The costumes in Godspell, a 1973 American musical comedy-drama film, were based on the writing of Dr. Harvey Cox, who described Jesus as the clown in his book “Feast of Fools”. The costumes and underlying theme of the play come from the book’s chapter, Christ as the harlequin. The hippie clothing worn by the cast has caused some controversy, with some people thinking they are “hippies” or “flowers”.
The cast is conceived as clowns, improvising scenery and costumes, using well-known theatrical devices, pantomime vaudeville, and varied musical styles to interpret one of humanity’s greatest events. However, in 1970, Godspell became heavily associated with hippies rather than clowns, despite the importance of clowns and clowning to the play’s inception.
Jesus paints the faces of the cast with clown makeup when they decide to follow him, and they wear it for most of the show, until he removes it during the “last supper” scene. The costumes in Godspell should be seen as a way for the eight people to replace their daily clothes with something hastily put on.
The costumes in Godspell were based on Cox’s work, which described Jesus as the clown in his book “Feast of Fools”. The cast puts on clown make-up and wild colorful costumes after being drawn together by Jesus. This concept was based not only on Cox’s work but also on the joy and freedom that came with the concept of clowns.
One of the most controversial aspects of early “Godspell” productions was the appearance of Jesus and his followers as clowns, which afforded them a level of theatrical freedom and honesty. The costumes in Godspell are different compared to other musicals because the design is very loose, with no hard lines drawn for each character.
📹 The Wacky World of Christian Clowning
Makeup: Trixie Cosmetics: Back to the Fuschia palette, Team Trixie Pallete, Red Scare lipstick, Angel Cat lipgloss, Sweetie cream …
What does the word Godspell mean?
The term “gospel,” derived from the Anglo-Saxon “godspell,” refers to a narrative within the context of biblical literature that is perceived as beneficial. The classical Greek word “euangelion,” on the other hand, signifies a reward for disseminating information of a positive nature.
What was the point of clowns?
A clown is a comic character in pantomime and circus, known for its distinctive makeup, costume, ludicrous antics, and buffoonery. They perform a set routine characterized by broad humour, absurd situations, and vigorous physical action. The earliest ancestors of the clown were bald-headed buffoons who performed as secondary figures in farces and mime, parodying the actions of more serious characters. The clown appeared in the Roman mime, wearing a pointed hat and a motley patchwork robe.
Clowning was a common feature of medieval minstrels and jugglers, but it did not emerge as a professional comic actor until the late Middle Ages. Traveling entertainers sought to imitate the antics of court jesters and amateur fool societies, such as the Enfants san Souci. The Italian commedia dell’arte developed one of the most famous and durable clowns of all time, the Arlecchino, or Harlequin, in the latter half of the 16th century.
Why does Jesus wear a Superman shirt in Godspell?
The author watched Godspell with their family and discovered that Jesus wears a Superman t-shirt throughout the film. Superman’s backstory is similar to Jesus’s, as seen in the 1978 film. The switch between Jesus representing Superman and Jesus wearing a Superman shirt in the musical highlights the accessibility of Superman and the qualities expected of a person like Superman. The possible religious allegory in Superman has led to him being promoted by the religious community as an icon, as Superman stands out for his innate and otherworldly goodness. This allegory highlights the accessibility of Superman and his potential role in the religious community.
Why was Godspell controversial?
Godspell, a successful production that broke down the barriers between rock and roll and Christianity, was regarded with suspicion by mainstream evangelical culture due to its disregard for religious doctrines of resurrection and atonement. The show, similar to Jesus Christ Superstar, began to break down the barriers between rock and roll and Christianity. Stephen Schwartz, the creator of Godspell, has written numerous works on the subject, including “Godspell Jr”, “Godspell” and “Godspell”.
The show’s success can be traced back to its original off-Broadway cast recording in 1995, which was later released on Broadway in 1976-1977. The show also featured modern touches added to the original edition of Theatre Maximus in 1972. The show’s record-breaking run began in 1981, and the show is expected to close on October 7, with a transfer expected.
Godspell has been reviewed by various sources, including The Guardian, Curtain Critic, People of Godspell, and the Curtain Critic. The Broadway Revival cast album was released digitally on December 20, 2012, and the Broadway Revival will end on June 24, 2012. The show’s cast members have also contributed to the production of Godspell, with Stephen Schwartz providing script notes and directors’ notes.
Godspell’s history and production information can be found on various websites, such as MusicalSchwartz. com, Internet Broadway Database, guidetomusicaltheatre. com, Music Theatre International, and La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. The show’s success and its impact on the Christian rock genre can be seen in its popularity and its impact on the Christian faith.
Can a girl play Jesus in Godspell?
Prima Theatre’s upcoming production of “Godspell” is directed by Lapp, who aims to shake things up by casting Tayler Harris as Jesus. Lapp, known for his fresh perspective, said that he had a ten-year-old production in San Diego that flipped the show on its head. Harris, who recently graduated college, said she loves the show and is excited to play Jesus in the production. Lapp believes that Prima Theatre’s current climate and country’s direction make the casting feel right for this production. Harris also expressed her love for the show and the opportunity to play Jesus, calling it a blessing.
Why is Godspell so popular?
