Hearts & Noses Hospital Clown Troupe has seen excellent growth over the past year. The Troupe has seven new clowns in various stages of training, including a new member who moved to Boston from Costa Rica. It has expanded into new units of existing hospitals and added a pilot program at its newest venue, Massachusetts General Hospital.
A larger Troupe enables Hearts & Noses to increase the number of hospital visits and bedside visits. The Troupe’s projection for 2017 is that it will increase its total by about 400 bedside visits over last year.
Taking a giant step from having a combined executive director/artistic director position held by one person to having the artistic director position held by a separate person, the Troupe has continued to raise the bar on the services it offers to its partner hospitals and the children they serve.
Over the course of 2017, Hearts & Noses has improved its training, attracted new prospects, built community awareness, and expanded its donor base. In fact, this past year a generous donor stepped forward to cover the artistic director’s position for 2017 and 2018. Of course, the Troupe welcomes donations of all sizes to help with its training, seminars, materials, promotion and events.
The Troupe has also been focusing on increasing members’ skill levels. Each new clown receives 36 hours of individual onsite training with Hearts & Noses trainers. These skills help them delight and empower children in many different — and sometimes challenging — situations. Being able to attend clown conferences and bringing in world-class trainers also help with this effort.
As artistic director, Kenny Raskin offers pointers after observing the clown partners in the hospital. He coaches on how to make changes in their improvisational play, giving valuable insight in real-time to the Troupe members.
“I’m happy I’m here. I’ve been welcomed with generosity and a willingness of the Troupe members to grow as clowns,” said Raskin. “The focus on the child is there. The sensitivity is there. I’m happy to report there’s a greater understanding of what it means to ‘play’ in the hospital.”
Raskin also commented that several other elements of clowning are growing within the Troupe. “Partnering is improving, physicality is expanding, playing the ‘dilemma’ is deepening. Some clowns are exploring their musicality, and ukuleles are creeping into the rotations. Youth is permeating the Troupe, giving us old timers a new lease on life,” he said.
You may recognize Raskin’s name or face from Cirque de Soleil’s Nouvelle Experience, on Broadway as LeFou in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, or playing the Vaudeville comedian in Barry Levinson’s film Liberty Heights. Hearts & Noses is honored to have such an internationally respected physical comedian and leadership/communications trainer on board.