Executive Director
Cheryl Lekousi
Cheryl (Tic Toc / Miss Millie) has been happily clowning with the Troupe since 1999. She grew up watching her father, a professional magician who clowned at area hospitals, only to discover her clown after training with Jeannie Lindheim. Having a background in early childhood education and special needs, Cheryl has been a workshop facilitator in these areas for over 15 years. She has worked as the Executive Director of Hearts & Noses Hospital Clown Troupe since July 2005. Cheryl is a clown at Franciscan Children’s, Tufts, Mass General Brigham, Spaulding Rehab, and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center/NewBridge on the Charles.
Artistic Director
Kenny Raskin
Kenny (Dr. Mensch / Mr. Mensch) has been a leading physical comedian both in the United States and Europe for over 40 years. He performed as the lead clown with Cirque du Soleil and originated the role of Lefou in the Broadway production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Kenny has taught clowning and physical comedy as an adjunct faculty member in the theater departments of Boston University, Emerson College, Emory University and Ringling Brothers Clown College. For eight years, he was a member of the Big Apple Clown Care Troupe. He is delighted to lead the artistic component of Hearts & Noses, a role he began in 2016. Kenny is a clown at Boston Medical Center, Franciscan Children’s, Mass General Brigham, Tufts, and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center/NewBridge on the Charles.
Associate Director and Trainer
Katy Bland-Brooks
Katy (Dr. Bumble / Cookie) has happily been part of Hearts & Noses since 2016. Katy fell in love with medical clowning in the late 1990s as she innately understood the unique needs of children in hospitals. In the early 2000s, Katy volunteered at Boston Children’s Hospital and began training as a Child Life Specialist but family life soon took over. After attending a physical comedy workshop a few years later, Katy discovered Hearts & Noses where she came on board quickly and has become an integral part of both the administrative and training sides of the organization, as well as clowning any chance she gets. Katy is a clown at Boston Medical Center, Franciscan Children’s, Mass General Brigham, and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center/NewBridge on the Charles.
Associate Trainer
Joyce Friedman
Joyce (Frizzle) is thrilled to have been a member of Hearts & Noses Clown Troupe since 1999. Joyce was formerly a musician and improvisational actor with Boston’s Reality Theatre and Omega Theatre. In addition, she directed a holistic health care program for the elderly, Circle of Wellness, where she taught meditation, chi kung, acupressure and nutrition in Boston area senior residences. Joyce is a clown at: Boston Medical Center.