The mainstage musical production at Brigham Young University’s Department of Theatre, entitled “Godspell,” is based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew and explores themes of Christian friendship, loyalty, and love. The production presents a selection of well-known parables from the New Testament, offering a positive interpretation of the teachings of Jesus Christ as set forth in the Gospel.
What is the overall message in Godspell?
The musical is a modern-day retelling of the Gospel of Matthew, set in New York City. The characters of Jesus spread his message of love and tolerance as the time approaches Jesus’s betrayal and crucifixion. Oswald, who plays a two-character role, faces the challenge of conveying the biblical character he is representing without announcing it verbally. He chose to do the production due to the challenge of pulling off with a small cast, which is underrated in difficulty. The show is underrated in its level of difficulty.
Is Godspell making fun of Christianity?
The musical Godspell employs a narrative structure that emphasizes communication, family, friendship, and, ultimately, betrayal. These themes are explored without an explicit focus on Christianity. In order to convey the message in an effective manner, it is essential to gain an understanding of the motivations that drive the characters and to communicate these to the audience.
Does Godspell mock Christianity?
The musical Godspell does not espouse any particular religious doctrine; rather, it portrays the dynamics of community, family, friendship, and, ultimately, betrayal.
Why is Godspell called Godspell?
The musical Godspell, originally conceived by John-Michael Tebelak, is a performance piece that draws inspiration from the teachings of the Gospel, a term that, in its archaic form, signifies “good news.”
Why are they clowns in Godspell?
Tebelak underscored the significance of integrating Biblical content with clownish performances to foster a jubilant ambience in The Godspell Experience. He ensured that the Godspell costumes did not mirror the historical milieu of Jesus’s lifetime.
📹 “Parable of the Sower” Godspell scene
Jen! The 2002 clip you found of a clown mass is from my childhood church. I was staring at the clip and couldn’t believe it!! Christ the King Church in Pleasant Hill, CA. The priest talking was named Father Brian and he actually had an amazing sense of humor and killer bingo skills. It was a fun blast from my past to see that, even if religion is in my past.
I was a teenager and we had just lost our home and our father. We had spent too long bouncing around people’s places to stay together – my one brother was a few months too old for “family room” at the shelter and my mom wasn’t going to put him in with the men, so we couldn’t stay there. We had finally found a small place in public housing, and on our first weekend there, a clown gave a show. I still remember the flyer put on our door advertising free snacks and gifts for kids. We were excited because it had been so long since we had had candy, cookies, or cake. So I took my siblings there and she did her clown routine, all the while waiting for the snacks and gifts, would it be oreos? cookies with m&ms? Would we get some of that sweet lemonade and 7up combo that seemed to be at every Midwest event we’ve been to? After her tricks and dancing, she then said she was bringing out the food and gifts now… for our soul! She then proceeded to preach for an hour, and then she just walked out, leaving about 30 kids wondering why they didn’t get snacks. It’s been 30 years and I’m still bitter.
I am a Lutheran and my dad used to set up weddings for our church. In the early 2000’s my dad set up a ceremony for a gay couple. That really had an impact on my view of my own religion. My parents mentioned it but there was nothing negative about two men having a wedding in our church. This was obviously before same sex marriages were legal. I am proud of my church and I am thankful it helped shape me into an accepting Christian.
I’m actually a trained clown! I perform regularly with a burlesque troupe and these days mostly do benefit shows for our local LGBTQ organizations. 🎉 My clowning stems more from commedia dell’arte but I’ve moved away from the way I was trained, since I found it incredibly restrictive. Clowning is pure joy! 🤡💗
I genuinley gasped and am upset that the voice of the moon, Lynne Thigpen passed. I literally sing the goodbye song in my head on a daily basis. She brought so much comfort to me as a kid and even now as an adult. Even my mom remembers all the words to the songs from Bear in the Big Blue house. Also, what an icon truly😭🫶
I don’t know why I started tearing up during the sketch when the “shabby clown,” walked up to the pulpit. It’s been a long time since I’ve attended church after a lengthy deconstruction, and it was nice seeing something seemingly genuine like that. This was a fantastic article and I loved what I learned. Jen, the clown inspired look is so cute on you! It was nice hearing a little bit more about you, your grandpa and your connection to clowning. 💖
I was a theater major in college, and I had the opportunity to do a half semester clowning course with the founder of the LA Women’s Shakespeare Company – it was incredible! These days I’m a burlesque dancer and drag king, and there’s a lot of opportunity to use those clown skills, especially with drag.
Regarding the “you shouldn’t get silly with mass”, I grew up Catholic and during Carnival session (Fasching) our priest would tell jokes during mass instead of doing a sermon, some of which were even a bit raunchy! Us children loved it and our priest was a very nice guy and everybody still respected him a lot.
Noooo way!!! I’ve met Bubbles!! I’m from that part of PA!! I remember she was at a parade I was also in, I was in a dance team and she was entertaining us before the parade got started! Plus!!! I don’t remember her giving any Christian under tones, like she wasn’t pushing Christianity on us. Which I appreciate as an adult atheist because I can remember going to clown shows as a kid that got religious.
