As if February didn’t have enough going on, February 25th is Commedia dell’Arte day. Commedia dell’Arte is an Italian style of comedy theater that has set characters which are over the top exaggerated and has an emphasis on improv. That’s the short version of the explanation, in the long version you spend years studying and practicing it like some people do. You learn the stock characters along with their Italian names like Pantalone, the rich old man. The most famous Commedia character is Harlequin the court jester, also called Arlecchino. He never has much money but he’s always cheerful and can outwit anyone.

As you can tell from the picture masks are a big deal with Commedia dell’Arte. The masks are used so the audience can tell right away who is who and also because they’re funny.

I heard of a great way to celebrate Commedia dell’Arte day. Just randomly break into an Italian accent. If you need help all you have to do is add vowels or just channel Mario from the Nintendo games or my favorite Chico Marx. Don’t be afraid to give it a try, it’sa nicee and easye.

Miller

Mike at the Dr. Kickbutt show

The show last Saturday with Dr. Kickbutt and Miller & Mike was the best to date. Some new members really pumped up the music and Lady Baltimore was in rare form. Also, Mike hosted a “game show” called Hook ’em Up, based on the dating game where the audience bachorlette won a date with Jackie Greasehound, what a lucky girl.

I told you, you didn’t want to miss it and now look. Here you are kicking yourself. Well don’t worry, right now we are working on booking shows in Appleton and Green Bay. Keep an eye on the calendar page because the next don’t miss it show will be here before you know it and if you’re not careful you’ll back here again kicking yourself. Nobody wants that.

Miller

As many of you know I recently moved to Marinette, WI. It’s a town of 11,000 right on the U.P. border, I can see Michigan from my house. It’s not the thriving metropolis that Appleton or Green Bay is but everyone is very excited to have a new clown in town and I have some shows coming up in the area. I’ll be doing Clown Transformation Shows at Renaissance Manor in Marinette, Sharpe Care in Oconto Falls and Rennes East and West in Pestigo. All the details can be found on the calendar page.

The picture is from a Clown Transformation Show I did last year. If you’ve never seen this show stop by and learn about living on the circus train, touring North America and Wisconsin’s close tie to the circus world.

How would you like to have a Guinness record of your own so you can be just like Miller? Are you getting excited for the Superbowl? Now you can do both.

DiGornio Pizza is trying to break the record for the most people high-fiving at the same time. The event will be at Lambeau Field this Thursday the 3rd at 12:30 and everyone who participates gets a piece of pizza and DiGornio will also donate $5 to feeding America for everyone who comes. An official Guinness adjudicator will be on hand as well as former Packers receiver Antonio Freeman. The number to beat is 1,792 but hears the catch, a similar event will be going on in Pittsburgh at the same time. So the real number to beat is however many of those lousy Steelers fans are coming out to their event.

Here is your chance to support the Packers in Superbowl 45, or should I say XLV, and get a Guinness record that will belong to all us Packer fans. Go Pack Go!

Miller

After more than a year of practice, months of planning and weeks of waiting it’s now official, I’m a Guinness world record holder. I threw the world’s longest yo-yo, it went down 35 feet and 2 inches and came all the way back up when I caught it. It’s very exciting to know that yo-yo history was made in Appleton and I’m very happy to be a part of that. There are also two others who are a part of this, my performing partner Mike Lorenz and my father Howard Miller, because without them it never would have happened. This was so much fun I can’t wait to go after another record, if anyone has an idea let me know.

Here is pic taken on Aug. 22nd, when the yo-yo was thrown. There is also much more to see on the new Guinness page at www.MillerandMike.com, check it out.

Miller

Recently I was reminded of a very special new years eve. Mike and I were working on a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship. Cruising is always a big party and on new years eve it’s even better, unless the name of your ship is Poseidon. Everyone was on the promenade, a long stretch in the middle of the ship that has bars, cafes and gift shops. They went all out for new years, live music, dancing, tuxedos and champagne for everyone, they also spent all day putting up 2 large balloon drops for midnight. Mike, who knows a thing or two about balloon decor, looked at them and said, “that’s not how I would do it.” As it turned out midnight came and the strings were pulled to release the drops and not one balloon came down from either drop. It was still a great new year and here’s hoping you all have a fun and prosperous new year too. The lesson is that cruise directors can sing and tell a joke or two but should leave the balloons to the professionals.

Here’s a shot of me on that promenade doing one of my cruise ship characters.

Miller

Miller "performing" on a cruise ship

One of the best things about living in Wisconsin, besides Miller & Mike, is all the circus stuff. The circus parade, clown camp at UW La Crosse, and now the International Clown Hall of Fame in it’s new home, just to name a few. Most people have heard of the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI, but a new place, the clown museum, recently open in downtown Baraboo. If you get a chance, stop by and learn about some the greats, Lou Jacobs, Otto Griebling and the more well known, Red Skelton and of course Emmit Kelly. When you’re there say Hi to the executive producer Greg DeSanto who Mike and I worked with on the Ringling show.

Ever watch the History Channel? Me neither, but the clown hall of fame will be featured on the show American Pickers on Monday December 27th, check local listings. So that’s a reason to watch.

Miller

Hi everybody. We’ve made more changes at MillerandMike.com, it’s even more super cool than it was before. First, you should know that the newsletter is now the blog. It’s still the best way to stay up to date on everything Miller & Mike but now you’ll get more info on shows, happenings and fun news and events.

People can also follow us on YouTube, Facebook and even Twitter. If you aren’t, be our friend by following the links on the home page.

One last thing, if you’re around come to the New Moon, downtown Oshkosh, to see Miller & Mike with Dr. Kickbutt and the rest of the Orchestra of Death. The show is this Friday the 10th and starts at 8:00pm. Rock on.

I made it back home from my short tour doing shows in Amarillo, TX. A little car trouble in Kansas almost caused the first show to be canceled and it would have been the only show I can remember that I didn’t make it to. But because of unbelievably good luck and some speeding in Oklahoma the show only started about 5 minutes late and everyone loved it.  Everything worked out great and thankfully the drive home was very boring.

Miller

The Transformation Show will soon be a national sensation because some retirement homes in Texas, in the Amarillo area, are bringing me in to do them. When they heard I was going to be in the area they jumped at the chance to get this one of kind show in for their residents. It’s not all fun and games though, I’m driving and it’s 20 hours one way. I can handle it, once after a whirlwind trip with Mike that saw us in Minneapolis and Madison, Mike’s Dad said that we were “tougher than boot jackets.” I hope I still am.

Miller