous in hopes of discovering the sublime. Sometimes it works.”

Gilkey was once star performer at Cirque Du Soleil, appearing in more productions than any other clown. Though many remember only his first, Quidam. Gilkey most recently appeared in the Cirque Du Soleil show Iris at the Dolby Theater, home of the annual Academy Awards ceremony. Iris closed in January after an eighteen month run. But Gilkey was let go even before that for being too expensive and not very funny.

“Wet the Hippo will feature nine performers and at least one concert violinist,” said Gilkey. “Or violist. I’m not sure which. Also there’s Scotch Wichmann, who descended from Vikings, and now works by day as a computer hacker; Alec Jones-Trujillo was in the 98th percentile in head size as a child; Claire Titelman battles severe irritable bowel syndrome; Gabe McKinney is a stay at home father; Natalie Palamides is a samba queen; Tyler Watson is missing two vertebrae in his neck due to an accident with a Lebanese tractor trailer; Tim Reid was separated from his family at the age of 4 while on a camping trip and found 2 weeks later perfectly happy but smeared head to toe in wolf excrement; and Jean-Louis Darville is French.”

Wet the Hippo will run the last three weekends in June at the Shepherd Studio Theatre in The Complex, located at 6476 Santa Monica Blvd. Tickets will be $10 dollars. For Wet The Hippo tickets visit http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/1283 or www.theidiotworkshop.com.

Recent podcast interview with John Gilkey
http://www.afoolsidea.com/archives/693

John Gilkey in Cirque Du Soleil’s Quidam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7TwEIeyzUE&list=PLB182EB88F81E6887

John Gilkey interview from Cirque Du Soleil’s Varekai DVD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6-9×7aM02I