There is a delightful inclusive church in Savannah Ga called Asbury memorial and their mascot is a clown. There is a sweet story behind it. When the church was at risk of closing down because they didn’t have enough money to keep it open, one of the church ladies made and sold these little clown dolls and donated the proceeds to the church. They like to say the clown saved Asbury
Hi “clown”/Jester by trade here 😊 I’ll use this opportunity to thank you for the hours and hours of articles you’ve created your work is always enlightening. I studied clowning/circus in the UK and I didn’t even know about clown church 🤯 our clown names are even protected in a register 😊. I did medieval fooling for an official UK Heritage Organisation, we put a lot of research into it. The acts revolved around religious aspects, as religion was a part of everyday life, we also played on the boundaries between the magic that was linked to wise women (deemed witchcraft) and clean christian”magic”, it was secretly feminist without being in your face, but at the same time very in your face obviously. perusal your article makes me wonder if these acts need to be revived 😅
OH MY GOD I was in a lit queer christian clown troop called the Joy Jesters all throughout high school, then went on to study clowning as a graduate acting student. The history of Clowning is long and honestly beautiful, and different cultures have different clowning traditions but generally they serve to hold a mirror up to the society they’re a product of to critique power and inequality and illuminate the naïveté, wonder, and curiosity of humankind. Good for a laugh and sometimes a cry, clowns bring something fun to something profound. Can’t wait to watch the rest of this article!
OMG I’ve been in church my entire life and didn’t know clown ministry was an actual thing. When I was around 4-5 years old, we actually had clowns come in one Sunday. They came into our children’s church area and it made me so uncomfortable (I was a very shy kid). One of the clowns got in my face and kept telling me to smile 😳 so I forced myself to smile so he would get out of my face. And his teeth were yellow! 😖I hated being around them so much. one of my earliest memories of church 😅 creepy to know this was a whole ministry. Edit: When I originally commented, I hadn’t watched the article yet. It’s nice to see this ministry brought happiness and joy to others and not everyone had a scary experience like myself.
I found a great clowning guide earlier this year in the free bin at a used book store entitled “Clowning from the Heart,” by Mama Clown. It’s straight out of the eighties, and I’ll admit that I laughed upon first reading that she prays before each performance, because it was unexpected and very different from how I grew up viewing prayer, but now that detail really touches my heart. I can’t think of anything better for people’s faith to call them to than bringing joy to others.
I’m a professional birthday party clown!!! I think clowns are making a comeback these days honestly! People are having a hard time dealing with the world and we really want to party and feel some joy, and I have felt very welcomed by enthusiastic party people of all ages. People really actually light up when they see me clowning around, and it brings joy.
Studying the bible (secularly) with my kid so they can pick up lit references in senior high I kept asking her – “So does he come back in the end or what?” And she says “I dunno havent got there yet”. Gets to the end, she’s big mad it just…like “ends in mess and hallucinations what the heck?” Ahahaha
You always find such interesting topics. I live in France. I am not Catholic, but I used to go to a Catholic group for university students. There was a priest there who is also a clown and he came to church events dressed as a clown sometimes. I met lots of priests in that group and he was one of my favorites. We are still in touch today after several years. Side note: this priest was born on April Fools Day which I always thought was appropriate for a clown.
Lynne Thigpen is absolutely amazing. Victor Garber opened up those closet doors and came out as gay at 63. Knowing this makes Godspell even better. It’s an advant garde version of the crucifixion. The followers represents the apostles. Jesus Christ Superstar focuses of Judas relationship with Jesus. Both plays have banging soundtracks.
47:40 “God has a sense of humor, laughs and delights” As a Jew I can’t help but relate to this specific point. That’s such a key part in a lot of our philosophies, to have joy and laughter be integral to our (Jew’s) relationship to god. It’s fascinating to see it here in Christianity, especially compared to modern day American Christianity.
Something about this was very healing for me! I was raised Catholic and went to private Catholic school k-12, and it did a number on my mental health. The clown nuns had tears rolling down my face. My grandma was a Vatican I nun, balls-to-the-wall old school and it gives me so much peace knowing that this who sect of nuns exists that have these progressive beliefs and such love and empathy towards others
Thank you for putting the ear worm that is “Day by Day” back in my head! Godspell is one of my favorite musicals from childhood. My formerly Catholic family became, shall we say, “disconnected” from the church. But my “hippie” aunt showed me Godspell on VHS, she played a nun in a production of Sound of Music and I saw a less naked version of Hair as a kid. I am grateful for the open mindness I was brought up with. Going to go find a download-able version of this song now…❤
I actually grew up next to the church and absolutely LOVED the yearly gathering of clowns. I remember some of the clowns hanging around the estates after the service (which must have terrified some people!) and one clown in particular climbing up and hanging off of lampposts. Never expected one of my fave youtubers to cover this! X
This made me think of “Holy Humor Sunday” which was something we did it my church. Apparently it comes from the early church and is about Jesus “playing a joke on death” and is celebrate the Sunday after Easter. No clowns, but people would tell jokes and do sillier songs. It’s one of my favorite traditions because it’s just so fun!
