PHYSICAL COMEDY in Schools
with Brent McCoy & Maya McCoy
Whether you’re looking for a hilarious 45 minute assembly, a community-building all-school production, or an in-depth exploration of empathy and group dynamics, we tailor our approach to fit your school’s size and unique needs.
Transform your school into a hub of laughter, creativity, and collaboration with our Physical Comedy Artist-in-Residence program. Through mime, slapstick, storytelling, circus skills, and plenty of laughter, students become engaged, empowered, and confident in performing in front of others. Our collaborative creative process puts student ideas front and center.
Since founding YES! Theater in 2009, we’ve performed and taught circus and theater in over 60 elementary and middle schools. We work with only 3-8 schools per year, often returning to the same schools to build long-term relationships. When we’re not in the classroom, we’re touring internationally as variety artists, practicing what we teach. You can learn more about our day jobs here.
“The ultimate student-centered activity!”
– Principal of Jay/Westfield Elementary School (Vermont)
“It was an exhilarating feeling to watch the ENTIRE student body and faculty laugh… a phenomenal act!”
– Parent of students at Clermont Elementary (Alexandria, Virginia)
“Engaging, funny, and appealing to all ages. ”
– 4th Grade Teacher at Longfellow Elementary (Portland, Maine)
“It was osum. So cool, so osum.”
– Kindergarten Student at East Montpelier Elementary (Vermont)
Vermont Schools
Good news: you can have your maple syrup and creemee too! We are on the Vermont Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster and qualify for their Artists in Schools grant.
“What a wonderful experience… you covered team-building, risk taking, creativity, ‘outside-the-box’ thinking, fine & gross motor skills, and FUN!!!”
– 6th Grade Teacher at East Montpelier Elementary (Vermont)
Maya McCoy
Maya started in theater when she was a kid, attended Circus Smirkus Camp, and continued studying theater at college. She went on to study with big wigs of clown and improv at Celebration Barn Theater. Maya has performed physical theater and clowning all over the world for audiences of all sizes, ages, and backgrounds.
She loves outdoor adventures and traveling to new places.
Brent McCoy
Brent has been teaching circus and theater in schools since 2003. He has been a juggling and circus enthusiast for over 25 years. He started performing professionally in 2005 and has since toured all over the planet with The Real McCoy Show & Her Majesty’s Secret Circus. He has studied with master eccentric, Avner Eisenburg; improv guru, Keith Johnstone; and juggling world champion, Fritz Grobe. He loves his job.
“Thank you, Brent and Maya , for working all week with the Craftsbury Academy kiddos! They were thrilled…so were we! We saw more excitement and enthusiasm from certain kiddos that we have ever seen! My cheeks still hurt from smiling and laughing at the show!”
– Teacher at Craftsbury Academy (Vermont)
School shows
Secret Circus Agents Butterfly & Honeymoon use acrobatics, juggling, hilarious physical comedy, and mime to deliver a rock-solid message about saying “Oh Yeah!” to new opportunities, taking healthy risks, and being ready to meet life’s challenges. In the guise of a comic spy thriller, they must track down and stop the supervillain, Dr. Awful, before it’s too late. But they might need a little help.
It’s been called “hilarious,” “phenomenal,” and “amazing” by students and teachers up and down the eastern seaboard. This is 45 minutes well spent.
This show is perfect for students in PreKindergarten through 6th grade (and their teachers). If you’re looking for a show for older students or families, we’ve got you covered.
Artist residencies
WORKSHOPS | 1 – 4 hours
Brent and Maya’s circus and comedy workshops build coordination, confidence, and focus. With their professional expertise, they foster goal-setting, self-directed learning, and age-appropriate skill acquisition. And, of course, these workshops are SUPER FUN.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT RESIDENCY | 5 – 10 days
A low-pressure way for students to acquire new skills and dip their toes into performance by sharing their work with classmates. For younger students, the emphasis is on group dynamics, empathy-building, and ensemble theater. Older students will focus on slapstick, mime, storytelling, and physical circus skills. This option does not include a final performance.
SHOW CREATION RESIDENCY | 5 – 10 days
We spend the first few days of the program developing skills, then shift our focus to harnessing students’ energy and creativity to create original circus acts, clown gags, and stories. To conclude the program, the entire community comes together for a fantastic, student-generated comedy performance.
