Mooseburger Instructors

Brittany Allen began her journey in clowning in 2007 as a camper at Moose Camp, as part of her goal to become a clown working with sick children. Brittany, returned to camp year after year, adding skills like magic, balloons, puppets, caring clowning and also created the early morning Wake Up & Wiggles lab. "Zoe" has been on several mission trips to India, worked as a hospital clown at Medical City Children’s Hospital for 12 years in Dallas, and was on staff at Camp iHope's Summer Camp, a camp for kids with cancer, using the healing power of laughter for 10 years. With her move to Florida, she launched a hospital clowning program at Golisano Chidren's Hospital where they are thrilled to see this program helping their patients. With her recent move "back home to Texas", she is excited to see where her clowning adventures will take her! She has become an integral part of the planning and implementing for Moose Camp and specializes in "bringing the fun" to camp! Brittany has jumped from being a 101 Instructor, to teaching the Caring Clown Class in 2025. Her infectious energy and positive attitude are sure to inspire and motivate our campers!

Annette Darragh has been a professional clown and clowning instructor for over 30 years. She has won numerous awards for clowning in Make-up, Character, Skit, Face Painting, and Balloon competitions at the Regional, National, and World levels. She specializes in hospital clowning and its therapeutic benefits and has been recognized in many cancer publications for her work in the healing power of humor. Annette owns and operates “Funny Bone Props,” a business that sells hospital props for Caring Clowns. She was selected for the People to People ambassador program and in 1999 was one of seven clowns from the U.S. sent on the first clowning delegation to China. In 2000, Annette was inducted into the Midwest Clown Hall of Fame. In 2013 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Midwest Clown Round-Up. Annette lectures throughout the year at conventions and seminars around the country.

Christopher Hudert has been in entertainment for over 50 years – most of that as a profession. He is equally at home on stage as a performer; or backstage as a builder, writer, or tech; or in front of the stage as a director; or off stage as an instructor, talent coach, trainer, or goofball. Christopher attended Ringling's famed Clown College (Class of ‘82, with Tricia) and traveled with the Circus for 9 years. He is the only person to serve as Boss Clown on all 3 units – first subbing on the Blue Unit, then as Boss Clown in Japan on the Gold Unit, finally as Boss Clown on the Red Unit. After traveling with the Circus, Christopher cofounded Applause Unlimited, an entertainment company specializing in professional puppet shows, stilt walking, and clowning. He was the Stilt Trainer, Halloween Haunt Talent Coordinator, and Production Manager for King's Dominion’s (a Cedar Fair Park) Live Entertainment department for over 12 years. Christopher has been a featured instructor at Ringling's Clown College, Advance Studies in Clowning, RVA Circus & Puppet Arts Camp, the Mooseburger Joyful Journey, numerous Puppetry Festivals and Clown Conventions across the country, and most importantly, here at Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp, where he teaches workshops on many aspects of both clown and puppet arts. He is also very active behind the scenes, making Moose Camp and e-Alley happen and is a regular contributing writer for the Jest For Clowns e-magazine.

Greg Seckora is a Camper turned Staff member that first started clowning after attending Moose Camp in 2013. Now a member of the Boys-of-Summer, he can be found working behind the scenes helping with various tasks that make Moose Camp happen, as well as teaching our beginner balloon classes at camp. The rest of the year, Greg is a member of The Clown Arounds based in Maple Lake, MN. Through the The Clowns Arounds, Greg does balloon twisting and has participated in various events including parades and shows at local nursing homes.

Earl Chaney – Mr. Clown – has been making children of all ages laugh for over twenty years. He perfected his clowning talent in Clown College. Earl Chaney went on to become one of the best-loved clown characters with the Ringling Brothers Circus from 1972 through 1975. After leaving the circus to pursue his own business interests in the clowning field, he played throughout the United States from 1975 through 1984 with Buttons’ Clown Alley and American Contemporary Clowns. During this same time, Earl Chaney was the original Ronald McDonald. He was seen on many McDonald television ads, for over 20 years. He has also conducted clowning lectures for such prestigious organisations as Clowns of America, The World Clown Association, The Shriners, and others from coast to coast. Spreading his knowledge through joy-filled lectures continues to be a big part of his business.​

Fred Baisch is an award winning clown as well as an accomplished magician. We are thrilled that Fred takes time from his busy schedule to be with us at Moose Camp. Fred is a big part of our Dealer Room he brings a huge magic shop to Moose Camp along with everything you need in magic, balloons, puppets and more. Then he breaks out all of his personal favorites and trade secrets and hauls them up to the classroom to share in his comedy magic course. Fred has been a perfect addition to Moose Camp. He fits in perfectly with his giving teaching style, his real love of being a clown himself, and his chance to mess around and laugh with all of us instead of being trapped in his huge magic shop! Fred is teaching the course on Comedy Magic, of course!