I knew a woman who was a Christian clown and it was really the most sweet endearing thing. She would dress up for all holiday events and children’s events at the church. She was so kind and loving to kids. She was the best part of my southern Baptist childhood ❤️ and after you mentioned it, clowns in church makes you feel like you can be accepted no matter what which unfortunately is not typical within the church.
Thank you for doing this one my grandpa was a clown and it was so much nostalgia for me perusal the make up get put on. He worked in children’s hospitals for The masons. He’d even drive families across the country to get to the best care for their child. In the 1960’s-1980’s. He was pretty known in parades in Madison wi riding a small motorcycle. He was a sad prop clown so he had mustard and ketchup bottles where the string would come out when you squeezed it. I loved playing with his props. It was so lovely to hear the men talk about it the way he did. Just a great way to start my day.
my parents surprised my older sister at her high school graduation party with clowns. None of us knew they were coming, and one of our friends is extremely scared of clowns and she started crying when she saw them. afterwards my parents tried to be like “wasnt that fun??” and we were like “no absolutely not.” what teenager who is celebrating being done with high school and becoming a real adult wants clowns at their party? needless to say i was scared during my grad party a couple years later that they were going to show up again, but thankfully they did not
I’m actually not sure if I can watch this one! My childhood fear of clowns actually stems from an incident with a Christian clown- I got yelled at by one when I was 4 or 5, and it honestly traumatized me. They had this book where the pages “magically” went blank. And I was fascinated. After their performance, they were mingling with us, and I walked up to their stuff, looking for the book. I found it, and started flipping through it, and this clown woman SCREAMED at me to not touch it. Of course, killer klowns from outer space and IT cemented my phobia. When I was a teen, my mom did some clown ministry, and wanted me to join her. I could not, lol I’m over it now, but man… idk… this might give me nightmares. But I ADORE that you’re covering it.
You have no idea how happy it makes me how much you enjoyed Godspell! I grew up with it & LOTS of other musicals & funny enough I remember ‘progressive’ churches having a reputation for performing those songs at service (I was catholic, no fun allowed). But as for Jesus’ death at the end? I… Kinda always thought it was the cops that killed him? The car lights that pull up, the way he jerks against the fence & this idea of the Judas/John the Baptist guy being sort of an informant? There’s a lot about Godspell that’s sorta fudged or moved around, so… What would be a modern authority that carries out a murder on the street? Oops.
Been a fan for a few years, I love this website so, so much. I grew up in a very conservative environment, like church twice a week, church summer camp, AWANA etc. and safe to say I dealt with a lot of spiritual trauma. I went through an angry, negative atheist era until I found God (long story short, LSD was involved) and sought my own spiritual path. I greatly understand the value in a spiritual practice, and although I don’t care for the rigidity of organized religion I still believe it can be used for good. Thank you for highlighting the good that Christians do, being so respectful, creating such a unique, wholesome and safe community for non-religious and religious alike. You and James embody what it means to be Christ-like and I love it. This is such a touching episode in particular, can’t say I’m a fan of clowns lol but it is SO important to keep a sense of childlike wonder alive. I’ve taken that so much to heart over the years and try to live my life through a child’s viewpoint as much as I can. It’s so liberating!!
I’ve never felt more seen in my life. My aunt was a Christian clown in her early 20s and I was her side kick. She’d do my makeup and I had the whole outfit and everything. We’d go to parties and even a wedding together. I was around 5, it’s one of those memories you forget about. So parties weren’t allowed to have alcohol or “worldly” music, or dancing (including weddings) so the entertainment had to come from somewhere, thus, my aunt.
OMG! I remember seeing Bibbledy Bob’s creepy looking white van with a huge picture of his face on it parked in a street on a night out in 2008! I know that’s the year because I just checked my Facebook posts. I was so creeped out that I shared a photo of it 😂 At the time, his website played scary circus music and the banner on his homepage said “tickle my buttons to find out more!” He does seem like a lovely person from this clip though, and I’m glad he’s still working as a clown. I’m also glad that he seems to have updated his website and removed the “tickle my buttons” part. Also, in the early 2000s, the BBC’s flagship Christian entertainment show ‘Songs Of Praise’ filmed an episode from the clown church, and it was hosted by gay icon Su Pollard. There’s a clip on YouTube of Su singing Day by Day from Godspell to a congregation full of clowns and it’s the most delightfully camp thing ever. I wish I could find the full episode!
Recently my grandfather in law passed away, the funeral services were the day before yesterday and he was a travelling clown that met his wife while she was a nun in a convent. Its so good to hear about the link between the two and really warms the heart to learn about it all. Thank you Jen and James
Oh I love this episode! I went to legitimate Clown College in High School over the summer to be certified to do events. I worked alongside a local rodeo and with the Shriner’s to help during circuses and yes, I was allowed into the arena during rodeos, just in the back half very close to the safety barrel. I got into it to conquer my extreme phobia! I mean EXTREME! My Grandfather was a Shriner and helped me by allowing me to watch the clowns get ready and that was my introduction into the world.
