by April Helms

Special Products Editor

Around this time of year, people's thoughts turn to graduation and the ceremonies that go with them.

One particular class at a special school has already had its graduation, and all of its graduates came onto the stage with honors: summa cum laughter.

These graduates attended classes at the Ohio Clown College in Akron. The classes, taught by headmaster Robert Kreidler (otherwise known as Rufus D. Dufus), started the Monday after Labor Day. Training ran about 30 weeks, Kreidler said. The final assignment and graduation ceremony, which was April 19 at the Funny Stop Comedy Club in Cuyahoga Falls, brought the clowns-in-training together along with professional clowns to entertain an audience with preshow activities and a show. The shows included a mix of both traditional short skits and comic skits created by the cast.

Kreidler said this was the 19th year that the Ohio Clown College has performed "Comedy Capers," featuring the college's clown graduates. It will also be the last class to graduate under the name Ohio Clown College, he added: Next year, the school will be called The Ohio College of Clowning Arts.

Two of the clown graduates, Katrina Mullen (also known as Frieda Beeme) of Hudson and Yulia Gray (also known as Alizarin Crimson, or Allie) of Northfield Center shared their stories about participating in the clown college.

Katrina Mullen and Yulia Gray

Mullen said her interest in enrolling in the Ohio Clown College comes from her interest in going to hospitals as a clown to cheer up patients. She also would like to consider clowning around for non-profit events such as Relay For Life and for Stewarts Caring Place.

"I have been interested in hospital clowning for years," Mullen said.

Mullen said she had found out about the clown college some years ago, but back then "the timing wasn't right" for her. She has two sons, now in middle and high school, and she had wanted them to be older before enrolling.

Gray said her introduction to the clown college "was kind of sudden." She found out about the school on the Internet, and spoke to Kreidler, who invited her to a class about a year ago.

"I thought it was very interesting," Gray said. "It looked like something I wanted to do."

In "real life," Gray said she as a full-time student of painting and drawing.

"I'm pretty busy," she said.

One aspect of clowning that was challenging and refreshing at the same time was the trick of, well, just clowning around, Mullen said.

"I personally was surprised at how difficult it was to break out of that 'prim and proper' box we get in when we are in adult mode," Mullen said. "It's great to be goofy, and not worried about other's thoughts."

Classes Gray said she remembered included going to a nursing home, and to a volunteer group.

Both agreed that one of the challenging parts of clowning was the physical humor sometimes required in clowning.

Another fun challenge occurred on the first day of class, Mullen said -- creating her clown character.

"Bob's very first class taught us clown characterization," she said. "You need to develop your clown character from the ground up. You create a history, a family, their life. It helps you in playing that character. That was probably the most fun for me. Then every class after that, you are building further on that character."

So, who is Frieda Beeme, and how is she different from Katrina Mullen?

"Frieda is very much a part of Katrina, but everything Frieda would want to do, Katrina would try to stifle," Mullen said. "She skips when others may walk. If she wants to laugh, she laughs. If the mood strikes her, she does it. She doesn't try to stifle anything."

Like Mullen, Gray also was called on to create a clown character.

"Allie is a starving artist," Gray said. "She is not entirely devoted to painting. She likes to make people smile. She's rather impatient , she's impulsive."

Part of her clown name -- crimson -- is inspired by her artistic background, Gray said.

"Because I'm an art student, these things are dear to me," she said.

One other class assignment had mixed results, but was very educational, Mullen said. In the assignment, clown students were to go to a public place, such as a mall or store, in full clown makeup and costume, unannounced, to eat lunch.

"People have different reactions," Mullen said. "Some get really excited, some are more leery and some were downright hostile. Showing up in my clown costume at the local Acme was fun. Everyone got so excited. I got kicked out of Summit Mall."

Mullen said overall, she enjoyed her experiences at the clown college.

"If anyone is considering it, it's such a great self-realization journey," Mullen said. "It's great to get in touch with that fun side again."

Gray said she "hoped to continue" clowning around.

"I think it is fun, and I think people appreciate this type of thing," she said.

For details on clowning, call Kreidler at 330-835-9460 or visit ohioclowncollege.com online.

E-mail: ahelms@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3153