Imagine an evening where comedy, music, magic, juggling, acrobatics, and dancing worked together to surprise and amaze young and old audiences everywhere.  A madcap night of physical comedy based on the simple premise of a virtuoso pianist (Thiago Nacimento) trying to play a classical concert.  The New York Goofs will take the stage in the Irving Arts Center Carpenter Hall, 3333 N. MacArthur, on Friday, November 16, at 7:30pm, as part of the Entertainment Series of Irving’s fall season.

Dick Monday and Tiffany Riley have been life partners and performing partners for the past twenty years, during which time they have headlined at circuses and festivals worldwide.  After their time directing the clowns for The Greatest Show on Earth and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, they created the clown troupe, The New York Goofs

Tiffany Riley, a graduate from MacArthur High School, first worked at Sesame Place in Irving as the costumed character Ernie (of Bert & Ernie) before going on tour with the Muppet Show and Sesame Street Live, and ultimately to the LA Circus, which opened her passion for clowning and physical comedy.  She became the first female clown to be featured in The Big Apple Circus in New York City.

Dick Monday, originally from Nebraska, became the Director of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Clown Collage following his graduation at the University of Maryland. He has also been the featured act with The Big Apple Circus, Circus Sarasota, Circo Atayde in Mexico, plus many other circuses.  He recently wrote, directed and performed in the Shanghai International Comedy Festival.

Together they have formed the clown troupe, The New York Goofs, Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse and the Funnyatrics Clown Program  They have now brought all endeavors under the label, Laughter League, which is a nonprofit organization, and can be found performing in hospitals from Boston to Texas, proving laughter is the best medicine for many.   

For ticket information, contact the Irving Arts Center box office at  https://tickets.irvingartscenter.com/esi     or call 972-252-2787.

This project is funded in part by the City of Irving through the Irving Arts Center board.