(Posted October 13, 2003)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Magician, juggler, clown and consummate entertainer, Avner the Eccentric has starred on Broadway and in the movies, and now brings his off-kilter sense of comedy to the Juniata College Artist Series at 8:15 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25 in Rosenberger Auditorium in Oller Hall on the Juniata campus.

For tickets and information about the Juniata College Artist Series, please call (814) 641-3605 or visit the Web site www.juniata.edu/arts. General admission tickets for single performances are $20. Single-show tickets for seniors over age 65 and children age 18 and under are $12. Juniata College students are admitted free with a student ID.

Avner Eisenberg combines clowning, mime, juggling and periodic magic tricks to create a silent, yet hilarious one-man show. Avner the Eccentric came to prominence in his self-titled one-man show on Broadway in 1984, a theatrical run that garnered him a co-starring role as a holy man in the film ?Jewel of the Nile,? starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. He also has performed in Shakespeare?s ?Comedy of Errors? and ?Waiting for Godot.?

He has performed all over the world and often is a featured performer at such festivals as the Edinburgh Festival, the New York Clown Theatre Festival, the Fools? Festival and the International Movement Theatre Festival.


He also performs regularly in regional theatre in such works as ?R. Crumb Comix? and ?Zoo of Tranquility,? a play in which Avner starred with his wife, Julie Goell.

After a checkered academic career, Avner studied mime in Paris and toured as a puppeteer. When he returned to the United States, Avner taught at the Dell?Arte School of Physical Comedy in California. He has performed across the United States and internationally.

Although Avner dresses like a clown, he incorporates magic, juggling, mime and other styles seamlessly into his show. He works almost entirely in silence, punctuated by huge amounts of laughter from the audience.

In addition, he has developed workshops and master classes for therapeutic professionals using silent theatre skills.

His shows have been well-reviewed, including a New York Times review that stated: ?Here is what Avner the Eccentric does best: he reduces his audience to laughter, giggles and applause.?

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.