Church of Clown

Church of Clown A San Francisco home for the hilarious, the absurd, the clowns, the mimes, the physical theatre. Join us for classes, performances, & (fun) events.

Physics of Play (1 day)Sunday, September 27 | 11:00 AM  2:00 PMThis 3 hour masterclass explores the physics of play—the ...
09/11/2026

Physics of Play (1 day)
Sunday, September 27 | 11:00 AM  2:00 PM
This 3 hour masterclass explores the physics of play—the nuts and bolts of physical presence, attention, and playfulness - and how to use it to create aliveness in a room. Rooted in the principles of clown and physical comedy, you'll learn the foundational mechanics of comedy: physical authenticity, beginning comedic timing, structures for stage-play, and how the clown's relational awareness—connecting to scene partner, audience, space, and self—generates authentic comedy and compelling performance.

SLÜRT | Performed by Emily MaverickOctober 10 @ 8:00 | October 11 @ 6:30
Slürt isla manashkiî kleinanta estlika ma prrr...
09/11/2026

SLÜRT | Performed by Emily Maverick
October 10 @ 8:00 | October 11 @ 6:30

Slürt isla manashkiî kleinanta estlika ma prrrritla. Slürt dreams in a language only she can speak. Born completely alone in Antarctica, she feels the pull for human connection and begins a very long journey across the icy pond. Join her dreamlike adventure into the beauty and absurdity of the human heart.  

Nominated for Top Clown/Alt Comedy Show at Hollywood Fringe, Slürt is a surrealist comedy. Maverick explores the bounds of universal language and human connection in this cinematic clown live-action documentary psychodrama. THIS PLAY IS WRITTEN IN GIBBERISH.


“It wasn’t just entertainment, it was art. It was magic.”

“A very bold move creatively, to do a whole show in gibberish, but we couldn’t be in more deft hands.”

“Deeply, profoundly whimsical and singular.” 

“Wonderfully crafted storytelling.” 

“Slürt will change your life. My mouth was agape for the entire run of this hilarious, wacky, and surprisingly earnest show.”

09/10/2026

Back by popular demand the The Submarine Show kicks off our first weekend at flop fest!
Oct 3 | 6:30 PM
Oct 4 | 8:00 PM
Two explorers crash their submarine at the bottom of the ocean and embark on an epic, madcap journey from the ocean floor to the sky and back — conjuring a vivid world of flora and fauna from absolutely nothing. Nonstop, breathless, and gloriously absurd, this is physical comedy at its most fearless: not a word is spoken, and no two shows are ever the same. Award-winning and world-touring since 2009, The Submarine Show has claimed "Best of Fringe" at San Francisco, NYC, and Kansas City Fringe Festivals and a "Hot Pick" from the Edinburgh Scotsman

Mechanics of ActingSundays Oct 4 - Nov 8 /  11 - 1 / Mechanics of Acting with Jamin JolloWelcome to the Actor’s Playgrou...
09/10/2026

Mechanics of Acting
Sundays Oct 4 - Nov 8 /  11 - 1 / Mechanics of Acting with Jamin Jollo

Welcome to the Actor’s Playground! A 6-week course, Mechanics of Acting is a new Church of Clown offering for actors and clowns to use time-tested acting techniques to bridge the gap between voice and movement when developing scenes. Students will learn Stanislavski, Ball, and Meisner strategies for dissecting monologues and scenes from contemporary screenplays and scripts. Mechanics of Acting will dive into the power of commanding and giving focus with scene partners to bring dramatic, compelling stories to life. Part classroom discussion and part hands-on training, this course will work the mental and physical muscles required to expose some of the most important moments of humanity’s journey- those immortalized on paper. Bring a pencil and perhaps a notebook.

Did you know you can take clown classes in San Francisco? Find them in the link in bio.Clown classes can help you:
✨ Be ...
09/09/2026

Did you know you can take clown classes in San Francisco? Find them in the link in bio.

Clown classes can help you:
✨ Be more playful and creative
✨ Get better at public speaking
✨ Build confidence
✨ Communicate better
✨ Meet new people outside of work

Classes are running Mondays-Thursdays every week starting mid September through December at Church of Clown in San Francisco, CA.

