Modern clowning

Contemporary clowning is a school of physical comedy that emphasizes interactivity with the audience and surroundings, use of props and a level of absurdity.

[4] Clowning is highly visual with an extensive use of costumes, makeup and props that are largely absent from the other popular styles of live comedy performance of improv and stand-up.

[8] Some performers have cited they were drawn to clowning because of the flexibility and lack of rules in the experimental form, in contrast to improv or sketch, which have become more rigid in format as the disciplines have matured.

[2] Some note that the lack of a dominant theater industry in Los Angeles, as compared to New York or London, has given clowning the freedom to more quickly in the city as it allows for more greater risk-taking.

Among the fringe winners is Natalie Palamides, who won a Total Theatre Award in 2018 with Nate: A One Man Show that was later produced for Netflix by Amy Poehler.