Welcome!

If you are looking for the best in professional entertainers for your next event, then look no further! We offer a huge array of services that cater to your specific requirements. Each entertainment package is custom tailored to fit your needs, and your imagination is our only limitation!

Introduction

BJ’s Party House is dedicated to the notion that "clowning around" is an attainable profession for the talented, the innovative, and the dedicated among us. Gone are the days of dreaming to "run away and join the circus"! Instead, performing artists need to create the venue themselves and find opportunities at the local, state, and National levels to make the modern version of this long lost dream a reality.

You, as the prospective client, make this dream a reality for talented young artists! Klown Kapers Inc is an equal opportunity employer providing work for our talented local entertainers, and for 25 years and counting we have been filling the void of performance arts that are VITAL to the children in our communities. BJ’s Party House specializes in entertainment services for all ages and venues, children's costumed characters, and custom interactive performances.

Our artists portray public domain characters based on stories, fables, fiction, word of mouth, and original tales. Please know that our characters are generic in nature and are not affiliated or associated with any theme park, production company or other character artist entity. Our actors are original and any resemblance to any other character company or entity is incidental. Klown Kapers Inc. is a privately owned company comprised of mainly professional educators who incorporate Character acting into programs and performances with educational messages for entertainment purposes. Klown Kapers Inc. is not under the jurisdiction of any larger company which may generally be associated with cartoons or other beloved characters Pricing is based on the number of performers desired, the location of the event in proximity to our location and the total number of hours desired by the client.

In The News

BJ’s Party House (Klown Kapers Inc.) has been featured in countless news articles from all over the state of Florida!

Corporate History

BJ’s Party House (Klown Kapers Inc.) was founded by BJ the Clown in 1983. After she obtained her select BFA degree in Theatre (FSU School of Theatre) and Secondary Level Florida Teachers Certification in 1978 (FSU school of Education), BJ the Clown Recognized the need for street performer and stage performance artistry in a more accessible fashion in North Florida. In addition to increasing the availability of such performances, it became necessary to establish a training program and workshop space to facilitate the sustainability and expansion of such a project.

After receiving a grant to work as an Artist in Residence in the neighboring Monticello school system for one year (sponsored by the State of Florida Cultural Resources Commission), BJ became encouraged to take out a small business loan and establish a corporation by and for professional artists in North Florida. The location of BJ’S Party House was established in the heart of Tallahassee on Lake Ella and over the years the performance troupe grew from 3 entertainers to the current 25. Shortly after graduation from the FSU School of Theater, Mimi (BJ the Clown) was sponsored by the Florida Cultural Resources Commission as an AIE (Artist in Residence) in Jefferson County, In 1985 Mimi met her Co partner, (Kathryn McCoy- Ceil the Mime) while teaching in Monticello Florida - and the two of them developed a one of a kind performance duo that shortly grew into a steady endeavor.

Both artists performed while teaching full time- and as single parents -they continued to produce outstanding, interactive," hands on", live childrens theater- in a variety of art forms including: Puppet shows, TV pilots, commercials, childrens parties, workshops, seasonal presentations, educational school performances , and full scale musical productions under the title of "Children's Musical Review" These musical productions were fueled by the music and talent of Diane Whitney (Madame Twinkle) and the scripts and rehearsals of all three women under the umbrella company of Klown Kapers Inc. Along with the hard work and the success of these three educators over the years, Klown Kapers grew and opened a full time shop at the cottages on Lake Ella that spanned 17 years known as BJ's Party House. For many years, Klown kapers Inc. Continued to take in and train promising new talent and to provide them supplemental employment , as their skills developed and the talent could "fly". As a result , Klown Kapers has trained fantastic talent that spans the globe and most have gone on to mentor these same skills for other artists near and far.

Currently BJs Party house employs 25 artists that provide outstanding artistry throughout the South east- in an ongoing endeavor to educate and entertain in the high moral fiber Klown Kapers Inc. has always promoted. When you hire an artist from BJs Party House, sponsored by Klown Kapers Inc. you are promoting a company and a program that gives to its artists year round, as well as to our community, in performance art, year after year! BJ was inspired in her youth by the Greatest Show on Earth and the amazing performances of the Barnum and Bailey clown troupes of the 1950s and 60s. BJ was mesmerized by the performances of the Great Emmett Kelly and his entourage of talented Clowns. Emmet Kelly’s empathy and pathos, laced within his slapstick routines and introspective Mime performances set to music tugged at her heartstrings and tickled her funny bone. Other great artists of this genre and time period included Lucille Ball, Buster Keaton, Red Skelton, Charlie Chaplin, and Marcel Marceau. These were the greats of their time. Who will be the greats of our time?

An innovative legacy that draws upon the knowledge and experience of the past, with a new twist that pushes the boundaries of the present, is where the art of clowning and street performance is going today. Our job is to "Keep em Smilin" and to lift the everyday man (and woman) out of the chains of everyday life into a world of imagination, laughter, and possibility. If we can’t look at ourselves and laugh, then where is the joy of living?