Fall classes
Sept 14-Nov 20/21

10 week classes
7-9pm
Mon - Clown 1 with Dan Griffiths
Tues - Clown 2 with Dan Griffiths
Wed - Clown 3 with Dan Griffiths
Thurs - Mime 1 with Jamin Jollo 

4 week classes
Saturdays
 Sept 19 - Oct 10 from 11 - 2
Improvisation for Clowns with Jonathan MacDonald

Saturdays
Oct 17 - 31 from 11 - 2
Physics of Play, Clowning with Summer Shapiro

6 week class
Sundays
Oct 4 - Nov 8 from 11 - 2
Mechanics of Acting with Jamin Jollo

October 3 | Show 6:30PMOctober 4 | Show 8:00PMDeep beneath the ocean's surface, two intrepid explorers have just crashed...
09/08/2026

October 3 | Show 6:30PM
October 4 | Show 8:00PM

Deep beneath the ocean's surface, two intrepid explorers have just crashed their submarine — and that's only the beginning. What follows is an epic, madcap journey from the ocean floor all the way to the sky and back again, as our heroes navigate the impossible with nothing but their bodies, their wits, and their boundless imagination. Watch in wonder as a vivid world teeming with flora and fauna erupts before your very eyes — conjured from thin air, built from absolutely nothing.
This is physical comedy at its most fearless. Nonstop, breathless, and gloriously absurd, The Submarine Show will have you doubled over in laughter one moment and leaning forward in genuine suspense the next. Jaron and Slater's signature brand of storytelling is pure kinetic adventure — not a single word is spoken, every moment is discovered live in the room, and no two shows are ever the same.
Since its debut in 2009, this award-winning comedy has toured the world to rave reviews and standing ovations, captivating audiences across continents. The Submarine Show has claimed "Best of Fringe" at the San Francisco International Fringe Festival, Fringe NYC, and the Kansas City Fringe Festival, and was named a "Hot Pick" by the Edinburgh Scotsman. Seventeen years and counting — and it's still making waves.

Clowning teaches many great skills. Improv teaches many great skills. Both have a lot of overlap. This 4-week course ...
09/04/2026

Clowning teaches many great skills. Improv teaches many great skills. Both have a lot of overlap. This 4-week course takes a deep dive into the skills taught by improvisation that aren’t typically covered in clown courses.

Students will start with learning basic mechanics behind creating a scene from next to nothing and then building into status play, grounded characters, and heightening. By the end of the class, students will have the tools to walk on stage with anyone and create something compelling.

🗓️ Saturdays
⌚️Sept 19 - Oct 10
⏰ 11-2
💰$450

Core Concepts: listening * commitment * inspiration * collaboration * tools * honesty * specificity

A note from the instructor: You might be like “I already clown, why could I learn from a lesser form of comedy?” And you’re right to think that. But the answer is “hopefully something.” We’ll see.

Instructor Jonathan MacDonald took his first improv drop-in in 2014 in Santa Barbara. He has expanded his interests to also include clowning, mime, and sketch writing. Jonathan is always looking for new takes and perspectives and has taken classes and workshops from people all over the country. Since moving to the Bay Area, some would use the words “unhealthy” or “unsustainable” to describe the amount of time he spends each week on improv and clown. You can see Jonathan perform at All Out Comedy, Church of Clown, Endgames, or pop-up variety shows throughout the Bay Area.

Find your perfect class and register at www.churchofclown.org

09/02/2026

We waited a whole year so we could do again!! some of these shows will sell out, so make sure you get your tickets as soon as they're listed.

WEEK ONE
[Sat Oct 3]
6:30 – Submarine Show followed by Bar Blessing with Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
8:00 – Clown Cabaret
[Sun Oct 4]
6:30 – Les Cabotins
8:00 – Submarine Show

WEEK TWO
[Fri Oct 9]
6:30 – GRA
8:00 – Señor Babyhead
[Sat Oct 10]
6:30 – Señor Babyhead
8:00 – SLÜRT
9:30 – Clown Cabaret
[Sun Oct 11]
5:00 – GRA
6:30 – SLÜRT
8:00 – Les Cabotins

WEEK THREE
[Fri Oct 16]
6:30 – Les Pervers
8:00 – Take Me to Your Leader
[Sat Oct 17]
6:30 – Falsettos & Sunsets
8:00 – Les Pervers
9:30 – Clown Cabaret
[Sun Oct 18]
5:00 – Falsettos & Sunsets
6:30 – Take Me to Your Leader
8:00 – Closing Awards

08/30/2026

Did you know you can take clown classes in San Francisco? 🤡
Clown classes can help you:
✨ Be more playful and creative
✨ Get better at public speaking
✨ Build confidence
✨ Communicate better
✨ Meet new people outside of work
Basically: make friends, learn some skills, and get a little weirder. Your new clown friends are waiting for you. 🤡

Classes are running Mondays-Thursdays every week starting mid September through December at Church of Clown in San Francisco, CA.

Address

2400 Bayshore Boulevard
San Francisco, CA
94134

Telephone

+14159906336

Website

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