African American Clown Paints Uncommon Avenue for Hip Hop

By Frank Clayton, Jr.

When you think of the circus, you may not think of African Americans, and certainly hip hop may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Circus clown Jamarr Woodruff is changing the way the world is enjoying one of the nation’s favorite road shows. This Atlanta, Ga. native is becoming a crowd favorite among youngsters as well as those who rarely get to view hip-hop in a positive light. CityFlight.com caught up with Jamarr when Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was in San Jose for during their Bay Area tour.

CityFlight.com: What the heck made you want to start being a circus clown, man?

Jamarr Woodruff: Well, I was walking down the hall of my high school [in] my senior year, and I saw a poster for Clown College with Ringling Brothers, and it all came to me. I had an epiphany that was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

CF: I heard that! How long have you been doing it?

JW: This my first professional gig, but my third year. I didn’t get into Ringling Clown College, so I had to take a bit of a detour to get here.

CF: Oh, so you had to take a sort of different path? So, did you take a class or just receive training?

JW: Well first I went to Alabama State University and got a degree in Theatre Arts. Then I want the Dell Arte International School of Physical Theatre, then the Clown Conservatory here in the Bay Area at the San Francisco Circus Center.

CF: So you are coming home, so-to-speak, when you perform in the Bay Area?

JW: Yup!

CF: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

JW: Well I draw my performance inspiration from my culture and just from being funny.

CF: What, were you the class clown?

JW: Actually not. I was the Student Government president, senior class president, captain of the debate team, golf—you know, all the funny stuff.

CF: Do you feel because you’re an African American clown that there is more pressure on you?

JW: Not really pressure, but I feel there is more of an opportunity to get out there and put our image in a positive light. Because my clown character is in a hip hop style, and so many times hip hop is perceived in a negative form in the media, it gives me a chance to put the image out there and show it is not all negative.

CF: Is there anything special or different you feel when you come to perform in the Bay Area?

JW: I feel at home because it is such a big, international community here. You have so many different people from so many different places that you get to be a nice little piece of fruit in a huge fruit basket.

CF: What are your plans when the circus stops for you?

JW: Well I have a fiancée and a couple of kids, so I am going to try to do something more local. Or I might look at some option that might bring us out here to the Bay Area. The main thing is to keep on bringing positive things to our community and the world.

CF: What would you tell a person interested in doing what you do?

JW: First off, get some physical training in acrobatics, gymnastics. Stay physically fit and learn the history of comedy. Learn form the likes of Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby—and even go back to the days of maestro shows—and find the funny in that; [and] even the history of clowning, which goes all the way back to Egypt.

CF: What is a typical day like for you when you have a performance?

JW: Well, I live on the circus train, so in the morning I catch our bus to the Arena and get my make up on and costume on. On days like Saturday, our biggest day when we have two or three shows and throughout that day, we will do a show and have a quick break in between, then have another show, and then a quick break in between and then do another show. Then we sometimes have PR events to do.

CF: So they keep you plenty busy. Do you get a chance to take a break and go out at all?

JW: When I get a break I try to go out and see the city for a while. I love the wharf, so I try to get out there. I have a lot of friends here and connections I made while at clown school here, so I have people and old friends to visit while I am here.

CF: So are you going to tell your friends to check you out on CityFlight.com?

JW: I sure am! Definitely.

CF: Thanks Jamarr and good luck on all your clowning around.

Visit the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus website for more information on Jamarr Woodruff or the Circus.

Frank Clayton, Jr. is a freelance journalist and writer who covers the greater Bay Area. He is dedicated to covering topics that are unique, uplifting and informative to the community in which he serves. For more information contact fclaytonjr@yahoo.com.

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