Pie in the Sky

The New York Clown Theatre Festival will run Sept. 5–28, mostly at the Brick Theater in Brooklyn, and will feature lectures and workshops in addition to mainstage shows, a clown cabaret, and a site-specific performance.

The free events include the opening-day parade and pie fight, with clowns, jugglers, stilt walkers, and more (Fri., Sept. 5, starting at 4:30 p.m. at Union Square Park and continuing on the L train to the Brick in Williamsburg); the closing-weekend cabaret, with Red Bastard and others (Sept. 27, 10 p.m.); and the Clown Funeral Procession and closing-night party (Sept. 28, 6 p.m.).

Lectures and discussions ($15 each): “The Presence of the Clown,” with David Shiner, and “Undercranking: The Magic Behind the Slapstick,” with Ben Model. Workshops ($200 each): Architectures of Physical Comedy, The Dynamics of Clown Partnering, Discovering the Clown, Ensemble Adventures in Clown, and Bouffon: The Anti-Clown. There will also be more than 20 mainstage shows ($15 each) and a site-specific performance ($10): The Russian Office.

The fest is also seeking volunteers; email Gyda@bricktheater.com. Go to www.bricktheater.com for more info.