Thank you so much for talking about Godspell! That was mine and my mom’s favorite play. She passed away before she could see me on stage when I was 16, but my siblings, my Dad, my stepmom, and one of my mom’s best friends came to see me. I’m pretty sure Jesus is supposed to be dying on an electric fence in Godspell but tbh I haven’t thought about the play in years. Brought back some great memories, thank you so much 🩵❤️🫂
Second episode that reminds me of my grandma. First one was the Precious Moments episode. Uncle Dick and Aunt Violet used to come visit my grandma once in a while and Dick was a clown. I barely remember them I have to ask my dad about it. We are a catholic family I must ask if Dick was a Catholic clown, I would not be surprised .I know that he used to visit children in the hospital. I was afraid of clowns as a baby, and I still want to see this, I’m not scared anymore, lol.
I didn’t realize this was a whole evangelicalism thing!! My mom was a clown for a stint and I never even thought that it was for ministry but looking back it def was! I just remember she still has a giant toolbox of grease paint and these Bright pink high tops in her closet to remember her clowning days!
My uncle killed himself when I was 10, and I was visiting his grave site when a man was mourning at the grave next to us. My dad and him struck up a conversation, and the guy gave my dad his card, showing that he was Chippy the Clown. I’ll never forget the sad clown man at the graveyard mourning is father–it taught me that even people as silly as clowns have sad stories, too.
I’m clown adjacent. I worked for 10 years for a balloon wholesaler here in Texas. (I was their graphic artist doing seasonal catalogs) I was also in charge of creating ads for 2 national clown magazines. Yes, I know I’m fancy 😊 One had clown obituaries, (RIP, Pootsnocker) In my experience, lots of these clowns prefer to go by their clown name. Most were pretty cool, but there’s nothing like getting screamed at by a bitchy clown in full make-up who’s late for a gig. 🙄 One of the clowns in the Tyler TX clown lady segments was/is a regular customer, and an absolute sweetheart. Hope you are well, Kornpop 💜💜
JEN! oh my GOD! I was in a production of Godspell, and we used the theatre at my local library. The whole city was going through some water test thingy one day, and so they called every phone in the area to let them know the water was gunna be off for an hour. Well they called my library’s theatre’s phone AS WE ARE CRUCIFYING JESUS. it was a MESS. like, the whole cast is on stage pretty much the whole time, and there aren’t big set pieces to move, so we don’t got a stage crew! we are all on stage sobbing as my high school boyfriend jesus is being crucified by nebulous sources and this phone just keeps going RIIIIIIIING……RIIIIIIIIIIIIING…..and finally a cast member just walks of stage, picks it up, hangs up, and comes back like nothing happened XD fucking a man
Rarely comment anything. But I throughly enjoyed this article. I almost skipped this one as I head into the final few hours of my 16hr shift at work. But your make up reminded me so much of Loonette from “The Big Comfy Couch.” I used to love that show as a small child and seeing your face in the article really brought back some happy memories. Great job. I look forward to more article essays 😘❤❤❤❤
I participated in Christian clowning in the early 80’s at Villanova University, including Mass, pastoral visits, workshops, retreats and general fun with a community of students, campus ministers, and friends. There was even a weekend 1 credit theology elective on clowning. Clowning was a highlight of my time at Villanova.
Here in western germany, clowns and jesters are deeply catholic through the institution of Karneval. It’s celebrated before Lent starts, with big parades giving out candy to children, and events where different kinds of performers perform on stage, often satirical and critical of those in power. Christianity is both a huge theme in the performances themselves, and is the lens through which society is examined. Even circus clowns are often deeply religious, and puppet plays of religious stories are quite popular in travling circuses.
My dad thought I was afraid of clowns because when we’d go out to dinner at this one local pizza place, they used to have a clown who would come and make balloon animals for kids. I would beg my dad not to call him or her over because I was dreadfully embarrassed of the attention it brought to the table. I finally had to tell him, and mind you I was an adult at this point, my fear was never clowns, it was actually being perceived that I was truly mortified of lmao
Unlocked memory of WHY clowns sometimes scare me, it wasn’t Stephen King’s fault, it was The Parable that did it! I remember perusal this one of the few times I went to my grandmother’s Lutheran Church. That movie had me in tears, and was one of several times I was removed from the Sunday school classroom. Oddly I LOVE Godspell, including that Clown Jesus. Think it was more the evil puppetmaster/god that truly terrified me, and added more questions that no one would answer, as well as a distrust of the Lutheran God that I was being told I needed to trust. Um…the evil puppetmaster?
godspell was actually a jumping ground for a ton of people! judd appatow is literally producing a documentary on the original toronto production because of who got their start in that cast—victor garber, Eugene levy, martin short, andrea martin, gilda radner, etc.). More recently, right before Orange Is the New Black came out, Uzo Aduba was in the broadway revival…not to mention the show’s composer, stephen schwartz is the man behind wicked and Pippin (another clown-adjacent musical) and pocahontus!!
For some reason, the clowns I ran into as a young child thought screaming was humorous, and one clown grilling food for a charity fair got down into my face and yelled, “WHY ARE YOU SITTING AT MY TABLE?!” when my mother and I sat to eat behind him. My mother clarified that he was joking when she saw me crying, but it scared the absolute shit out of four-year-old me. Similar instances were frequent enough that I can’t appreciate their humor today. I won’t stop others from enjoying clowns, however.
