Clown Bar, a clown noir

by Adam Szymkowicz

FULL LENGTH, PUBLISHED. Long ago Happy left the Clown Bar and the organized clown crime world to work for the good guys. Now his junkie brother Timmy has been murdered and Happy returns to his old life to ask a few questions. But can he go home again without getting sucked into the seedy clown underbelly of vice and violence? Can he survive the gun toting clowns who used to be his friends or Blinky, the lady...

FULL LENGTH, PUBLISHED. Long ago Happy left the Clown Bar and the organized clown crime world to work for the good guys. Now his junkie brother Timmy has been murdered and Happy returns to his old life to ask a few questions. But can he go home again without getting sucked into the seedy clown underbelly of vice and violence? Can he survive the gun toting clowns who used to be his friends or Blinky, the lady clown he left behind.

This play is published. Rights: http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/16741/clown-bar

Adam Szymkowicz’s script is unabashedly funny but also shrewd.” – Ken Jaworowski, New York Times Critics Pick

“…hilarious and ebullient…devastating and pitch-perfect.” - Julia Hochner, New York Theatre Review

“…a perfect storm of ridiculousness…it’s weird how well this works.” - - Regina Robinns, Theatre is Easy

“…the team responsible…should be hired by everyone for everything all the time immediately.” - Mary Notari, nytheatre.com

"Clown Bar...[does] things with [its] genre that I have never seen on stage before." - HowlRound

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Clown Bar, a clown noir

Recommended by

  • D.W. Gregory: Clown Bar, a clown noir by Adam Szymkowicz
    “

    Just picked this up recently and couldn't stop laughing. Such a wild conceit, so clever and sharp. Brings new meaning to the word 'parody.' It's beyond parody. A world unto itself. Comic genius at work.

    Just picked this up recently and couldn't stop laughing. Such a wild conceit, so clever and sharp. Brings new meaning to the word 'parody.' It's beyond parody. A world unto itself. Comic genius at work.

    ”
  • Brenton Kniess: Clown Bar, a clown noir by Adam Szymkowicz
    “

    A masterclass in comedy!

    A masterclass in comedy!

    ”
  • Joey Reihart: Clown Bar, a clown noir by Adam Szymkowicz
    “

    Genuinely one of the best modern plays I've read. I bought the script almost immediately after reading the title- I love clowns, I (kinda) love bars, so Clown Bar had to be right up my alley! I definitely was not disappointed by this hilarious yet surprisingly deep noir story. I truly cannot recommend this show enough!

    Genuinely one of the best modern plays I've read. I bought the script almost immediately after reading the title- I love clowns, I (kinda) love bars, so Clown Bar had to be right up my alley! I definitely was not disappointed by this hilarious yet surprisingly deep noir story. I truly cannot recommend this show enough!

    ”
View all 9 recommendations

Development History

  • Commission, Rising Phoenix Rep, 2011

Production History

  • Professional, 63 Productions to date, 2024