Jeff Civillico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeff Civillico
|
|
|---|---|
Jeff Civillico performing on Disney Cruises on March 16, 2007
|
|
| Born | May 17, 1983 |
| Occupation | Juggler, corporate entertainer, and comedian |
Jeff Civillico (born May 17, 1983) is a talented juggler, a funny comedian, and an amazing entertainer. He is also a kind person who helps others through his charity work. Jeff is based in Las Vegas, where he used to perform his popular comedy show, Comedy in Action, from 2012 to 2019. He also performed as a special guest in Nathan Burton's magic show. Jeff is the founder of a charity called Win-Win Entertainment, which helps bring joy to kids and families in need.
Contents
Jeff's Early Life and Juggling Journey
Jeff Civillico was born on May 17, 1983, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of three sons. When he was seven years old, his brother taught him how to juggle three balls. His grandmother was the first audience for his juggling shows!
Discovering His Passion
When Jeff was 11, he visited his brother at Harvard University. There, he saw a street performer named Peter Panic juggling. Jeff was amazed and decided right then that he wanted to be an entertainer. Peter Panic even picked Jeff to help him during his show, which was a big moment for Jeff. After this, his parents gave him a book called Juggling for Complete Klutz, and he started practicing a lot. He even joined the Philadelphia Juggling Club to learn more difficult tricks, like juggling five balls.
Juggling in High School
In high school, Jeff started the Juggling Club at Saint Joseph's Preparatory School. He and his friends would perform for free at nursing homes and schools for children with special needs. When he was 15, in 1998, Jeff won a gold medal at the International Jugglers' Association competition in the junior division. Even though someone offered him a chance to perform in Las Vegas, Jeff chose to stay in school. His parents always told him that school came first.
Jeff performed as a street entertainer in Baltimore during the summer of 1999. He saw himself as an entertainer with a good sense of humor, not just a juggler. His act included riding a six-foot-tall unicycle and juggling many different things. He could balance rings, flaming torches, and even peacock feathers! One of his most exciting tricks involved juggling a 12-pound bowling ball, an apple, and a machete, then slicing the apple at the end. Jeff also volunteered often at the Don Guanella School, juggling for children with special needs. He even taught one student how to balance a peacock feather.
College Years
Jeff went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. He was very involved in the performing arts there. He was part of an all-male singing group called The Georgetown Chimes and even led the group in his last year. He also started the Georgetown Performers' Union to help students in performing arts practice and support each other. In 2005, Jeff earned a degree from Georgetown.
Jeff's Amazing Career
Jeff's career has taken him all over the world! He has performed for the Disney Cruise Line and at many company events. He has even performed at the White House and the Kennedy Center.
First Big Shows
When Jeff was 18, he got an offer to perform on a cruise ship in Cartagena, Colombia. His older brother went with him because his parents were worried. They had a tough start when their luggage, which had all his juggling props, was lost! Jeff had to quickly create a new show using things he found on the ship. He juggled watermelons and cantaloupes instead of juggling balls, and balanced pool deckchairs on his chin instead of clubs. He managed to put on a great show!
In 2009, Jeff moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, to perform in a show called Amazed. After that show ended, he got a spot performing a 12-minute act in Nathan Burton's magic show. People loved his act so much that they asked if he had his own show. This led to Jeff starting his own show, Comedy in Action.
Comedy in Action Show
Jeff's show, Comedy in Action, started at a restaurant in Caesars Palace and later moved to bigger venues like The Linq and Flamingo Las Vegas. Reviewers loved his show, praising his endless energy, his ability to connect with the audience, and his quick, funny jokes.
In his show, Jeff often invited people from the audience to help him. One famous part of his act involved two male volunteers helping him get on his unicycle. He would then try to catch marshmallows in his mouth! People loved his humor and how he made every show unique and personal.
Jeff also added cool technology to his show, like "Juggle-Vision." He put a GoPro camera on himself so the audience could see what juggling looked like from his point of view on a big screen.
Jeff performed his final Comedy in Action show at Paris Las Vegas on December 18, 2019. He decided to focus more on his charity work and performing at special events for companies.
Helping Others with Win-Win Entertainment
Jeff Civillico is a true philanthropist, which means he loves to help others. He founded a non-profit organization called Win-Win Entertainment. This charity connects entertainers with groups that need fun performances, like hospitals or charity events.
Many non-profit organizations find it hard to get good entertainment for their events because it can be very expensive. Win-Win Entertainment helps by providing the stage, sound system, and other equipment needed for performers. In return, the entertainers perform for free! This way, everyone wins.
Win-Win Entertainment has helped many organizations, including the American Cancer Society and children's homes. They also help charities get show tickets and performer merchandise to sell at auctions to raise money.
The charity organizes many shows each week at children's hospitals and places that help young people in need. They also host "Twilight Thursday" shows at senior centers. Win-Win Entertainment works with the United Service Organizations (USO) at military bases and with the Miracle League of Las Vegas, which helps kids with special needs play baseball. By 2019, Win-Win Entertainment was helping communities in many cities across the United States.
Other Fun Projects
Jeff Civillico became a special helper for the Las Vegas Natural History Museum in 2018. He was the museum's first "brand ambassador," helping to make more people aware of the museum and create new events for visitors.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff found new ways to entertain. He held free weekly juggling classes online using Zoom and Instagram. He also became a master of ceremonies for online events for companies, performing magic tricks and making people laugh from his home.
Images for kids
-
Jeff Civillico performing on Disney Cruises on March 16, 2007