Clowning has always had something to do with subversion, upending of social order/expectations. Drag is essentially clowning that includes subversion around gender.There’s a pretty interesting intersection here with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a charity group of drag nuns based out of San Francisco with chapters all over the US. Some of them are actually Catholic, but mostly they’re a secular charity group.
I literally exclaimed aloud learning that Lynne Thigpen was in my favorite movie from my deconstruction era was also the best Carmen San Diego cast member AND my favorite character on Bear in the Big Blue House. The last was a little past my time but I watched it with my niece and now my son and I love the outgoing song so much because of her voice specifically.
23:45 not to be a total Titanic nerd because literally nobody cares but….he played Thomas Andrews who was not the Captain of the Titanic, he was the designer/architect of the ship and he wasn’t a bad guy, he knew the ship would sink and tried to save lives in his last moments…. Otherwise absolutely LOVE this article!!
I never thought about it, but clowing is an act of profound humility. Clowns act vulnerable to make people laugh by letting go of their pride and seriousness to make people laugh. This is a pretty christian ideal. You can also think that god becoming jesus is kind of like that too, also an act of humiliy, like a god letting go of his omnipotence to become a person and better reach people is like a person letting go of their pride to become a clown and connect with people . And thats kind of beautiful i think.
Great article, thanks for making it. With your talk around how ‘clown mass’ is used a slang, it feels to me like a continuation of a trend I have scene in your articles of treating fringe online tradcaths and evangelicals, as though theyre a majority? Sourcing critically online takes instead of churchgoer takes? Is important to remember these voices are a minority of a minority, and their discourse and extreme takes and even their discourses aren’t even known to normal catholics let alone agreed? Also I know a church that does clowns/costumes/silly stuff for mardi-gras/pancake day and acouple other children focused festivals but never to the extent US churchs did Also all that stuff is only for kids/sunday school not adults
i have said it before and i will say it again— i love and so deeply appreciate how respectful you are about Christianity, whilst still critiquing it and calling out the darker parts of our past and present. not a lot of other youtubers (atheist or otherwise) can say the same. you are so lovely, thank you for what you do. 🫶🏻
Parable’s depiction takes the ideology and reflects it in a way that strips the sanctity from it. If Christians believe their god to be the originator, omnipotent, and omniscient, what is he if not a puppet master? The passion of Christ is disturbing, yet it’s revered to the point where believers don’t identify the purpose of every re-enacted passion scene: gory cruelty erotica meant to fortify a persecution complex. It’s held as the ultimate example that all Christians should strive for; everyone with the love of Christ in their heart should be a martyr in his name. Yet, when I was a Christian, I never learned that most, if not all, passion depictions are hybridizations cherry-picked from the synoptic gospels for the most pitiful and gruesome parts that, ironically, make Jesus the most human where he doesn’t know why he’s being tortured, how long it’ll last, or what will come after. Man, it’s almost like the gospel of Mark, the earliest New Testament gospel, didn’t recount a Jesus that is God himself nor wrote of a trinity! /s “‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good—except God alone.'” Mark 10:17-18.
Omg Godspell is one of my top favorite musicals!! I am so excited that it was included in this episode! All the songs are BOPS! Also, I am pretty sure that many of the original cast members from the stage musical were cast in the musical movie (Robin Lamont being one of them), so that is actually them singing. It’s not dubbed. Victor Garber did all his own singing as well! There was a revival of this musical done in 2011 as well, so you can hear an updated version of the songs on that cast album as well. Jen- PLEASE do a whole episode about Broadway musicals with Christian stories as their plot line (Godspell, Children of Eden, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) ❤
I’m late here, but I went to church w a family of clowns for several years. Technically the mom was the professional clown and the kids were just trained in it, as far as I know only one went on to work with a circus. The mom’s still a professional clown and is on the board of directors for COAI. I had no idea there was a whole christian clown subculture like this.
I’m a clown! I think? I cosplay Kefka Palazzo, which… It’s cosplay first and clowning second, but the clowning part i think is why I’ve enjoyed this cosplay so much. I’ve gone on stage wearing him a couple times (if any of y’all saw the cosplay shows at FFXIV Fanfest Las Vegas 2023 or MAGfest 2024: hi!) and he’s just… such a blast. I think the experience has given me an appreciation for clowning as a trade. Part of me is VERY tempted to start doing birthday parties…
JEN, my childhood was BUILT on Godspell. Being raised Catholic my mom showed the movie to us very young and I have been rocking out to the music ever since. It’s also the holy grail of musicals for many Christian high schools so I got to perform in a production of it. I don’t consider myself a Christian in any way, but I will still live and die defending this musical. ALSO the fact that Victor Garber is gay and is portraying hippy Jesus has me dead—the Godspell Bible is one I could honestly get behind. So stoked you covered this and also agree the music is a total bop 😭
My father was never a clown, but apparently he wanted to be. Back when he and my mom were just engaged he found out clown college was a real thing you could attend, and not just a joke, and he was apparently very interested in going. My mom said it was her or clown college, and he chose her. My father doesn’t like children, not even particularly his own, so I was never sure what exactly he planned to do with his clowning degree if he got it, but he also apparently identifies as a quite religious person, so maybe it was this
Godspell is my favorite musical from after 1960. ‘I put a pebble in my shoe, now watch me walk, I can walk and wa-alk. The whole movie album is good. The Christ on the chain link fence, has to do with poverty, the urban scenario, the violence and ugly that goes with cities. The imagery from that time was like that in various things, probably right down from West Side Story. And, sadly, the denouncement of the clowning was probably aimed at squashing the nuns. Your pig tails are really cute, btw!✌️♥️
Jen and James, thank you for all you do. I discovered your website after Shiny Happy People and perusal Jordan and Mckay’s lives. I lost my mom last week and binging your articles have given me the best distraction and for some reason is the only thing I want to watch. I love you all’s vibe and love you give to your fans. Thank you Xoxox
Seeing this article suddenly unlocked a memory in me… the only time I’ve ever seen a clown in real life was when I went to a christian daycare… They were always having clowns up in there along with the jesus stuff. At the time I thought it was just a kid friendly thing but thinking back, I’ve never seen clowns in real life anywhere else.