Rick Hoops is a multidisciplinary performing artist living in Saint Paul, MN. Rick is currently working towards a Masters Degree in Arts & Cultural Leadership at the University of Minnesota where they also work as a Program Manager in the Office of Equity & Diversity. Rick is a teaching artist and podcast host for Minnesota Opera. As an arts educator, Rick specializes in vocal performance, character development, and physical comedy. Rick started clowning at age 16 and has been a member of the support staff at Moose Camp for nearly a decade.

Linda Hulet began her clowning career in 1987 as “Shylo.” She later created “PJ” and “Gladys Pumpernickle.” She has competed and won Character and White Face Make-up/Costume, Single Skit, and Master Clown and Group Skit (with Victor “Sporty” Hulet). Linda now performs as “Flo the Clown” at Fairs and Festivals winning awards such as Best Strolling Entertainer. She was on staff at The Big Fresno Fair as Entertainment Director and Commercial Exhibits Director and created the Kid’s Agventure Land area. Linda has taught various clown subjects at clown conventions and conferences, including on a clown cruise. You may have seen her in Chuck Oberstein’s paintings and figurines and Ron Lee figurines.

Tricia Manuel is the unmistakable Pricilla Mooseburger and the lovable zany Miss Moose. She got her start in clowning in the 1980s with Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus and Disneyland. She went on to create the costume company Pricilla Mooseburger Originals. After coming back from the circus, she found that the world needed a fresh take on how to train clowns; a clown school where they could go for a week and move toward new levels of humor and joy. She wanted to create a place where a beginner would get a holistic start on clowning with all its parts, not just a nice makeup. With the world-class Ringling Clown College program defunct, she began a plan for Mooseburger Clown Arts Education in 1994. It was the first clown training program to teach every style of clowning based on choosing one specific area on which to focus. Mooseburger Clown Camp as we currently hold it began in 1996 and keeps getting better every year! Tricia loves teaching Clown Arts and considers it a vocation, not simply a profession. There is nothing more exciting than watching students and customers discover new things in themselves! While she loves going out to clown, she knows that she touches more people through the clowns she teaches than she could by clowning on her own. Tricia gives 100% of herself to her students and they in turn share the love of laughter with the world. She is the heart and soul of Moose Camp.

Ron Severini is the former Dean & Director of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey’s world-famous CLOWN COLLEGE; and former professional Ringling Bros. Circus Clown. He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement “Legacy of Laughter Award” from the World Clown Assoc. and is the Official Clown Historian for the World Clown Assoc. Ron served as Talent Casting Director for all of Walt Disney World; traveled the globe searching for the world’s best talent for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey; Disney On Ice; Sigfried & Roy; Star Search; Next Big Star; America’s Got Talent; Cirque du Soliel. He is the producer of two Off Broadway Award-winning Theatrical Stage Shows; author of several books on clowns and circus; and is currently the Executive Producer of The SEVERINI Company.

Randy Christensen is an entertainer, creative communicator, child specialist, pastor, clown, juggler, and author. Mentored in clowning by former Ringling Clown Michael O’Shaughnessy, Randy began pursuing every professional training opportunity available. The expertise he gained led to being a featured solo performer for the International Clown Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the Clowns International Convention, and pre-event performer for Cirque Du Soliel. In 2011 he was awarded the title “Master Clown” by the World Clown Association. With experience in circus, hometown, and ministry clowning, Randy brings good, clean fun to audiences of all ages with his incredible world-class presentations that are knee-slapping, physical based clown comedy, full of heart and humor.

