Aided by a ‘Clown Boss,’ Circus Flora’s 40th season goes back to high school

Now in its 40th season, Circus Flora is going back to high school for its “Fly High” show, which runs June 4-21. Circus Flora artistic director and executive director Jack Marsh previews the show, where classrooms are “filled with a mix of world-class acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and class clowns.” We also meet Chad Damiani, an influential figure in the modern clown scene in Los Angeles, who teaches clowning across the country. Ahead of his Circus Flora debut, Damiani talks about the nature of modern clowning and what it means to perform in St. Louis, in a more traditional circus, for the first time.