Professions and guilds have been building public infrastructure for centuries. I remember a tour of Gent in Belgium where the guide pointed out which guilds had funded which bridge, and one of their main Churches (St Michaels) was funded largely by the cities brewers guild. Clowns involvement with churches and services are no sacrilege than a stonemasons guild being involved
as a child i wasn’t personally afraid of clowns, i actually have a soft spot for them! my dad’s cousin had a TON of vintage clown memorabilia around her house; posters, paintings, puppets & marionettes, dangling mobiles, knitted toilet seat covers, and other obscure tchotchkes. it was only ever unnerving that one night i slept over her place on the couch (so many tiny eyes… (•__ •);; also, this was such a fun article! its so fascinating learning about these little niches. like a subculture of a subculture!
Of course I’m A Clown At Birth……JUG-GA-LO FAM-UH-LEE! There’s a small metric ton of us in this weird niche community of American NDNs who were raised in the overlap Venn diagram of fundie-gelical mixed with N8v tradish…..we almost always end up Juggalo in some way or another (or maybe this only happens to us tribes in the Bible belt?)…..either way, let’s hold one up for ABK.
Okay, clowns tend to scare me, but Bibbeldy Bob? I’m kind of stanning, not gonna lie. I mean, just look at that cute little face! He’s a good clown, I can tell, not the kind that traumatizes children or violates their personal space when they’re just walking around the fair or wherever clowns live. A clown’s natural habitat is carnivals and fairs, right?
Yes, Kevin Max is, as they say, a real one. Back when Twitter was not quite the cesspit it is now, he was constantly criticising the more conservative Christians on there, which, as you might imagine got him a lot of flack, but he seemed to wear it as a badge of honour. He does not seem to engage in that as much these days (is his Twitter still active?), but he, along with Dan Haseltine (lead singer of Jars of Clay) were some of the only two lefty Christians on Twitter who bothered to try and combat the right wing fundamentalism that has been too long a part of American Christianity. Dan, for his part stopped engaging (wise choice, though we do lament the loss of another liberal Christian voice due to the relentless harassment from the conservative ones) while Kevin, as you mention, deconstructed. While we are on the topic, Twitter (and American Christianity writ large) are positively infected with loud, abrasive, and judgmental types, so much so that Phil Vischer, the man who created VeggieTales, is regularly told he is going to go to hell and that VeggieTales will no longer be shown in this or that person’s household because he dares to hold a more moderate position (he still calls himself conservative, but he does have some left-leaning beliefs that he seems not to want to admit are left-leaning, presumably due to the stigma that came with having been a conservative Christian for so long) and calls into question the support many Evangelicals have today for Christian nationalism and for Trump.
My Grandma was a Christian clown in the last 15 years of her life, visiting hospital patients. Her profession prior to that was a patient advocate. Her clown persona was ‘Jimmy, fisher of men’. She wore a hobo type costume with a fishing rod and bucket. She went some classes on being a clown and developing your clown ‘identity’ / name. If you knew her this would make sense. She had an large personality with an infectious laugh and smile and a comforting voice.
Not my cup of tea but I love seeing people happy and having fun. I wouldn’t personally go to a clown mass but that has more to do with my black cat disposition than any fear of sacrilege lol although it would be interesting to see a Catholic mass (I’m a folk Catholic) run by clowns. These folks are, from what we can see, uplifting their communities and finding joy for themselves at the same time and I think that’s neat. It’s a unique way to share their faith without being dicks and I bet that everyone getting clown visits during their dark moments are appreciative.
Honestly I think the idea of clown masses is very sweet. I have more of an issue with evangelical megachurches ruining the sanctity of mass with concepts of greed and grandeur than I do with clown masses which seem to just bring the joy of life into the church? I’m a cradle Catholic raised very very progressively so idk if that really helps. I left the church because I realized like no other catholics thought the way I did about the church which was like.. Jesus was commie adjacent (compliment) so take my opinion with a grain of salt lol
Hey Jen, love your article as always and I really enjoyed learning more about Christian Clowns. Had no idea they were a thing before this! Maybe something worth noting though is a possible trigger warning for the hanging crucifixion scene in the parable movie? I know that both hanging and crucifixion imagery being acted out can be really triggering for different reasons for people and, as you noted, it was kinda disturbing. Just wanted to give a heads up since I know it’s not your intention to trigger anyone and thought you’d like to know.