Grants

Recently Klown Kapers Inc. has written Three grants: the First Two Grants are Holocaust Education Grants that focuses on the recently released book "Two Regimes... a mothers memoir of wartime survival." By Teodora Verbitsky. This book is the foundation for the in depth study of the manuscript of Teodora Verbitzky and the canvas art of her daughter Nadia Werbitsky.

Both pieces of art were developed a decade apart!! The new release of the book and the art will provide k-12 students an opportunity to read and to study a newly discovered perspective of Holocaust Education , through familial eyes of a non Jewish family and presented in a different light.

The third grant is lifted from its shell to provide elementary school children through the head start programs, the opportunity to experience a large scale musical puppet show production on the topic of bullying. This is a prevalent and pervasive reality in our schools today, and Klown Kapers Inc. remains committed to eradicating the bullying mindset.

Staff

Mimi (BJ the Clown) is the founder and President of Klown Kapers Inc (established in 1983). BJ is a certified secondary level drama instructor and holds a specialized BFA degree (and Teachers Certification) from Florida State University (1978). BJ has worked in our local School systems as a High School and Middle School drama teacher for over twenty years and has produced over 75 shows to her credit in our educational settings.

As the brain child and founder of BJ’S Party House, The Children’s Musical Review, and BJ’S Buddies TV Pilot Productions, BJ has rejuvenated the children’s musical performances venue in the South East, and has provided educational work opportunities for hundreds of up & coming artists as well as produced quality educational live performances for thousands of children throughout her unique career. BJ’s BFA (with an emphasis on Musical theatre) includes acting roles in numerous Traditional Tallahassee venues including; FSU Main stage productions, TCC live Theatre productions, Tallahassee Little Theatre productions, WCTV commercial spots, local interviews, published articles (Tallahassee Magazine, Tallahassee’s Child), and a featured role in NBCs "Unsolved Mysteries” in 1999 (Missing Momma case).

Although BJ is well known to the Audiences of the North East for her "over the top" productions (and cadre of talented performers of all ages and disciplines), BJ is also a true promoter of the arts for everyone young and old. BJ has devoted her life to quality performances, performers, children’s charities, and promotion of the Arts in the South East. BJ’S Great Uncle, Sal Solomon (Featured on "This is your life" Sol Solomon - 1965) owned a world famous traveling circus and train that was funded in part by the U.S government to bring joy and laughter to our troops and their families in the USA (and abroad) during World War II. Sol had a renown Trained Gorilla that always rode the rails first class with his master and in turn, that close companionship translated into a bond that allowed them to produce an animal act that was truly a first of its kind. This relationship was based on mutual admiration, respect, and love, and of course delighted the audiences of Millions during the worst of times.

Ceil (Ceil the Clown / Mime) is a veteran performer of 20 years in many genres of performance art. A co-founder and instructor for this company, Ceil lends all of her talents to the advancement of the art forms we promote. Ceil is a beautiful and gifted sign linguist and high school teacher, as well as an amazing visual artist and professional Mime.

Ceil and BJ became fast and solid friends while working together in rural Monticello Florida, under a grant sponsored by the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs (1984). Since that time this dynamic duo has produced 3 TV pilots together (13 educational scripts for the “BJ’s Buddies" shows), and have performed together for hundreds of corporate, educational and private events state wide. Ceils beauty, grace, & impeccable sense of humor is the counterpart to BJ’s silly, clumsy, impossible never-ending search for the answer to all questions. These two artists compliment one another like peanut butter does jelly! See these two dynamic artists at all of Tallahassee’s Downtown Get downs and featured at the Seminole Village at Landis Green along with Rosie the Clown (BJs daughter!) during the FSU foot ball season games!

Ceil also designs the amazing costumes for our performers as well as producing and creating ”all occasion theme decor" for our clients. Ceil specializes in Dance, modeling, and versatile vocal stage performances for all events. Ceil is well known for her incredible collaboration with Mr. Tyger (Balloon Art Decorating) with Creative Custom Columns. Together the two of them can provide incredible, colorful, and "Creative Columns "of balloon art and arches for all events. Ceil is also available for Mural design work for: schools, homes, weddings, theater, churches, and much, MUCH more.

Ceil provides wonderful face art for everyone with Mr.Tyger the amazing balloon artist every Tuesday night from 6-8 pm at the Golden Corral Restaurant in Tallahassee, Florida.

Julie (Rosie the Clown) is our company’s Face Painting International Trainer. She is the master instructor for our face-painting and body art workshops. Julie has been face painting since she was ten years old with her mom, BJ the Clown.

At the age of ten and up- Rosie was painting children’s faces professionally at Ryan’s Steak House, Downtown Getdowns, and for private parties. Julie is also a certified pre-school instructor and professional dance teacher for children, who has fifteen years of experience performing for and with children. Julie was raised in the performance art spotlight and continues to develop the work of her family’s business.

Julie’s art has been exhibited at the Masters Level of Face and Body Art International Competition where she will be an instructor this year, and she specializes in Special FX and gestational baby belly art for expectant moms.