My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus

My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus (MNTR) provides a non-competitive, safe environment for students of all ages to be courageous, to set personal goals, to persevere, to work together, to be inspired, and to have fun. MNTR serves over 450 students per year through after-school programs, year-round classes at the Evendale Cultural Arts Center, and summer camps. Through funding from ArtsWave, the National Endowment for the Arts, SC Ministry Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, MNTR is able to provide free after-school circus classes and summer camps to underserved youth.

Steve Roenker, co-founder, and director of My Nose Turns Red Theatre Company, has 30+ years of experience as a performer and arts educator. The great clowns and physical comedians of his childhood sparked Steve’s interest in the theatrical clown and youth circus. The list includes Lucille Ball, Desi Arnez, Red Skelton, Sid Caesar and the entire cast of Your Show of Shows. In his tween and early teen years, he discovered the great clowns of the silent movie era: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd. Eventually, this love of physical comedy became Steve’s career path. Steve studied clowning from John Towsen and mime from E. Reid Gilbert. In 2006, Steve had the opportunity to study with Cirque du Soleil’s Cirque du Monde focusing on teaching circus skills for at-risk youth. Since 1997, Steve has been directing My Nose Turns Red youth circus program.

Jean St. John, co-founder, and volunteer began working with Steve Roenker in Lexington, Kentucky in 1980. By 1984, they moved to Cincinnati and officially incorporated as My Nose Turns Red Theatre Company. Jean studied mime from E. Reid Gilbert and clowning with Avner Eisenberg. Together Jean and Steve toured for 15 years performing as Juice and Shootang, their clown characters, for schools, libraries, special events, performing arts series, and conferences. Their work included in-school residencies with the Kentucky Arts Council and professional development for teachers. Jean continues to be inspired by the youth as they learn new skills, become team members and share their talents with others. Having worked in youth circus long enough to see many students graduate high school, attend college and start their own careers, she is impressed with the values it instills by challenging physical skills, developing leadership and teamwork, and demanding dedication—all through the joy of performance.