White-faced and wearing oversized red shoes, Connie "Freckles" Peters performed the classic clown skit "Bandana, Banana" Saturday at The Village at Penn State Recreation Center to a group of about 20 children.
The skit was part of the Happy Valley Alley's first "Show and Tell" activity aimed at promoting itself and its efforts.
The Happy Valley Alley is one of two clown alleys in State College. Officially chartered by the World Clown Association in March 2000, it performs community service activities such as visiting hospitals and nursing homes, as well as attending grand openings of stores, birthday parties, Mother's Day events and appreciation dinners.
Complete with juggling, Nittany Lion balloon animals and marionettes, the activity sparked an interest in clowning for some of the children.
Twelve-year-old Danielle Lazorcik said she learned better methods of juggling at the activity, and though she already knew how to make a few balloon animals, she hoped she could learn to make a few more.
"I have a very silly grandfather, so that kind of thing -- being silly -- is in my blood, so maybe I'll be a clown someday," Lazorcik said.
Whether it's conducting church services, visiting nursing homes or lightening the mood at local hospitals, the Happy Valley Alley clowns of State College show there's more to clowning than just the circus.
"People get tired of the same old thing, so they invite clowns to get a new perspective on things," said Peters, president of the chapter, which is called an "alley."
Peters works as an administrative support assistant at Penn State's Applied Research Laboratory and first became interested in clowning after receiving encouragement from two of her coworkers, who were experienced clowns. A clown for more than eight years, she has seen the alley go through some "rocky times."
About three years ago, the alley was ready to dissolve, Peters said. Only a handful of clowns attended the meetings and several of its most active members had left the area. However, a number of people stepped forward to save the organization at the last possible moment, Peters said.
"That's when it started to build back up," Peters said.
With nearly 20 current members, the alley has resumed its community service activities with weekly visits to people in hospitals and nursing homes. Its goal, Peters said, is to "give them a little bit of joy."
Linda "Buttons" Forrest, a member of the alley, remembers one patient, in particular, she met at a hospital.
"When we found out she passed away shortly after, it makes you realize you touched that person in a special way," Forrest said.
Peters sees the alley as a "learning" and "caring" organization, always seeking to improve upon its clowning skills.
Several members have attended national and regional clown conferences, where they received training in public speaking, learned better methods of tying balloon animals and practiced pocket magic and face painting.