My sister and I are slowly learning “clown traits” between the two of us. We both have kids now and it makes family gatherings that much more fun! She learned to face paint, I learned to create balloon animals and accessories! Really want to go to the clown College in Orlando on of these Novembers!! Loved this episode BTW!
I will speak as a Christian and say that I think that Christianity as a whole focuses TO MUCH on Christ’s death and martyrdom. Yeah, that is an important aspect of the story, but it is only PART of the story, and His teachings are, IMHO, more important. /rant. Joy and laughter are necessary in life and being overly concerned with what is “proper” is kinda antithetical to Christ’s rule-and-taboo-breaking vibe. Is Christian Clowning and Puppetry kinda weird? yeah of course, but so are so many other aspects of the religion. Who cares? Let them vibe as long as they aren’t hurting anyone. BIG caveat there, of course. This is aimed at other Christians, not those who may have been hurt by the Church. You are valid and important.
At the parish my cousin got married in, the priest would moonlight as a clown. They didn’t do a clown mass for the wedding (this was a serious catholic wedding) but afterwards, the priest ran around with the kids, did tricks, and made balloons. He even told us the story of a saint he honored (St John Bosco) who spread the gospel to kids through his acrobatics. I am no longer catholic but Father Tran is one of the few priests I still respect.
54:50 the interruption was used in children’s ministry a lot as a kid. that bit was so nostalgic for me and illustrated a point i still hold on to as a deconstructed christian. i actually really liked that bit and i loved the little kid yelling in the background. it’s always so fun when the little kids interact with the bit and even reveal info to the mean speaker
Whoa!!! All four of my aunts, my mom, AND my grandma were religious clowns in the 70’s-90’s!!!! No one EVER believes me when I tell them, thank you for proving that these existed outside my own family photos!!!!!! I’d like to disclaim i havent seen the vid yet! They just traveled Texas and acted out skits about the bible to youth groups, as far as they told me and my siblings. If the community as a whole is awful, please know my aunts/mom/grandma are wonderful!! They’re just theater kids who went the religious route, I promise!
I was in Godspell as a teen!!! I went to a Christian school and it was probably the most fun I ever had in theater. We had to cut a bunch of stuff because the principal considered some things “offensive” though 🙄 EDIT: actually I’m coming back here to say that there should be an all-queer production of Godspell. somebody go do that
We had the clowns come to the assembly of God church in the early 90’s… I also went and seen a clown in a small camper trailer at the TN fair right around the same time period…I remember sitting on a bench (there was 3 rolls) and we watched a lil Christian movie. Anyone else see the Christian clown at the fair?
WOW So many fellow clowns! I grew up in a liberal church that was one of the first in our state to vote to approve O&A (open & affirming). We clowned to kids groups or other Sunday schools and mostly talked about helping others and being kind. Our minister would even bring out Drama Dary the dromedary (turns out he was a puppeteer in his free time).
Another fun fact about Godspell. Victor Garber was in the Canadian production along with Eugene Levy, Martin Short, and Gilda Radner. That would have been one to see. Victor Garber with three comedy legends. One we lost way too soon and thanks to her husband Gene Wilder kept her legacy alive by advocating for women’s health. There’s a article of Gilda on Letterman explaining her Godspell experience. You could make a whole article on Christian based musicals.
Oh my! That was an odd nostalgia trip. I recognized the day by day song not from the movie or the play or the radio – but from an elementary school choir show i sang in. It was basically a medly of 60s and 70s music sang by us kids in the early 90s to our boomer parents. Day by day was in it as one of the songs along songs like “leader of the pack”. I can’t remember what else was in it but yeah…. crazy memory. Thanks!
I was just thinking about The Chief the other day! Loved her! When i went to the circus as a very young child, i was okay with the clowns. But as I got older and met clowns up close, I became uncomfortable and scared. A friend in my early adult years was a Christian clown, and I was okay with that…but maybe because I knew the person and it was a female instead of male. I honestly didn’t know about this ministry until adulthood even though I grew up the church. Thanks for the article! I enjoyed it very much.
Dunno if anyone else mentioned this but Stephen Schwartz, who did the music for Godspell, also did the music for Wicked and Prince of Egypt. Dude’s written a lot of bangers. I was in Godspell in high school, its honestly just a great musical. Edit: I also went to clown camp when I was in 7th grade. I remember Floyd’s articles. I couldn’t click this article fast enough.
My Great Uncle Ronnie was a clown. He made the best balloon animals would dress up as a clown and as Santa during Christmas. He’d always visit the kids and give them balloon sculptures unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Dogs, hats, Monkeys on trees, teddy bears, etc. He was the coolest Uncle out there. RIP Uncle Ronnie.
I would also like to note, about the nuns, our local district (the Dominican Sisters in Adrian, MI) advocate for reduce/reuse/recycle save the planet stuff, also pro-same sex relationships (not sure if they are pro-TIA+, but I would assume they are pro-A at least), pro-literacy, pro-poor, and other stuff I’m not thinking of right now.