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.

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.

08/30/2026

Clown Burlesque Extravaganza Cabaret 
Hosted by Jamin and Peggy
9/12 | 8pm 
Don your glitter, eyeliner, and facepaint for an evening to remember- clowns teasing your deepest primal desires with belly-aching laughs and magnetic sensuality. Bon-appetit!
Shimmy, bump, and step those heels into Jamin and Peggy’s world of clowns stripping away their noses, collars, oversized shoes, and so much more.  Like you’ve never seen before- a showcase of masterful minds and beautiful bodies celebrating the eccentric and the sensual, all wrapped up in a bite-sized evening of dance, games, buffoonery, and playful musicality. 
tickets on sale now.

08/25/2026

“Find your freedom on stage”with Karen Houge
Two Day Workshop 9/12-9/13
Saturday 9/12/26 11 - 4pm
Sunday 9/13/26 1:30 - 5:30

In this clown workshop, we will work with how to build connection and play with the audience. Each person is uniquely funny. By clown we do not mean the traditional attributes such as big shoes and a red nose, but a deeper understanding and expression of comedy that touches and engages.

"I have never experienced creating a performance about social issues in such a fun and unique way. Karen has opened my mind to what theatre can be and how the audience can be truly engaged.” – Hassan Alam

“Karen changed the way I look at theatre, but also life! Finding strength and connection through playfulness and sensitivity, is so special! Karen has a unique way to push people to explore new sides of themselves, and creating a safe space to do mistakes and be bad. It is the best workshop I have ever been to.” - Sharon Zabdiel, Pakistan

About Karen Houge
Karen Houge has 15 years' experience in the comedy, theatre and film industry. She works both in Europe, Australia and Asia as an actor, screenwriter and director. All her projects are connected to global challenges, and reflect the society we live in now. She also runs workshops, often across cultures.

Specialized in: Devised theatre, clowning, improvisation and satire

In addition to graduating from the theatre school Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris, she has a bachelor degree in film direction from WesterdalsUniversity.

08/19/2026

Mother Boswick - An Evening of Guidance & Poor Decisions
Aug 22 | Show 8PM

Mother Boswick is a 121-year-old advice-giving widow from the tiny hamlet of Squinch Hollow (nestled between Oregon, Texas, Nebraska, and New Hampshire, directly under the ozone hole), with 14 dead husbands and no filter. She tells tales of local characters and dispenses questionable wisdom and unique astrological advice.
Joining Mother Boswick are special guests: Oldman Boswick - an ancient exercise guru leading the audience through deep knee bends, windmills, and other fitness techniques best left to a previous century. Melton Spritzer - Vaudeville legend on extended hiatus, returning to the stage with a barrage of one-liners, observations, and complaints from a bygone era.
Come for the gossip. Stay because she’s hidden your shoes.

Address

2400 Bayshore Boulevard
San Francisco, CA
94134

Telephone

+14159906336

Website

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