Avner the Eccentric facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Avner the Eccentric
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2012
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Avner Eisenberg
26 August 1948 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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| Occupation | Clown, performance artist, mime, juggler and sleight of hand |
Avner Eisenberg, also known by his stage name "Avner the Eccentric", is a talented American performer. He was born on August 26, 1948. He is famous for his skills as a clown, mime, juggler, and magician who uses sleight of hand. A critic once called him "A clown for the thinking man and the most exacting child."
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Becoming a Performer
Avner was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He studied at several universities before earning a theater degree from the University of Washington in 1971. After that, he went to Paris to learn mime from a famous teacher named Jacques Lecoq. He also spent some time working with puppets.
When he returned to the United States, Avner taught at the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre in California. He performed at fun Renaissance fairs and on many different stages.
Starring in Movies and Plays
Avner played the main character in the 1985 movie The Jewel of the Nile. This film also featured his friends, the The Flying Karamazov Brothers, who are also vaudeville performers. Movie critics praised Avner's acting in the film. One critic said he "very nearly steals the film." Another called him "a true comic discovery."
Avner has also had many important roles on stage. In 1984, he had his own show on Broadway. He appeared in a 1987 Lincoln Center production of Shakespeare's play The Comedy of Errors. He also played the main role of Srulik the ventriloquist in the 1989 Broadway play Ghetto.
He has performed in plays like Waiting for Godot, where he played both Vladimir and Estragon. He also acted with his wife, Julie Goell, in a new play called Zoo of Tranquility. Avner even played the artist Robert Crumb in a play called Comix.
A Master of Silent Shows
Avner is well-known for his wordless solo act. This means he performs without speaking, using only his body and expressions. He has performed this act at many famous events around the world. These include the Edinburgh Festival and the Israel Festival. He also performed at the International Festival du Cirque in Monte Carlo. In 2004, his show in Paris was completely sold out for three months!
Sharing His Skills
Besides performing, Avner also teaches. He leads workshops where he shares his silent theater skills. These workshops help students and professionals in areas like health care and education. He helps them learn how to use movement and expression as a way to communicate. As of 2009, Avner lives on an island in Maine.
See also
In Spanish: Avner the Eccentric para niños
