Esma Orgeron
July 2, 2007
NSU business college dean elected to state CPA board
July 4, 2007From games, to sports, to live entertainment and food, expect to find fresh entertainment, great new characters and over 40 vendors at Synergy Bank’s Kids Day 2007.
Set for July 21, the event is held at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.
Civic Center Marketing Manager Lacy Picou said, “Kids Day has proven to be successful, drawing more than 50,000 people to the bayou region over the past eight years.”
The summer fun Kids Day offers an array of activities including the clowning styles of MT Noggin, a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clown from 1980-83.
For the past 32 years, Mike Teifer has been clowning around the world with his family comedy routine. Locally, he is known for taking members of the audience and using them as assistants in his tricks.
“I consider myself to be very good with children and adults. I like involving them in my acts because it gives me a chance to show that anyone can clown around,” he said.
Teifer gets pleasure out of seeing the audience double over in laughter. His notable acts include “Noggin’s Comedy Simon Says,” as well as a comedic balloon and juggling routine.
“I’m not a very good juggler, but I have perfected a routine that will keep you laughing from beginning to end,” he said.
Audience members aren’t MT Noggin’s only recruits. Teifer has a routine that involves his Jack Russell terriers, a mother-and-daughter duo named Bologna and Freddie, respectively.
“Bologna enjoys this performance because she gets to interact with the crowd. And, she won’t do anything I tell her unless I get someone from the audience to participate,” Teifer explained.
The man behind the oversized, large-stripped pants and shirt, checkerboard floppy shoes and big red nose is originally from New Jersey, but moved to Mandeville, La., after his three-year stint in the Ringling Bros. circus.
Clowning wasn’t Teifer’s original career path.
An agriculture graduate from Michigan State University, Teifer decided that he needed to develop people skills. So instead of meeting new people, the young college student decided to take a course in clowning.
“I took my first class, and I was blown away. So I took another, and before long I was taking just as many clowning courses as my regular university courses,” he said.
Before long, clowning around became a career for Teifer. He auditioned for admission in a Detroit Clown College, was admitted and later offered a three-year contract with Ringling Bros.
He spent two years as a performing clown and one year as a Tiger groomer for the traveling circus.
MT Noggin is among a host of performers schedule to appear at Kids Day 2007. Other featured entertainers include the Aurora Aerial Trapeze Act, USA Dance of Houma’s ballroom dancing session, 4 Sisters Fashion Show, a Pan Am Martial Arts demonstration, magician Magic Mike and Pinocchio’s & Pals Birthday & DJ Dance Party.
There will also be bouncing inside inflatables, a Sports Zone and pony rides. The entertainment is non-stop, said Picou.
The Kids Day Character Corner is also returning with Nickelodeon star Diego, of the animated action-adventure series “Go Diego Go.” Diego is the eight-year-old cousin of Nick TV favorite, “Dora the Explorer.”
Kids will also have the opportunity to take picture with Strawberry Shortcake.
More than 40 local and regional vendors are participating in the event, offering their own assortment of entertainment. Picou notes that additional fees may apply for some entertainment.
Kids Day kicks off at 11 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children 2-12 and children under age 2 are admitted free.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Le Petit Theatre de Terrebonne in Houma.
For more information on Kids Day, call the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center at (985) 850-4657.
