Once Upon A Mind
Written & Performed by Unique Derique
Directed by Calvin Kai Ku
The Bay Area’s favorite Clown Prince of Fools, Unique Derique, returns to The Marsh Berkeley for his annual holiday show with brand new, mindfully comedic mishaps for all ages in Fool La La: Once Upon a Mind.
Dive into the imagination of Unique Derique as he embarks on a whimsical adventure of Mindfoolness through the wacky lens of clown logic in the here and now. Packed with his trademark circus-inspired tricks, Once Upon a Mind sends him on a joyful journey where the past and the future collide in delightfully absurd ways amidst the calm and chaos of the moment.
After the show, clown around with Unique Derique in a free juggling and hambone workshop for the whole family!
For those who are sensitive to strobe lights, please be aware that they are used briefly during a portion of the show.
January 11, 18, and 25, 2020 | Berkeley
Saturdays at 1pm
“I took my son three times to see Unique Derique.” — Bay Area Mom
“Mom, I laughed so hard I peed my pants.” — S.F. Fan
“Derique will be back; remember the name.” — SF Chronicle Chronicle“Derique…, demonstrated his rapid-fire hands as they passed over his body in a blur of motion.” — New York Times
“Leaves them laughing coast to coast.” — SF Examiner
“He plays himself and the result, percussive and dynamic, is exhilarating.” — SF Examiner
Artist Biography
The San Francisco Examiner wrote that Derique “leaves them laughing coast to coast,” adding, “he plays himself and the result, percussive and dynamic, is exhilarating.” Fool La La! encourages kids from 1 to 92 to let their imaginations take flight. Hailed by The New York Times for “his rapid-fire hands as they passed over his body in a blur of motion,” he was also lauded by the San Francisco Chronicle, which declared, “Derique will be back… remember the name.”
Internationally acclaimed Clown Prince Unique Derique’s appearances have spanned the globe from South Africa to Scotland, Taipei, London, Paris, and Tokyo— and he has shared the stage with entertainers such as Bobby McFerrin, The Temptations, Laura Nyro, Jim Nabors, Tuck and Patti, Lou Rawls, and Sammy Davis, Jr. His television credits include appearances on It’s Showtime at the Apollo, the Disney Channel, KQED’s Spark, Univision’s Sábado Gigante Internacional, and he has co-hosted KQED’s Emmy-winning show Short Stories and Tall Tales. Derique’s clown training began at the age of 15 with Berkeley’s Circus A La Mode, and later with San Francisco’s Make*A*Circus and the famed Pickle Family Circus. This multi-talented artist’s experience also includes serving as Program Director for Circus Arts Camp at Oakland’s Children’s Fairyland, 23 years as circus artist-in-residence with the Prescott Circus Theatre in West Oakland, and a long volunteer tenure as a performer with the Bread and Roses organization.
When not entertaining audiences as Unique Derique, Lance McGee is a Trauma-Informed Wellness Consultant and Mindfulness Coach providing support to Oakland middle-school educators, administrators, staff and students. His past work includes school-based counseling for the East Bay Agency for Children, as well as working in Richmond public schools with the Mindful Life Project.
Additionally, he leads trainings and workshops on recognizing trauma-informed care practices as well as mindfulness for non-profit organizations, health clinics, colleges and educational systems throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Show Info
Tickets: $15 – $35 sliding scale | $55 & $100 Reserved Seating
December 27 – January 5 | Berkeley TheaterStage
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm
60 minutes | 10 Minute Intermission | All Ages
For more information on the sliding scale ticketing policy, late seating and reserved seating please click here.
Buy Tix Online:
To purchase tickets online, please click on a date below
(please review price descriptions above):
[eventlist categories=”47″ limit=”50″]
Buy Tix by phone:
Monday – Friday 1 – 4pm, 415.282.3055
(Additional service fees apply)