‘Amazing Clowns TV Show’ welcomes families to have fun on camera

It was 2 p.m. on a Wednesday, and 5-year-old Tristan Pope was learning that TV shows aren't necessarily shot in order, while clown Ray Wold was getting a reminder about the honesty of children.

"Chrissie has a story about a piggy bank," Wold said with great enthusiasm. "Would you like to hear that?"

"No," replied Tristan, obviously taken aback by the ridiculousness of the question. "I just heard it."

After a lot of laughter from the adults in the room and a few more tries, Tristan was able to get out several acceptable affirmatives, and the filming of the "Amazing Clowns TV Show" switched to another set.

"It's a fun TV show," Wold, a north valley resident, said. "The kids are always a lot of fun and interesting to work with."

The show has been airing for four months at 8 a.m. Saturdays
on television station VEGAStv, KTUD 25 and Cable 14.

Filming takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. most Wednesdays at Amazing Clowns, a party-planning and event center at 3525 E. Flamingo Road.

Usually the only thing that might shift the shooting day is an event such as a birthday party on the sets, which double as party rooms for kids. The company provides bounce houses, trains, carnival rides and entertainers from magicians to pirates and balloon animal artists for parties on site or at private homes or public events.

Michelle Bryant fills many roles at Amazing Clowns.

"I'm a party planner, magician's assistant, I coordinate entertainment for the TV show, I cook, sometimes I dress up as a clown or a pirate and I make cotton candy," she said. "Whatever the boss needs."

Wold ends up wearing a lot of hats during the show, too, both figuratively and literally. On any given filming day he might be dressed as Boo the clown, Nose the elephant, a pirate or any number of characters. He might be clowning, doing magic, making balloon animals, operating a puppet or interviewing the other performers, even if that performer is a mute marionette.

"When you have a low-budget TV show, you end up doing a lot of things," Wold said.

Wold has been in the clown biz most of his adult life. He started out at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and worked internationally and on cruise ships. He came to Las Vegas to perform in Cirque du Soleil's "O." Four times a night he's set aflame while calmly strolling about the stage or reading a newspaper.

He started Amazing Clowns nine years ago to give himself an outlet for non-flammable work. He started the TV show because it was something he'd always wanted to do.

"When I was growing up, there was the 'Bozo' show," Wold said. "Every kid that was on that show remembers doing it."

He draws from his large bank of friends, who are fellow clowns, magicians and performers. His wife, Christina, takes on the role of story time reader. They take their literacy seriously at Amazing Clowns, promoting it not just on the TV show but at events such as the regular children's reading program from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

"We try to encourage the kids to read and make reading and learning fun," Wold said. "We also want to expose them to the arts in a fun way. It's something I think Nevada needs."

The "Amazing Clowns TV Show" filming is free and open to the public. When they tell kids at appearances Wold said everyone gets excited. The line between audience and performer is mighty thin on the show.

"Anybody that wants to be on the show can be on the show," Wold said. "They can be in studio audience. If they want to, we'll talk to them on camera, and if they have a talent, we want to showcase that talent."

For more information, visit amazingclowns.com or call 434-6222.

Contact Sunrise/Whitney View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 380-4532.