Sean Carlock has been entertaining since age six. Theater, magic, and clowning have always been his passion. The only thing he loves more than Clowning is sharing it with others. Sean grew so much in his clown career since first attending as a Moose Camper that we are proud to have him on staff. He draws from his magic and theater background as well as his time as a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clown to bring you his spin on the world of clowning.

Karen “Dot” Hoyer’s mission in life is to bring laughter and a sense of humor to every situation she encounters. For the past 20 years, she's visited nursing homes and senior centers with Vaudeville Chicago, appearing as a variety of eccentric and clownesque characters. She cultivates her skills in mime, mask, music, dance and puppetry, performing all over Chicago and the Midwest. Karen has taught hundreds of workshops at the elementary, high school, and college level, including at Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College! Every week she appears as Dr. Dot, the Chief Bonehead of La Rabida Hospital under the auspices of Healthy Humor, after over 17 years with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit. Karen first came to Moose Camp as a “Special Guest Star” in 2011 and feels truly blessed to be a part of the returning faculty.

Jane Kinney attended Mooseburger Clown Camp for the first time in 2009. She arrived as Mrs. Kinney, first grade teacher and departed as Ladybug the Clown, first grade teacher! Upon returning home she began weekly visits to senior care facilities to offer a moments of joy, delight, tenderness, and comfort to residents, their families, and staff, through humor, loving kindness, and a playful presence. She also began the Silly Nilly Clown Club in her school for 4th and 5th graders to learn the art of clowning. For the next six years the group entertained in Senior Care Facilities and their school. Ladybug continued to attend Moose Camp summer after summer and upon her retirement from teaching, she added Caring Clown visits at UW Children’s Hospital in Madison, and holiday shows at Senior and Memory Care Centers. Still having the teaching bug in her, Ladybug began performing shows on Fire Safety, Kindness, and Read Across America in schools to bring smiles and laughter to children of all ages. Her entertaining programs encourage and educate using humor, music, puppets, whimsical magic, and storytelling. When Pricilla introduced Red Nose Readers in 2019, Jane joyously jumped on board and continues to share the wonderful world of clowning, literacy, and kindness with kids everywhere. Jane is the Director of Red Nose Readers.

Rex Nolen was a teenager selling cotton candy at Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium when he first saw Otto Griebling perform and got hooked on clowning. Later, under the tutelage of Master Clown Frosty Little, Rex learned the finer points of physical comedy, timing, delivery, classic gags, and pyrotechnics. Rex is the hobo model for Mehron Make-Up and has won numerous awards for make-up, skits, and parade-ability. He's also a past educational director for COAI. He loves passing along what he's learned over the course of more than 25 years of roughly 250 gigs a year, including birthday parties, festivals, grand openings, and special events. Rex has been a favorite member of the Mooseburger Camp staff for many years.

Julia Swanson has been clowning her whole life. Her mother, Pricilla Mooseburger, raised her to appreciate the art of clowning and she now has completely embraced it! She started with theatre in school, but it just didn't seem to be enough for Julia. One summer, she had the opportunity to work on Culpepper Merriweather with her brother, DJ Weiss, for a few weeks. The first time she ran into the circus ring, she knew she was hooked. After that she had the pleasure of working in Brooklyn on the Holiday Circus when she was 17, and before she new it she had graduated high school and was on a plane to Dallas, Texas to audition for the Greatest Show on Earth! She toured with Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey and loved every minute of it! She is also beyond excited to be reunited with her Moose Camp family, both old and new, and can't wait to get this week started.

Candace Hudert first came to Moose Camp with her dad as a helper and runner when she was just a kid and has attended just about every year since then. She is a multi-talented artist working both on stage as a performer and off stage as a director, writer, producer, sound designer, and more. You won’t often see her center stage at Camp, but your Camp experience is smoother and better because of her work behind the scenes. With a BA in Theater, she has taken a non-traditional route to clowning; directing and producing work that reflects, refracts, and emphasizes the absurdities of day-to-day life. Candace is serious about play that seeks to challenge and stretch what is expected or known into a kinder, more caring, more attentive, more inclusive world. She strives to make work that moves you to laugh and cry at the same time, and that makes you wonder if this is the way things actually have to be. Candace is also an instructor at RVA Circus & Puppet Arts Camp for kids, and is an indie game creator and producer, creating her own work and contributing to the works of others as a writer, producer, director, and/or VO artist.