Keith Nelson (a/k/a Mr. Pennygaff): In his youth he was given an Emmet Kelly ventriloquist doll. The silent clown/talking doll relationship forever confused the growing boy. A few years later a secret of showbiz was revealed to him at a small Mexican Circus, where for only 25 cents one could witness the "Elephant Dog." The quarter brought him face to face with a shaved mutt. Years passed as he learned to juggle and play with fire. Following a $100,000 liberal arts education, he was left unemployed in New York City, and once again was reminded of just what a quarter could buy.

Stephanie Monseu (a/k/a Philomena Bindlestiff:): Guess which one of the following careers she has enjoyed most: waitress; jewelry designer; sign painter; ski instructor; real estate agent; co-founder of small, broke non-profit Cirkus company.

Michael Preston: For many years Michael Preston toured the world with the Flying Karamazov Brothers, including three stints on Broadway. He has appeared on Seinfeld, Ellen, Law and Order, the Today and Tonight Shows as well as many others TV shows that have been cancelled. Film work includes Matewan and Eight Men Out, both by John Sayles. He has worked with Circus Flora, Zoppe's Circus Europa, Circus Amok, the New York Goofs, Shaliko and Bobo. Sometimes he teaches. With Barbara Karger, he wrote and directed an updated version of Peter and the Wolf in Amsterdam.

Barbara ÊKarger is a graduate of Folkwang Hochschule in Essen, Germany. She has performed with her own company Antagon, Mummenschanz, Bobo and Circus Flora. She is a Êmovement choreographer, teacher and director. Her recent directing credits include Ludwig II, with Stephan Barbarino, a new musical in Germany, Peter and the Wolf, with Michael Preston, and the New York Goof's Clown Brain at the Flea Theatre.

Hovey Burgess, a past president of the International Jugglers Association, has been juggling wrangler at Circus Flora for a dozen years. He has been teaching circus techniques to acting students at New York University for the past thirty-eight years. He was circus choreographer for the motion picture Popeye.

Jennifer McGowan (a/k/a Miss Saturn) auditioned for a gig at Fuse TV yesterday and I'm trying to reach her. The # I have for her manager is not working. Could you please forward any contact info you have for her to me?

Tiffany Riley: A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Tiffany started performing at age six. Stage credits include Sesame Street Live, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and The Muppet Show on Tour. Tiffany has choreographed for Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Clown College, The L.A. Circus and Anita Mann Productions. Tiffany co-founded The New York Goofs and the Ultimate Clown School, one of the only institutions in America which teaches the art of Clowning. Tiffany was a featured clown in the 24th edition of Big Apple Circus.

Adam Kuchler: Originally from Wisconsin, Adam began his career with Circus Smirkus, a youth circus based in Vermont. Since then, he has performed across North America with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus and Barnum's Kaliedoscape, and in Japan with the Kinoshita Circus. After completing the Bindlestiff spring tour, Adam was proud to perform in Reno at the International Juggler's Association Festival in the Cascade of Stars show. In his spare time, he likes Taco Bell.

Miss Construe was kidnapped by the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus many years ago to become the maven of merchandise.ÊLuckily Cirkus living agreed with her, and she can no longer remember anything at all about her former life.ÊShe documented the spring '03 "High Heels & Red Noses" tour online at http://cirkus.blogspot.com, where she continues to report on the Cirkus' adventures on and off the road.

Matthew Morgan: Matthew is very thrilled to be working with the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. He is a graduate of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. Upon graduation he was selected to go on tour with "The Greatest Show on Earth" where he completed more then 1,000 front somersaults off a mini trampoline.

Raja Azar: While working in the Oral Roberts College Science Lab as a medical test subject, Raja Azar was abducted by Kinko the Clown and forced to sing and dance for his amusement. He now lives in the back of the Bindlestiff Family's trailer, where he gets paid a small amount to maintain the complicated electrical security system. Feel free to slip him cigarettes or instant oatmeal through the mail slot.

Tim Hoey aspires to be Ghost Rider--you know, the one from the '70s who rides a Harley and wears a leather jacket with his skull on fire. Until he can achieve this, he plays the drums for the Bindlestiffs and the Hungry March Band. He also knows Corn Mo.

Kris Anton: The Bindlestiff Cirkus' resident sound tech for 6 years forthcoming; Kris also drums weekly in the electro-clash accordion pyrate puppet show Jolly Ship The Whiz Bang, plays bass for the rock accordion band Benjamin Ickies Preservation Society, and spends his free time looking for other things to do with the word accordion in them. His dog Luther is, in fact, the only Sound Dog ever to work on 42nd Street, and hates accordions almost as much as balloons.