ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - St. Bonaventure University’s Theater program will host St. Bonaventure alumnus John Kennedy Kane in a presentation of his one-man original show, “Circ: My Life in the Basement,” Saturday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Garret Theater on campus.
Kane graduated in 1988 with a degree in journalism/mass communication, but has toured for the last 25 years as a circus performer, clown, ringmaster and magician. Kane is known to Buffalo-area audiences for his annual shows at the Erie County Fair and the Erie County Fairgrounds Holiday Festival of Lights.
SBU Theater program director Dr. Ed. Simone met Kane during his student years.
“I had come back to SBU to see a production of Arthur Miller’s ‘All My Sons,’ and John was playing the lead," Simone said. “He brought a real gravity and depth of feeling to a very difficult and tragic role. I remember meeting him after the show and finding out he’d been a circus performer.”
Many years later, Simone and Kane reconnected just as Kane was putting together a one-man show about his life. The two agreed doing a performance for a college crowd in the intimate Garret Theater was a great idea.
“John sent me a DVD of his first performance at Buffalo’s Alleyway Theater and asked for comments,” said Simone. “My first comment was that it’s really very funny. And it has a heartfelt quality that takes it a layer beyond comedy.”
Kane is also sharing more than his autobiographical stage work with his alma mater. The day before performing his one-man show, Kane will lead a workshop in physical comedy and clowning for students in SBU’s Theater program.
General admission tickets for “Circ: My Life in the Basement” are free and will be available first-come, first-served at the Garret Theater box office, adjacent to Devereux Hall, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 2. Seating is limited. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
“Circ: My Life in the Basement” contains some adult language and subjects.